Boeing rematch of top females

AUBURN, Wash. - Sudden Departure, who ascended to the top of the local filly and mare division with a victory in the July 4 King County Handicap at a mile, will attempt to solidify her position when she takes on four challengers in Saturday's $45,000 Boeing Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Sudden Departure, a 5-year-old daughter of Demons Begone from the barn of trainer Jim Penney, has won 4 of 10 career outings and 2 of her 3 starts this year. She began her campaign with a head victory over $32,000 claimers at six furlongs, then ran second to She's All Silk in the 6 1/2-furlong Washington State Legislators Handicap before reversing that decision in the King County. She defeated She's All Silk by a half-length in a very rapid 1:34.20 in her recent stakes win, then came back with a smart five-furlong drill in 1:00.80 on July 22. Douglas Portillo, who was up for the King County score, retains the mount at 118 pounds.

She's All Silk will share topweight honors after trading decisions with Sudden Departure in her last two starts. She's All Silk, a 4-year-old daughter of Delineator who is trained by Pat Mullens, won the Washington State Legislators with an impressive display of speed, then just failed to last after cutting fast fractions in the King County. She won the 1 1/8-mile Washington Oaks here last season, so the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Boeing is within her range if she can moderate the pace on Saturday. Ricky Frazier will again have the task of rationing She's All Silk's speed.

Light My Ducks and newcomer Truly Quiet also have good speed and could challenge She's All Silk early. Light My Ducks, a winner of 4 of her 10 career starts, will be stretching out beyond six furlongs for the first time. She is coming off back-to-back scores against $15,000 rivals at six and 5 1/2 furlongs, and she has a good deal of back class.

Truly Quiet, a 4-year-old daughter of Real Quiet, has won 2 of 10 starts while racing exclusively in California. She defeated first-level allowance company at a mile in April at Bay Meadows, and she is coming off a fourth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Alameda County Handicap at Pleasanton on July 4.

Beaulena, who closed strongly for third in the King County Handicap, rounds out the field.