Extra yardage could help Chestnut Lady

AUBURN, Wash. - Devons Smokin and Chestnut Lady, the one-two finishers in the six-furlong U.S. Bank Stakes on April 23, will be rematched at 6 1/2 furlongs in Sunday's $40,000 Federal Way Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Devons Smokin, a 3-year-old daughter of Devon Lane from the barn of trainer Manny Calvario, employed a quick move on the turn to win the U.S. Bank by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10.20. Last year Devons Smokin won 2 of 6 starts, beating maidens at Golden Gate Fields before scoring a convincing 3 1/2-length victory in the $125,000 CTBA Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar.

Devons Smokin will be trying a distance beyond six furlongs for the first time, and she will do so under a high weight assignment of 120 pounds. Julio Felix will again ride.

Chestnut Lady won her first two starts last year, including the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes at a mile, before going unplaced against male rivals in the $100,000 Gottstein Futurity in October. The U.S. Bank was her first try since the Gottstein, and she finished with good energy to be almost three lengths clear of the third finisher, Wild R. N. The additional sixteenth of a mile would appear to be very much to the advantage of the Jim Penney-trained Chestnut Lady, who will be ridden by Kevin Radke at 117 pounds.

The wild card in the field of seven is Diamond Dollars, who toyed with $25,000 maidens here on May 5 en route to a seven-length victory in 1:08.20. That was the fastest six furlongs ever recorded by a filly or mare at Emerald Downs, yet the performance seemed to come out of nowhere.

In two prior tries, both at Sunland Park, Diamond Dollars finished fourth to maiden special weight company and third to modest $12,500 claimers. She was claimed out of the latter race by trainer Bill Tollett, who has named Kate Repp to ride at 113 pounds.

Forty Colors, who is still a maiden after eight starts, rates a longshot's chance off her surprisingly strong effort in the U. S. Bank. She held fourth after showing the way under 121 pounds in that race, and she gets in under only 110 pounds on Sunday with jockey Ben Russell riding.