Colony Lane well-rested for return

AUBURN, Wash. - Colony Lane, the winner of last season's Washington Cup Classic, will make his 5-year-old debut in Monday's featured race, a $25,000 optional claiming affair at six furlongs.

A son of Magesterian from the barn of trainer Bonnie Jenne, Colony Lane scored his maiden win at six furlongs here last season before posting a 3 3/4-length win over Alfurune in the Sept. 21 Washington Cup Classic, which was contested at 1 1/16 miles. Colony Lane followed that victory with a three-race fall campaign in northern California that netted a pair of fourth-place finishes against optional claiming company.

"Since we extended his 4-year-old campaign, we gave him extra time off last winter," Jenne said. "That's why he hasn't raced until now. He has really been training well, though, and we've got high hopes for him this year."

Colony Lane did not land in a soft spot. Heading the opposition is Best on Tap, who established a track record for 6 1/2 furlongs when he won an optional claiming race in 1:13.60 here May 31. Best on Tap, a 4-year-old trained by Doug Driever, ran second to Willie the Cat in the six-furlong Seattle Handicap earlier in the season.

Also in Monday's lineup is Call Columbo, an unlucky second when racing under Monday's conditions in his last outing June 18. The late-running Call Columbo, who is trained by Dr. Charles Barth, lost momentum when forced to wait for room at midstretch, but finished with a rush when clear to miss catching Full Force Gale by a half-length after 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.40.

Monday's holiday program will get under way at 1 p.m.