Sherman Loves Versatile Ultra Blend

One thing that Alan Sherman does not have to worry about is Ultra Blend giving her best effort in the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on Cushion Track Saturday.

“She tries hard; that’s the main thing with her,” said Sherman, son of and assistant to trainer Art Sherman, Thursday. “She bears down.”

The 5-year-old California-bred mare drew post four in a field of nine under jockey David Flores. The ultra-consistent mare has won five of her last six starts--all stakes--and boasts an overall mark of 10 firsts, four seconds, five thirds and two fourths in 21 outings.

“I think 7 ½ furlongs is probably perfect for her,” continued Sherman. “But I think she can handle seven too. She does whatever you want. She can show speed or come from behind. She has won from six furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth. She is pretty versatile.”

Ultra Blend has a special incentive for the A Gleam. “We’ll see if we can get a free trip to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Sherman of the ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Filly & Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs November 4.

“They’re going to send her to Kentucky at the end of the season to be bred anyway,” said Sherman of a mating that owner Nels Erickson has arranged with Big Brown.