Feeling Fancy trying a mile

AUBURN, Wash. - With no clear leader in the 3-year-old filly division at Emerald Downs, a dozen horses were entered for Sunday's $50,000 Irish Day Handicap at one mile. Racing begins at 2 p.m., with the Irish Day going as the sixth event on a 10-race program.

Feeling Fancy, undefeated in three local starts, figures to be the wagering favorite. She won her racing debut here last June, failed to make a serious impact in three starts in California over the winter, and then returned to her winning ways in a first-level allowance April 24. Feeling Fancy followed with a resounding victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap on May 9.

Sunday's start will be Feeling Fancy's first around two turns. She is by an accomplished sprint sire, Sky Mesa, though Sky Mesa has been responsible for some quality routers, too, including General Quarters, a Grade 1 winner of more than $1 million. If Feeling Fancy can get the distance, she will be the horse to beat.

Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Feeling Fancy will be ridden by Francisco Duran and will break from the post 7. Knight Raider, a three-time stakes winner last summer and runner-up behind Feeling Fancy in the Federal Way Handicap, will be in post 6.

Knight Raider has won at the distance: she captured the one-mile Barbara Shinpoch Stakes in front-running fashion last August. Trainer Doris Harwood outfitted Knight Raider with blinkers during a four-race winning streak in 2009 and removed them for her first two starts in 2010. After rallying from off the pace in the Federal Way Handicap, Knight Raider finished sixth in the 6 1/2-furlong Emerald Downs Handicap at Hastings two weeks ago after falling more than eight lengths behind on the backstretch.

Harwood is going back to blinkers Sunday, and perhaps Knight Raider will return to her pacesetting ways. Ricky Frazier will ride.

Ghost Girl, second in a 1 1/16-mile first-level allowance at Hollywood Park in her last start, will attract some interest in the betting, though she drew post 10, always a difficult assignment at Sunday's distance. Ghost Girl is by Ghostzapper from an A.P. Indy mare; she is bred to run all day. Jockey Inoel Beato has the call for trainer Mike Puhich.

Others in the field are Soul Custody, Sis's Sis, Zenovit, Tapit So Lightly, Runaway Speed, Hearts Valentine, Private Fortune, Sheza Foxy Jackpot, and Have'n a Wild Time.