Angie C. showcase for precocious fillies

AUBURN, Wash. – The first wave of maiden races for 2-year-old fillies are in the books at Emerald Downs, and on Sunday six of the early combatants will vie for tentative supremacy in the division when they compete in the $50,000 Angie C. Stakes at six furlongs.

Three of the six entrants have each recorded a maiden victory, and the betting is certain to zero in on two of them: Ethan’s Baby, a rollicking maiden winner on June 28, when she ran five furlongs in 57.46, and Seeking the Light, a stylish debut winner at 4 1/2 furlongs in a quick 50.88.

The third serious contender, Dancingwithdebbie, was a distant third behind Seeking the Light in her June 14 debut but improved markedly in her second start, closing with a rush to win a five-furlong maiden race. Dancingwithdebbie is trained by Frank Lucarelli, who sent out Trackattacker to win the Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings last Sunday.

As many as four horses could have designs on the early lead in the Angie C., though Seeking the Light, if she breaks well from her inside post position, might be the quickest of them all. Hustled to the front in her debut, Seeking the Light zipped through an opening quarter-mile in 21.57 seconds and a half-mile in 44.31, and then kicked away to win by nearly four lengths.

Her pace rivals include Ethan’s Baby, Boise shipper Boss Loir, and the improving Twelfth Fan. The final entrant, late-runner Pippa Bou Peep, is winless in three starts and likely to be a longshot.

KEY CONTENDERS

Seeking the Light (Beyer: 57)

◗ Seeking the Light beat a good group in her debut. Fifth-place finisher Dancingwithdebbie won her next start impressively, while third-place finisher Nicole Michele went to Del Mar on Wednesday and finished a close fourth in an $80,000 maiden claimer.

◗ Trainer Blaine Wright has won with 17 percent of his 2-year-old starters over the past five years but has yet to saddle a 2-year-old stakes winner.

Ethan’s Baby (Beyer: 55)

◗ Ethan’s Baby raced greenly through the stretch in her powerful maiden victory, displaying vast promise for trainer Howard Belvoir and owners-breeders Todd and Shawn Hansen. She covered the final furlong in 12.43 seconds and could have gone faster.

◗ Belvoir on Ethan’s Baby: “I don’t think you’d have to send her [to the lead]. I think she’s a good filly and she’ll do anything you want.”

Dancingwithdebbie (Two Beyers: 42, 35)

◗ After failing to sustain a wide middle move in her debut, Dancingwithdebbie gave a much-improved effort in her second start. She finished with a rush at five furlongs and is likely to relish the additional furlong in the Angie C.