'Diamonds' gets chance to shine

AUBURN, Wash. - Silk N Diamonds will get another chance to make her Emerald Downs debut in Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong feature, a $50,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-old fillies.

Silk N Diamonds was slated to start in last Sunday's Federal Way Handicap. She made it as far as the paddock, but reared and fell, prompting the state veterinarian to scratch her.

Sarina Obergfell, who trains Silk N Diamonds for Rick Peterson's Superstition Stable, fretted that she wouldn't have an opportunity to run her filly until the next open stakes for the division, the June 29 Irish Day Handicap, but caught a break when Saturday's optional claimer filled.

Silk N Diamonds, a California-bred daughter of Half Term, began her career last fall at Turf Paradise and ran off two straight wins, including a sensational 9 1/2-length victory in the $22,000 Miss Gibson County Stakes at six furlongs. She subsequently placed in stakes at Sunland Park and Turf Paradise before going on vacation in December. She returned and ran fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race at Turf Paradise on May 2, beaten 4 1/2 lengths.

"She threw her head at the start and got away slowly, so that race was quite a bit better than it looks on paper," Obergfell said. "She is really a very nice filly, and I hope she'll be able to show that here."

Among Silk N Diamonds's rivals on Saturday is Back Street Girl, who is undefeated after winning five straight races last winter and spring at Portland Meadows. Back Street Girl won four stakes at the Portland meet, including the Oregon Oaks on April 20.