by Steve Bailey

Champion two-year-old filly Indian Blessing will try to rebound from back-to-back runner-up finishes as she tackles six challengers in the $250,000 Prioress Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The three-year-old Indian Charlie filly was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park for trainer Bob Baffert.

She opened her three-year-old campaign with victories in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) and the Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) before finishing second to Proud Spell in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and second to Zaftig in the Acorn Stakes (G1) in her previous two starts.

Chief among her competitors in the six-furlong race should be Grade 3 winner Palanka City and unbeaten multiple stakes winner By The Light.

Palanka City, a chestnut Carson City filly, has won three straight starts for owner William Stiritz and trainer Terry Gestes and enters off a 5 1/2-length victory in the Adena Stallions Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.

By The Light has won four consecutive stakes races dating back to last September.

The bay Malibu Moon filly, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. for Jay Em Ess Stable, ended her 2007 season with a win in the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Princess Stakes and opened her ’08 campaign with a victory in the Pearl City Stakes on May 24 at Belmont Park.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times

The field, in post-position order, including (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Indian Way (Indian Charlie), Cornelio Velasquez, 116, Anthony Dutrow;

2. Honest to Betsy (Yonaguska), Rajiv Maragh, 118, Dale Romans;

3. Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie), John Velazquez, 122, Bob Baffert;

4. By the Light (Malibu Moon), Edgar Prado, 120, Richard Dutrow Jr.;

5. Secret Gypsy (Sea of Secrets), Elvis Trujillo, 116, Ronny Werner;

6. Tale of the West (Tale of the Cat), Eibar Coa, 118, Todd Pletcher; and

7. Palanka City (Carson City), Christopher Emigh, 120, Terry Gestes.