Bear Fan back to defend Barbara Fritchie crown

Bear Fan made her last win a nine-length score in the Vagrancy (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Three-time Grade 2 queen BEAR FAN (Pine Bluff) will seek a second straight
victory in the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) when she squares off against
nine challengers on Saturday at Laurel Park. The Wesley Ward-trained
six-year-old mare reeled off four straight stakes victories in 2004 and enters
this year’s edition off a runner-up placing in the Sunshine Millions Filly &
Mare Sprint in late January. Bear Fan, who brings a 14-8-4-1 career mark into
Saturday’s seven-furlong event, is the 121-pound highweight.

SENSIBLY CHIC (Distorted Humor), who comes off a 6 1/2-length score in the
What a Summer S., will lead the post parade under a 114-pound impost that
includes Ramon Dominguez. Next comes SILMARIL (Diamond), Abel Castellano Jr.,
114; SPECTACULAR MOON (Migrating Moon), Dyn Panell, 113; JOSH’S MADELYN (Quiet
American), Justin Shepherd, 118; WALLOP (Grand Slam), Nik Goodwin, 113; LAVENDER
LASS (Skip Trial), Horacio Karamanos, 115; Bear Fan, John Velazquez; CATIVA (Sir
Cat), Edgar Prado, 113; RICHETTA (Polish Numbers), Mario Pino, 114; and SANTA
CROCE (Saint Ballado), Mike Luzzi, 111.

The $125,000 John B. Campbell Breeders’ Cup H. will be held a couple of races
earlier on the same card and features a field of eight going nine furlongs.
OFFLEE WILD (Wild Again), who will be making his first start since capturing the
Massachusetts H. (G2) last June, is the 120-pound highweight. Prado rides the
Richard Dutrow trainee. LITTLE MATTH MAN (Matty G) and OLE FAUNTY (Quiet
American) are among the other contenders.