Enumclaw Girl should get a mile

AUBURN, Wash. - Enumclaw Girl will take on seven challengers in Sunday's $50,000 Irish Day Handicap at a mile for 3-year-old fillies.

Enumclaw Girl, a daughter of Katowice from the barn of trainer Rosie Simkins, figures to be a solid favorite despite having never raced beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. Enumclaw Girl graduated last year in her five-furlong debut against maiden special weight company, then won the six-furlong U. S. Bank Stakes in her first start at 3. In her most recent outing, Enumclaw Girl finished a game second, beaten just a neck by Startjumpin Marnie, in the 6 1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap on May 31.

Though Enumclaw Girl has given every indication that she will go at least a mile, neither her dam, Seattle Seamstress, nor her full sister, Baby Joy Lvn, was able to stay two turns. Enumclaw Girl will attempt to do so under a highweight assignment of 119 pounds with regular rider Gallyn Mitchell up.

What makes Enumclaw Girl's task seem more manageable is that none of her rivals on Sunday has won beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, and only four have tried.

No Constraints won two sprint stakes here last season, but she was eased when trying a mile in the Barbara Shinpoch. She will be stretching out off a pair of sprints, a second in the U. S. Bank Stakes and a sixth in the Federal Way. Trainer Tim McCanna has named Ricky Frazier to ride at 117 pounds.

Tipperary Dream outfinished No Constraints in last year's Barbara Shinpoch, but she was beaten more than 13 lengths. The Robbie Baze-trained Tipperary Dream has finished fourth, third, and fifth in three sprint tries this season.

Light Up the Lane tried $32,000 optional claimers going 1 1/16 miles at Bay Meadows in March and finished fifth, beaten more than 10 lengths. Her last two races came under the tutelage of trainer John Snow at Hastings, where she finished third in the six-furlong Emerald Downs Handicap and second in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance.

Of the four who have attempted two turns, Naturally Perfect ran best. She finished second in an optional $32,000 claimer at a mile on turf, then was fourth in the $75,000 Bay Meadows Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. In her Emerald debut, Naturally Perfect ran fifth in the Federal Way.