A Classic Life looking for clean break

AUBURN, Wash. - A Classic Life will be trying not to make the same mistake twice when she takes on seven rivals in Sunday's $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff at a mile.

A Classic Life, who will be shooting for her eighth win from 10 career starts at Emerald Downs, was favored at 7-10 in last month's Boeing Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. She broke eight to 10 lengths behind her field, however, and could only salvage a fourth-place finish, 9 1/4 lengths behind Dinner at Arlene's.

"She tried to anticipate the break, and when the gate didn't open the handler had to grab her head," trainer Grant Forster said. "Then the gate opened, and she was left. It was kind of a fluky thing, and I'm not really worried about it happening again. She has gotten away just fine in 14 of her 15 starts, so the chances are that she will get away fine on Sunday."

Just to make sure, Forster said he schooled A Classic Life in the gate twice after her mishap in the Boeing. Regular rider Ricky Frazier again has the mount at 120 pounds.

Dinner at Arlene's led throughout to notch her first stakes win in the Boeing, and seems likely to employ the same front-running tactics on Sunday. Dinner at Arlene's, a 4-year-old daughter of Forestry trained by Doris Harwood, has won 4 of 9 career outings, including 3 of 6 starts this year. Ben Russell will ride at 116 pounds.

Queenledo, last year's 3-year-old filly champion at Emerald, will be looking for her first win of the year in the Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff. She has run second in her last three starts, all stakes, and needs only modest improvement to score. Sandi Gann will ride for trainer Tim McCanna.

Also a threat is Bardy Woman, who will be making her first start at Emerald after being claimed for $62,500 by owner Tom Tollen at Del Mar on Aug. 2. Bardy Woman, a 5-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat, ran second that day after a mile in 1:38. She has won 4 of 20 career outings, including 4 of 8 starts on dirt, and has impressed trainer Bill Tollett since arriving at Emerald.

"She is a very classy individual, and she has worked well over our track," Tollett said. "I think she will be very tough on Sunday."