Consistent 'Nephew' looks tough

AUBURN, Wash. - Norm's Nephew will shoulder high weight of 120 pounds on Sunday at Emerald Downs when he heads a field of 11 3-year-olds in the $65,000 Seattle Slew Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Norm's Nephew, a son of Jazzing Around who races for Gunshy Manor and Leona Orr, has won 4 of 5 starts this season, including a five-length score in the 6 1/2-furlong Pepsi-Cola Handicap on May 30. He suffered his only loss in the mile Tacoma Handicap on June 26, when he had to settle for fourth after racing blocked much of the way, but made amends by winning a one-mile allowance prep for the Seattle Slew on July 22. Trainer Jimmy Orr has named leading jockey Kevin Krigger to ride.

Weighted just a pound below Norm's Nephew are King Mobay and Timeless Passion. King Mobay, a winner of 3 of 13 starts, all in California, returned from a two-month freshening to run second in a $50,000 optional claiming event going 1 1/16 miles at Solano on July 17. Earlier this year, he won a $40,000 starter allowance affair at Golden Gate and a first-level allowance race at Bay Meadows, and he also ran third in the $100,000 San Mateo Mile at Bay Meadows. King Mobay will be saddled on Sunday by trainer Junior Coffey and will be ridden by Miguel Perez.

Timeless Passion is among the leaders of his division at Hastings Park, having sandwiched a near miss in the J. Coleman Preview Handicap between two allowance wins.