Can't ignore Khalsa filly in sprint

AUBURN, Wash. - Don't Ignore Me is the one to beat in Monday's top offering at Emerald Downs, a 5 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies eligible to be claimed for $15,000.

Don't Ignore Me, a gray daughter of Petersburg, ran a strong second at the $15,000 level going 6 1/2 furlongs on July 28. She was claimed out of that effort by trainer Guru Darma Khalsa for owners Bill Bright and Mike and Jeff Pollowitz.

She came back against $30,000 company in a six-furlong race on Aug. 18, but lost all chance when she broke far behind the rest of the field. She finished well to pass two of her seven rivals that day, however, and she will be dropping back down in class Monday. Khalsa tightened the screws on Don't Ignore Me with two fast interim drills, and Emerald's second-leading jockey, Ricky Frazier, will ride.

Don't Ignore Me figures to get her sternest challenge from Lucky Style, who is the apparent speed of Monday's field.

Lucky Style, trained by Frank Lucarelli, finished well behind Don't Ignore Me on July 28, but she was bumped at the start to get away slowly. In her most recent start, against $10,000 fillies on Aug. 14, Lucky Style led past the eighth pole before yielding only to Top Bet, who won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10.80 for six furlongs. She will likely employ catch-me-if-you-can tactics again Monday, and the abbreviated distance should make her task more manageable.