Claimers rematched in sprint

AUBURN, Wash. - Waverly Girl will shoot for her fourth win at the Emerald Downs meeting on Friday when she heads a field of nine fillies and mares, each eligible to be claimed for $8,000 to $10,000, in the 5 1/2-furlong feature.

Waverly Girl, a 5-year-old daughter of Smokester from the barn of trainer Dan Kenney, has employed her excellent early foot to notch three wins from five starts at the stand, including a nose decision over One Fast Cowgirl July 20 at the same conditions as Friday's race. Waverly Girl got the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04 under regular rider Kevin Radke, who is serving a suspension. Clark Jones will take over the mount at 119 pounds.

One Fast Cowgirl will be back to challenge Waverly Girl again, as will the third-, fourth-, and fifth-place finishers from the July 20 race. One Fast Cowgirl, who is trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, just missed catching Waverly Girl after unleashing a powerful stretch run. She defeated $5,000 claimers at 5 1/2 furlongs in her previous try on June 23, when Velasquez claimed her for owners Rancho Viejo and Joan Palmer. Ricky Frazier will retain the mount at 119 pounds.

Waverly Girl is expected to be challenged early by Lasting Kiss, who steps up off an easy 4 1/4-length win at six furlongs on July 13. Lasting Kiss, a 6-year-old trained by Doris Harwood, fits with Friday's field on the Beyer scale and she loves to win races. Her record now shows a dozen scores from 32 starts.