Anndrovette looks to defend Betsy Ross title

Nearly a year after a thrilling victory over Higher and Higher in the 2011 Betsy Ross, Bamond Racing, LLC and Joseph Davino's Anndrovette will seek to defend her title in the 2012 edition of the race Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.

While Anndrovette has shown a strong campaign thus far in 2012 with three preliminary wins and a runner-up finish in the Blue Chip Matchmaker series at Yonkers, the going's bound to get a bit tougher with Put On a Show back in the mix. "She's a very tough foe, she's a great mare, and she's definitely one of the major contenders in that race," commented Anndrovette's driver Tim Tetrick about their main foe in the race. "Put On a Show is going to be a lot more fit than when we last squared off," continued Tetrick. "But my mare's tough, she can leave or race off the pace; she's versatile enough."

Put On a Show (George Brennan), who was sidelined in 2011 due to injury, was second to Anndrovette in the Overbid final in March at the Meadowlands, but has since reeled off four straight victories against open company at Woodbine.

Ginger and Fred (Yannick Gingras) will likely be an early factor, and Royal Cee Cee N (Ron Pierce) certainly may be a late threat, showing plenty of success from just off the pace. Last year's runner-up Higher and Higher (Daryl Bier) enters the race as well, having turned in a 1:49.1 effort earlier in the season against the boys in open company at Dover.

The $100,000 Betsy Ross is carded as race 12 on Sunday, with post time at approximately 4:09.