'Chestnut' seeking first win of meet

AUBURN, Wash. - Chestnut Lady heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's $65,000 Kent Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Emerald Downs.

A daughter of Horse Chestnut who races for Mike and Amy Feuerborn, Chestnut Lady appears a standout despite going winless in her first three starts at the meeting. Chestnut Lady ran a fast-finishing second to Devons Smokin in the six-furlong U.S. Bank Stakes on April 23, then ran fifth to Diamond Dollars in the 6 1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap on May 21. She returned to form in the June 25 Irish Day Handicap at a mile, finishing strongly to miss by a neck to Canadian invader Sophie's Trophy.

Her two wins include a three-quarter-length win in the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes at a mile in September 2005.

None of the fillies who has outfinished Chestnut Lady this year was entered in the Kent. She has run her best races from well off the leaders, but does not appear to have much pace to target on Sunday. Kevin Radke will again ride for trainer Jim Penney.

Chestnut Lady figures to get her sternest challenge from She's All Silk, who has been plagued by poor starts and wide trips in three starts at the current stand. A daughter of Delineator who races for owner Ed Zenker, She's All Silk won twice here as a juvenile last season, and she nearly overcame her troubled trips in her last two outings. She finished second to Diamond Dollars in a mile allowance test on June 10, then rallied from 10th to finish fourth, beaten three lengths, in the Irish Day Handicap. Trainer Pat Mullens said he feels She's All Silk may only need to break with her field to be in contention on Sunday, when she will be ridden by Ricky Frazier.

Mullens will also saddle Musical Wine, a recent winner over allowance company at six furlongs, but Musical Wine will not be coupled with She's All Silk, since they have different owners.

The likely pacesetter in the Kent is Tamale Molly, who is the most lightly raced member of the field, with only two starts. A daughter of Cee's Tizzy and the Seattle Slew mare Emerald Magic, Tamale Molly was a wire-to-wire winner over maiden special weight runners at six furlongs on June 16, then showed the way before settling for sixth behind Musical Wine in that one's recent allowance win.