'Coleen' tries to beat boys in Gottstein

AUBURN, Wash. - Charming Colleen will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Favored One and Belle of Rainier when she takes on the boys in Sunday's $100,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles. The Gottstein is one of eight stakes on Sunday, Washington Cup Day.

Favored One and Belle of Rainier, two of the best fillies ever to run in Washington, won the Gottstein Futurity in 1994 and 1981, respectively.

Charming Colleen, a daughter of Charismatic from the barn of trainer Aubrey Villyard, won her five-furlong debut here in June and came back to win the six-furlong Angie C. Stakes on July 11. After a break of nearly seven weeks, when there were no races for her, Charming Colleen ran a strong second to the undefeated A Classic Life in the one-mile Barbara Shinpoch Stakes on Aug. 28. The 1:36.20 clocking was .20 faster than the time of the WTBA Lads for males a day later.

"I thought she ran awfully well in the Shinpoch considering she had been off so long, and I know she is tighter now," said Villyard. "I know it's tough to beat the boys, but I haven't seen anything outstanding in that division, and my filly is training super. I think they'll have to lay their bodies down to beat her."

Charming Colleen figures to be tested by Positive Prize and Indian Weaver, the top two finishers in the Lads. Positive Prize won that mile race by 3 1/4 lengths, but Indian Weaver, an 11-length winner of the Northwest Stallion Stakes earlier in the meet, did well to get second after racing wide around both turns.

Positive Prize was sold to owners Ross McLeod and Charles Ming prior to the Lads, but he remained under the care of trainer Tim McCanna, who saddles Positive Prize on Sunday. The trainer will also send out Luckyandsmart, who races for Quadrun Farm LLC.

Luckyandsmart has raced only twice, but he is coming off an extremely impressive win over maiden special weight company on Aug. 28, when he came from far back to win going away in 1:09.60 for six furlongs.

"Positive Prize is the more seasoned horse, and I think you'd have to give him the better chance, but Luckyandsmart can run," said McCanna. "We really think he has a lot of talent, and he should like the added distance."

Rounding out the field of seven are No Shouting, Sky Harbor, and Last Outpost.