Bedanken will lead a field of nine into the gate for Sunday's $500,000 WinStar Galaxy Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland. The 5-year-old mare will be looking for her fourth win of the year from seven starts in the 1 3/16-mile turf contest.
Trained by Donnie Von Hemel for Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud, Bedanken most recently finished unplaced in the Beverly D Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park after racking up back-to-back stakes wins in the Possibility Perfect and Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT), respectively.
The daughter of Geri has earned $537,949 from a career record of 17-11-1-3.
Challenging Bedanken will be South Africian-import Super Brand who will be making her second start on North American soil after being privately purchased by Team Valor.
The Kiaran McLaughlin-trainee most recently finished third in the De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga after being second in the Emirates Airlines Cup in Dubai.
Another pair of tough challengers are Dimitrova and Alchemist.
Dimitrova, shipping in from the West Coast for trainer Neil Drysdale, has finished fourth in all four of her starts on the year, including most recently the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) and John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. I), both at Del Mar. The daughter of
Swain earned grade I status last year in the Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap.
The Shug McGaughey-trained Alchemist, in nine starts on the year has one win, which came in a Sept. 23 allowance race at Belmont, after finishing second and third, respectively, against allowance competition at Saratoga.
The field for Sunday's $500,000 WinStar Galaxy Stakes (gr. IIT) includes:
1 -- Spice Island (Edgar Prado, 121)
2 -- Super Brand (Pat Day, 119)
3 -- Lady Liberty (Brice Blanc, 119)
4 -- Shaconage (Rafael Bejarano, 121)
5 -- Stay Forever (Eddie Castro, 121)
6 -- Jacira (Robby Albarado, 119)
7 -- Bedanken (Donnie Pettinger, 121)
8 -- Alchemist (Gary Stevens, 119)
9 -- Dimitrova (Rene Douglas, 121)
