Droppers dominate sprint field

AUBURN, Wash. - Tomorrow's Turn heads a field of nine 3-year-olds, each eligible to be claimed for $20,000, in Saturday's six-furlong feature at Emerald Downs.

Tomorrow's Turn, a highly consistent son of Tomorrow's Slew from the barn of trainer Jim Fergason, has not been worse than third in eight career starts. After collecting his maiden win at the $16,000 level here last season, he ran third to Seattles Best Joe in the six-furlong Captain Condo Stakes. Moving to Portland Meadows, Tomorrow's Turn ran second to stablemate Typhoon Aaron in both the six-furlong Columbia River and the Juvenile Mile on Dec. 26.

Given a break of 3 1/2 months, Tomorrow's Turn returned to run second and third to allowance company in his first two starts as a 3-year-old, and should prove difficult to deny with the drop to claiming company on Saturday.

Pelly Pinecone is also dropping sharply, after going unplaced behind Beau Maggie in the recent Auburn Stakes, but he has not finished better than fifth in four starts since posting an impressive win over maiden special weight rivals here last June. Three of those starts came against stakes company, however, and Saturday's class relief could serve as a tonic. Pelly Pinecone, a quick son of Slewdledo, is the apparent speed of the field.

Also dangerous is Cedar River, who ran fourth against $30,000 sprinters in his seasonal debut for trainer Bud Klokstad on May 13.