Debut points out Smarty Deb

AUBURN, Wash. - Smarty Deb and Made for Magic, both maiden special weight winners in their debuts, will vie for favoritism in Sunday's $45,000 Angie C. Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. The Angie C. has lured a field of eight.

Smarty Deb, a half-sister to 3-year-old filly star Shampoo from the barn of trainer Doris Harwood, won the very first 2-year-old offering of the season on May 13. She came from third position to edge stablemate Dat's Dream by a neck in 51 seconds for 4o1/2 furlongs. Dat's Dream flattered her effort on July 1 when he came back to win a five-furlong maiden special weight race in 56.60 seconds, the fastest time for the distance ever recorded by a 2-year-old at Emerald Downs.

Smarty Deb, a homebred daughter of Smart Strike who races for Jerre Paxton's Northwest Farms, will be ridden by Ricky Frazier.

Made for Magic, a daughter of Cape Canaveral who is trained by Frank Lucarelli, posted an impressive debut win on June 3. Made for Magic dueled from between horses to mid-turn, then left her rivals in her wake to score by 3 1/2 lengths while equaling Smarty Deb's clocking of 51 seconds for 4 1/2 furlongs.

Both Smarty Deb and Made for Magic figure to be trying to run down Katie's Cruiser, who scored her debut win in wire-to-wire fashion at the $30,000 maiden claiming level on June 23. Katie's Cruiser, a He's Tops filly who is trained by Steve Bullock for Oak Crest Farm, cut fractions of 21.80 seconds and 44.80 en route to a 6 1/2-length score in 57.20 for five furlongs. The performance came as no surprise to Bullock.

"She had been working fast all along, and every one of her works was under a pull," the trainer said. "I really didn't think they'd beat her if she broke. I think she'll be tough to catch again on Sunday."

Katie's Cruiser might be challenged for the lead by Swiss Truffle, a wire-to-wire winner over $40,000 maidens on June 16. Swiss Truffle, a daughter of Swiss Yodeler from the barn of trainer Dave Bennett, started twice at Turf Paradise and once here before breaking through with her maiden win.

"It's not all bad that we got four starts into her before the stakes," Bennett said. "She has had time to work out all kinks in her game, and I think she has done that."