An ailing Ladyledue will sit one out

AUBURN, Wash. - Sunday's $75,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes at a mile always figured to be a showdown between two exceptional juvenile fillies, and that is just what it will be.

It's just that Ladyledue won't be one of them. Ladyledue, who established a stakes record winning her debut in the 6 1/2-furlong Knights Choice Stakes by a resounding eight lengths, was expected to challenge divisional leader Super Dixie in the Shinpoch. Instead, she will stay in her stall at the barn of trainer Bonnie Jenne.

"Her lungs are full of mucus," explained the trainer. "She had mucus in her lungs a week ago and we treated it, but we couldn't use penicillin because it was too close to her race. We thought she was over it, but she worked on Tuesday and we scoped her when she came back. The mucus was still there, so there is no way we can run her. We'll aim for the Diane Kem Stakes on Washington Cup Day, and that will probably be it for this year."

Super Dixie, a Kentucky-bred, is not eligible for the six-furlong Diane Kem on Sept. 14, so a meeting between Ladyledue and Super Dixie will have to wait until next year.

New contender emerges

Just as Ladyledue was heading toward the sidelines, however, Carrie Cat was emerging as a formidable challenger to Super Dixie for divisional leadership. After missing by just a length to the promising colt Zagreus in her Aug. 9 debut, Carrie Cat came back last Saturday to graduate against maiden special weight fillies with six furlongs in 1:09.80, the fastest clocking for a 2-year-old at this meeting. Trainer Tom Wenzel said that Carrie Cat, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Harvard Avenue by Tale of the Cat, bounced back from her effort quickly and is set to contest the Shinpoch.

"I actually had this race in the back of my mind when I ran her on Saturday, and I told Seth Martinez not to ask her any more than he had to," said Wenzel. "She wasn't all-out in that race, and that helped her to recover quickly. She is a very talented filly, and I am satisfied that she is ready to give her best effort."

Super Dixie: So far, so good

Carrie Cat will need her best effort to contend with Super Dixie, who is undefeated and untested after two easy wins. Super Dixie is a well-bred daughter of Dixie Union and former Emerald horse of the meeting Youcan'ttakeme from the barn of trainer Doris Harwood. She is coming off a two-length victory over All the Rage in the Angie C. on July 13, when she got six furlongs in 1:10.60.

"It has been a while since she has raced, but we knew that would be the case and we planned accordingly," said Harwood. "She has been training great, and I'm pleased with the way she is coming into this race. She wants to do it, and that makes it easy. She'll be meeting a lot of other speed in this race, but those other fillies have yet to show that they have her class and quality. I like her chances."

Lucarelli feeling confident

Trainer Frank Lucarelli figures to have a busy and potentially lucrative weekend. Lucarelli entered Gallant Son and Dave's Pacemaker in Saturday's $50,000 Lads Stakes and All the Rage and Eyes on the Prize in the Shinpoch, and he will send out the favored Fear No Evil in Monday's $100,000 Emerald Derby. He feels he has a legitimate shot in all three races.

All the Rage, he said, should like the one-mile distance of the Shinpoch.

"There is a lot of speed to set up her late move in the Shinpoch," he said. "And Fear No Evil will be the one to catch in the derby. He won the Seattle Slew on the lead, and he seems to get better every time we run him.

"With any luck, we could have a nice weekend."

Visitor from California

The wild card in the Emerald Derby is California shipper Thiscatsgotcharm, a son of Pure Prize from the barn of trainer O.J. Jauregui. Thiscatsgotcharm graduated by 4 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Golden Gate in his second start on June 6, then nearly pulled of a 9-1 upset a $53,000 Pleasanton stakes at a mile and 70 yards on June 29.

"He was leading by four or five lengths in the deep stretch, then he hit the rail," said Jauregui. "They had a big crowd that day, and I think it was the grandstand noise that scared him, but Frank Alvarado hit him right-handed at the same time. Frank came off and the horse landed on top of the safety rail and slid along for several yards. It was a miracle that neither Frank nor the horse were seriously hurt."

Jauregui said he has pointed Thiscatsgotcharm toward the Emerald Derby since his last race and that he appears to be sitting on another big effort.

"He worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 at Golden Gate on Tuesday, and he went the last quarter in 24.40," said the trainer. "I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Sale viewing starting Sunday

The roughly 200 yearlings scheduled to be sold in Tuesday's WTBA sale should be in their stalls near the M.J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion by Sunday morning and will be available for inspection until the sale begins at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

With a backdrop of a weak economy and with other recent sales showing declines, most consignors are bracing for a buyers' market.