The Donnie Von Hemel-trainee made only one start last year, winning the Dec. 26 Furl Sail Handicap, also at Fair Grounds, stopping the clock in a stakes record 1:36.19 for the about one-mile distance. The Furl Sail marked Bedanken's first start since scoring a seven-length win in the 2002 Pago Hop at Fair Grounds.

Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud bred Bedanken from the Strawberry Road mare Danka. She has earned $317,074. Her lifetime record is 11-8-1-2.

Bedanken, the highweight at 121 pounds, will break from post four under regular rider Don Pettinger.

Giving Bedanken a challenge will be the Mark Frostad-trainee Baie, who finished second behind Snow Drops in the Dec. 20 Pago Hop. Frostad conditions the French-bred Baie for 6 C Stable.

Since moving to this country last September, Baie has one second in three starts. In her native France, she has three wins from eight career starts, including a win in the Prix Finlande at Longchamp.