Emerald: Seattle brings together Elusive Noise, Awesome Woman

AUBURN, Wash. – Elusive Noise and Awesome Woman, speedy newcomers in the 3-year-old filly division at Emerald Downs, will put unbeaten records on the line Sunday in the $50,000 Seattle Handicap. A total of seven horses were entered for the 6 1/2-furlong Seattle, a preliminary step on the road to the nine-furlong Washington Oaks in August. The Seattle is race 6 on a nice-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Elusive Noise is 2 for 2 in her brief career, both victories accomplished in front-running fashion. She’s by the influential stallion Elusive Quality, who stands for a $50,000 fee at Darley in Lexington, Ky. Her dam, Noisette, won at distances from one mile to 1 1/4 miles, so Elusive Noise figures to get better as the trips get longer. But she’s been impressive going short, too, running five furlongs in 56.80 in her debut on April 17, and 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.62 in her second start three weeks ago.

Elusive Noise is trained by Tom Wenzel, whose barn is practically overflowing with talented 3-year-old fillies. Wenzel nominated four horses to the Seattle Handicap and will run three of them. Joining Elusive Noise in the lineup are Love Makor, who’s never been worse than third in six career starts, and Rossi Reserve, who rallied from midpack to win a first-level optional allowance in her season debut May 14. Wenzel assigned Juan Gutierrez to ride Elusive Noise, with Jose Zunino on Love Makor, and Robert Skelly aboard Rossi Reserve.

Wenzel’s trio will have their hands full with trainer Howard Belvoir’s lone shooter, Awesome Woman. She splashed to an easy victory in her only start, which came in a six-furlong maiden race on May 7, and has worked brilliantly in the interim. In one of the race’s many subplots, Belvoir and jockey Javier Matias must decide on tactics. Will Awesome Woman get involved with probable pacesetters Elusive Noise, Love Makor, and Carrabelle Harbor, a double stakes winner in 2010, or will she bide her time while waiting for the leaders to tire? Breaking from the outside post in a seven-horse field, Matias should have plenty of options.

Others in the field are Class Included, a close second behind Elusive Noise on May 7, and longshot Debbie’s Striker, who won a $12,500 maiden claimer in her last start. Class Included closed smartly going 5 1/2 furlongs in her most recent outing and could benefit from the additional 220 yards on Sunday.