'Jewel' won at this level last season

AUBURN, Wash. - Carrie's a Jewel will make her 5-year-old debut in Saturday's Emerald Downs feature, a $25,000 optional claiming event for fillies and mares at five furlongs.

Carrie's a Jewel was last seen in the 1 1/16-mile Belle Roberts Handicap on Washington Cup Day, Oct. 2, when she ran a creditable second to win-machine Halonator. Earlier at the 2005 stand she defeated optional $25,000 claimers at 6 1/2 furlongs and optional $40,000 claimers at 5 1/2 furlongs. Though she has been away for more than eight months, Carrie's a Jewel has logged a full slate of workouts for trainer Junior Coffey and has a history of running well fresh.

Star Amethyst may offer the sternest challenge to Carrie's a Jewel, though she comes off a subpar effort in a tough field of $40,000 optional claimers in her seasonal debut on April 22. The 5-year-old Star Amethyst finished ninth behind Kissntheboysgoodby in that 5 1/2-furlong race, but most of the rivals she faced that day are good enough to be slated to run back in Sunday's Hastings Park Handicap. Last year Star Amethyst won 3 of 8 starts for trainer Steve Bulluck, and she has 5 wins in 14 starts at Emerald Downs and 4 wins from 9 starts at six furlongs.

Andrea's Wish, Me O Me O My, and Gold Deville were all nominated for Sunday's Hastings Park, but their connections have decided to run them on Saturday instead.