'Frederick' faces five in claimer

AUBURN, Wash. - Trainer William Smith appears to have found the spot he has been seeking for Lord Frederick, who was nominated for but did not enter last Sunday's Pepsi-Cola Handicap.

Lord Frederick, a son of Dance Floor, will instead take on five rivals in Friday's feature at Emerald Downs, a 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds eligible to be claimed for $30,000.

Lord Frederick has won both of his starts at this meeting, winning by nearly seven lengths over $6,250 maidens on April 17, then defeating $12,500 winners by more than three lengths on May 13. He will be stepping up sharply on Friday - though not as sharply as would have been the case in the Pepsi-Cola - but Smith has picked his spots carefully at this meeting, having won 5 of 9 starts.

Lord Frederick will meet another sharpster in Youhadyourchance, a son of Sea of Secrets from the barn of leading trainer Tim McCanna. Youhadyourchance has also won both of his starts at the meet, dispatching $15,000 maidens April 16 and $15,000 winners on May 7. His Beyer Speed Figure of 71 for the latter win ranks as the best last-race Beyer in the field.

Also entered are Run Nicholas Run and Top Take, who ran second and third in a six-furlong race for the same $30,000 tag on May 13, and class droppers Billy Stark and Rusty Rolls.

Billy Stark comes off a sixth in the six-furlong Auburn Stakes on May 1, while Rusty Rolls finished fourth to Pepsi-Cola winner Norm's Nephew in a six-furlong allowance on May 7.