In-demand mare offered for top dollar

AUBURN, Wash. - Storm Leaper will attempt to step up and repeat in Friday night's Emerald Downs feature, a six-furlong test for $15,000 fillies and mares that has drawn a field of seven.

Storm Leaper, a 5-year-old daughter of Storm Blast, has been a very hot item at the claim box, changing hands after each of her last three outings. In her most recent start, a win over $7,500 company on June 26, Storm Leaper was claimed by trainer Larry Wolf for Unstable Stables. The new connections apparently like their purchase, as they are doubling the asking price on Friday.

Despite the class hike, Storm Leaper figures strongly off her very sharp form. She has not finished worse that second in her last five starts, at Golden Gate, Bay Meadows and Emerald Downs, and she has won three of those outings. She is also adept at Friday's distance, having compiled a record of 4 wins from 10 tries at six furlongs.

Storm Leaper may yield the favorite's role to Perfect Plan, however. Perfect Plan, a 6-year-old trained by Bud Klokstad, will be dropping off a creditable second-place effort against $20,000 foes at a mile on May 29. She has since logged three strong five-furlong drills for Friday's cutback in distance, and she has posted 2 wins and 2 seconds from 9 prior tries at six furlongs.

Also a threat is Sin City Slew, who defeated $10,000 rivals going six furlongs here in her last start on May 8.