Glo Bou Liza the main target

AUBURN, Wash. - A $15,000 claimer for older fillies and mares tops a nine-race card Saturday at Emerald Downs. First post is 2 p.m. Pacific, and the six-furlong feature is the eighth race.

Glo Bou Liza will attract plenty of attention in the betting. A 4-year-old trained by Charles Essex, she captured a $25,000 claimer May 15 in her second start of the year and was sixth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths, in a first-level allowance won by Cee the Lady on June 11.

Glo Bou Liza has won 3 of 11 career starts for owners C.E. and Ann Richardson. She won her career debut by nine lengths in September 2008, took a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds last May in her first start of 2009, and ran down 3-5 favorite Super Dixie in her claiming victory six weeks ago. With no need-the-lead types in Saturday's race, Glo Bou Liza, breaking from the No. 3 post in a seven-horse field, figures to get involved early under regular rider Troy Stillwell.

Big Bertha, who has won six times and earned $231,082 during a 37-race career, could be the leading challenger. Owned by Hastings-based trainer Alan May and conditioned at Emerald Downs by Mike Puhich, Big Bertha finished second, a neck behind Nancy Perkins, in a $15,000 claimer May 2 and was fourth after pressing the pace in a $17,500 claimer at Hastings on May 21.

Big Bertha failed to finish her most recent start June 13 after lugging out on the first turn in a $12,500 claimer at Hastings. She has put forth strong efforts in her two starts at Emerald Downs, however, winning a six-furlong, first-level allowance in 1:08.60 last September. A return to a surface she likes could put her into the mix Saturday. Inoel Beato rides.

Primadonna Pearl won four times at Emerald Downs last summer but failed to make an impact during a winter campaign in Southern California. The Vann Belvoir-trained 4-year-old will be making her first start since January. Gallyn Mitchell was named to ride.

Others in the field are Keira's Way, who was fourth in a $40,000 starter allowance at Golden Gate in her last start; All the Rage, who has been claimed twice at the meeting, most recently for $10,000 on May 23; likely longshot T J Timber; and Mirror Pond, who is stepping up two levels after posting consecutive victories for $10,000.