Champion Informed Decision will attempt to remain perfect at Keeneland in Madison (Pat Lang Photo/Keeneland Association)

INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) begins her female sprint championship title defense on Thursday in the $300,000 Madison S. (G1) at Keeneland, the exact same spot where she kick-started her seven-race campaign last season. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard has stated that Informed Decision would likely follow a near-identical path to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), scheduled for November 5 at Churchill Downs, to the one she took last year. Five rivals, the same number she defeated in the 2009 Madison, will line up against the champion in the seven-furlong test over Pro-Ride.

Though she again will face only a handful of rivals, Informed Decision's path to the Keeneland winner's circle should be far less difficult this time as there is no filly or mare with the quality of Ventura in this edition. The now-retired multiple Grade 1 winner was heavily favored to take this race a year ago, but she was thwarted by the champion-in-waiting by a head. The result turned out to be a typical Informed Decision performance over the Keeneland surface -- a win. The five-year-old gray later added the Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G2) during the fall meet and is now unbeaten in four starts in Lexington, Kentucky.

Informed Decision clinched championship honors with another victory over Ventura in the Breeders' Cup, and preceded that with wins in the Humana Distaff (G1) on dirt and Presque Isle Downs Masters S. and Chicago H. (G3) on synthetic. Her only loss of the year came in the slop at Saratoga in the Ballerina S. (G1), where she ran third. Those hoping to get a glimpse of the mare this season would do well to circle these races on the calendar.

The most logical upsetters include the California-based WITTY (Distorted Humor) and Grade 3 heroine DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai). Witty enters unbeaten in four lifetime outings. She won three straight from March through May of 2009, including the Railbird S. (G3) at Hollywood Park, then was sidelined until February 18 when passing her third-level allowance condition at Santa Anita. Dubai Majesty, a stakes winner on dirt and turf last season, enters off two photo-finish losses in the Pan Zareta S. and Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint. She was not far behind Informed Decision in the Madison and Humana Distaff last season, but will have to find that little extra something to turn the tables.

The field is rounded out by STARLARKS (Ire) (Mujahid), the San Clemente H. (G2) winner who was second in the La Brea S. (G1) on Pro-Ride two back, and the allowance class DIRECT LINE (Tiznow) and DR. ZIC (Milwaukee Brew).