Fergie's Fantasy back at Emerald

AUBURN, Wash. - Fergie's Fantasy returns to Emerald Downs in Thursday's feature, a 5 1/2-furlong race for $15,000 fillies and mares that drew a field of seven.

Fergie's Fantasy, a 5-year-old Basket Weave mare from the barn of trainer Roy Lumm, won 3 of 10 starts here last year, and she sports a career record of 5 wins from

19 starts over this track. She campaigned in Northern California last winter, winning 1 of 6 outings before being turned out in February. The stretch-running Fergie's Fantasy has trained especially well for her return, logging two bullet workouts in July, and should see a favorable pace

scenario with several front-runners entered. Lumm has named Seth Martinez to ride at 121 pounds.

Imagunna is dropping sharply and figures as the one to fear. Imagunna, a 5-year-old daughter of Petersburg, was an easy 6 1/4-length winner over $25,000 company here in April, when she got 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.60 to improve her record at the distance to 3 for 3. She has since raced twice, finishing second to $40,000 optional claimers in June and third to $32,000 optional claimers in July, with both races at six furlongs. The class drop and the return to her favorite distance should make Imagunna formidable under

regular rider Gallyn Mitchell at 123 pounds.

The front-running Imagunna faces a difficult pace scenario, however, as rivals Charm Me, Golden Pine, Kisses Included, and Ms. Patrona also have keen speed.