While an exceptional trio of California-bred fillies and mares were winning graded stakes this season, others have sought opportunities in statebred races, including eight fillies and mares in the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes on Sunday at Del Mar. Chancery Way, a multiple stakes winner based in Northern California, meets a balanced field of Southern California runners in the seven-furlong Betty Grable. Although the field does not include the statebred elite, Chancery Way has her work cut out from the inside post against main rivals Carmen Miranda and Glorious Spring. California-bred stars went different directions. Closing Remarks won four graded stakes this year to emerge as the top turf female in California. Ceiling Crusher’s four stakes include a Grade 1; she recently sold for $750,000. Fun to Dream won a Grade 2 and sold for $1.9 million. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Chancery Way ranks a notch below graded-stakes caliber, but she might be a notch above her California-bred rivals Sunday. Owned by father-son partners Andy and Robert Smolich, Chancery Way has won 5 of 10 for trainer Jamey Thomas including two Northern California stakes. The Betty Grable is her first start since Aug. 25, when she ran third in the Solana Beach, a turf mile stake at Del Mar. “That race kind of knocked her out a little bit, so we had to give her a little bit more time,” Thomas said. “But now, she’s doing good, eating good, her coat’s looking good, so we’re going to take a shot.” Chancery Way figures as one of the favorites, though the inside post and seven-furlong trip pose challenges for the front-running daughter of Mr. Big. Thomas said Chancery Way has trained well for her return. “Her last work was nice, her work before that was phenomenal.” He added, however, “How is seven-eighths going to play out? It’s one of the tougher [distances] to run.” Chancery Way and jockey Antonio Fresu must break cleanly from the rail, put away pace rivals Power Surge and Carmen Miranda, and hold off closers including Rose Dawson and Glorious Spring. Chancery Way, who weighs close to 1,200 pounds according to Thomas, can win despite her draw. During nine autumn meets at Del Mar, the inside post at seven furlongs produced 12 winners from 73 races (16 percent). Phil D’Amato starts surface switchers Carmen Miranda and Rose Dawson for owner-breeder Nick Alexander. Carmen Miranda finished second in an allowance turf sprint last out and has won twice on dirt. Her recent figures suggest she is the main threat to Chancery Way. Ramon Vazquez rides. Rose Dawson finished a flat fourth last out on turf, after which jockey Juan Hernandez told D’Amato she might be better on dirt. “He said she gets over grass fine, she just doesn’t quicken like a good grass horse,” D’Amato said. Glorious Spring drops in class and distance after finishing fourth in a route stake against colts and geldings. A deep closer trained by Dan Blacker, Glorious Spring will rally late under Flavien Prat, whose five-year win streak (2017-21) in the Betty Grable ended last year. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.