Individual Knight in step up

AUBURN, Wash. - Individual Knight will attempt to step up and repeat on Saturday when he meets seven other 3-year-olds in the Emerald Downs feature, a six furlong race for $20,000 to $18,000 claimers.

Individual Knight, a front-running son of Individual Style trained by Terry Gillihan, beat $15,000 company in his return to action here on Sept. 2, when he covered six furlongs in 1:09.60 to prevail by a half-length. That was Individual Knight's first outing since Nov. 20 at Golden Gate, when he won by 20 widening lengths over $16,000 claimers only to have the race declared a no-contest.

Individual Knight was clearly the best horse in his last race, but four of his six opponents were affected when a horse fell on the turn. Those four were far out of contention when the incident occurred, however, and neither the second- or third-place finishers were affected. Nonetheless, the stewards invoked a California rule allowing them to call off any race in which more than half of the field is impeded.

Individual Knight may get his sternest challenge from Chickasaw Park, who is also coming off a sharp effort. Chickasaw Park, trained by Pat Mullens, defeated $15,000 maidens on Sept. 11, getting six furlongs in 1:09.60. Though he will be meeting winners for the first time on Saturday, he owns the highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field, a 70, and figures to be strongly backed off his sharp and improving form.