'Amanda' seeks third straight win

AUBURN, Wash. - Amanda Lynn will shoot for her third straight win when she takes on older fillies and mares in Saturday's six-furlong feature. The race, which drew a field of seven, is for fillies and mares who have started at the meeting but have not won a race for a $25,000 claiming price or higher.

Amanda Lynn, trained by Craig Roberts, is coming off an impressive score in a $20,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies on Sept. 4, when she sizzled 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.40. In her previous start, Amanda Lynn defeated older $12,500 rivals by four lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.60.

Amanda Lynn might get her sternest opposition from the field's other 3-year-old, Ruby Slew, who fits the conditions of the race about as snugly as possible. Ruby Slew, a front-runner, made her last start in a six-furlong race for $25,000 to $22,500 claimers. Trainer Frank Lucarelli, who claimed Ruby Slew a race earlier out of a narrow defeat for $15,000, entered her for the lower tag, and she won by two lengths, running six furlongs in a fast 1:08.20. Had Ruby Slew been entered for the higher tag, she would not be eligible under Saturday's conditions.

Perfect Plan, trained by Bud Klokstad, will be trying to turn the tables after running second to Ruby Slew in her last start on Aug. 28. Perfect Plan, who won two races at the $25,000 level at last year's meet, will be making only her third start this year on Saturday, and could be coming up to a peak effort.