Western Ransom and Art Fan, the first two finishers in last spring's Hilltop Stakes, return to Pimlico on Saturday as favorites for the $150,000 Martha Washington Breeders' Cup (gr. IIIT). Twelve are entered to start in the grassy 1-1/16th mile test for 3-year-old fillies. Michael Dickinson trains Western Ransom (5-2), a daughter of Red Ransom. After winning at Pimlico, she placed in the Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs in June but was unplaced in the American Oaks (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park in July. She has not started since. Ryan Fogelsonger, who won aboard the filly in the Hilltop, has the mount. "Hopefully this will be a repeat of the Hilltop," said Ryan Fogelsonger. "She is a very nice horse and is going to be tough to beat. She runs good numbers and is consistent every time. You know that Michael will have this horse ready. I have confidence she'll be sharp."Art Fan (3-1) gave way grudgingly to finish second to Western Ransom in the Hilltop. Since that start, the Hamilton Smith trainee has tried her luck in stakes, winning the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs and hitting the board twice in four starts. Richetta (5-1) finished third as the 3-10 favorite against the boys in the Humphrey Finney Stakes two weeks ago, her first effort on the turf. A multiple stakes winner at 2, the daughter of Polish Numbers has been out of the money just twice in 11 career starts. A promising newcomer to stakes company is Plenty (5-1), who has finished first, second and first in her last three starts, all on the grass in New York. She beat entry-level allowance company under Jerry Bailey at Saratoga last out. Abel Castellano Jr. has the call for trainer Steven Young. Far Away (8-1) is a multiple stakes winner from the Michael Matz barn. The daughter of Gulch finished ahead of Richetta at Delaware Park this summer but has only been on the grass one time.Saree (10-1) won an allowance test at Delaware in her last start for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. She was second in the Natalma (Can-III) at Woodbine last year.
$150,000 Martha Washington Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Perilous Night (MD), Jozbin Z. Santana, 115, 15/1
2. Academic Queen (KY), Steve D. Hamilton, 115, 20/1
3. Plenty (KY), Abel Castellano, Jr., 115, 5/1
4. Saree (GB), Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 115, 10/1
5. From Away (KY), Roberto Alvarado, Jr., 115, 8/1
6. With Affection (KY), Richard Monterrey, 115, 20/1
7. Many Many Bows (KY), no rider, 115, 20/1
8. Western Ransom (KY), Ryan Fogelsonger, 122, 5/2
9. Humoristic (KY), Luis Garcia, 115, 20/1
10. Art Fan (KY), no rider, 122, 3/1
11. Pour It On (MD), no rider, 115, 20/1
12. Richetta (MD), no rider, 122, 5/1
Also Eligible
13. Diavla (KY), Victor H. Molina, 115, 20/1
14. Bay Tree (IRE), Travis L. Dunkelberger, 115, 10/1
