Judicature tries to get mile

AUBURN, Wash. - Six intrepid challengers will line up against Judicature in Sunday's $100,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes, the one-mile championship event for 2-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

Judicature, a daughter of first-year sire Tribunal from the barn of trainer Bill Tollett, has been perfect since finishing a troubled third to $30,000 maiden claimers in her 5 1/2-furlong debut on July 1. She won the six-furlong Angie C. Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths on July 16, then came back on Aug. 13 to win the 6 1/2-furlong Knights Choice Stakes by three lengths. Judicature had a different rider in each of her first three outings, but Ricky Frazier, who rode her in the Knights Choice, will again be in the irons on Sunday.

Judicature, like all of the Barbara Shinpoch entrants, will be attempting to go around two turns for the first time on Sunday. She figures to be extremely hard to beat if she can handle the added distance, and she has shown no signs of weakening in her previous outings.

Welken may like the mile distance even more than Judicature. Welken, a stretch-running daughter of Sky Classic who is trained by Steve Bullock, has finished with a great deal of gusto in all three of her starts. She just missed catching Cascade Rose in her 5 1/2-furlong debut on June 24, then finished strongly for third in the Angie C. before graduating against maiden special weight runners on Aug. 18 with 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.40. That clocking earned the same Beyer, a 62, that Judicature received when she won the Knights Choice in 1:17.60. Regular rider Nate Chaves has the mount.

Also dangerous are the Doris Harwood-trained duo of Irene's Bonus Baby and Cascade Rose. Irene's Bonus Baby, a Free at Last filly, finished well for second behind Judicature in the Knights Choice. In her previous try, she defeated $40,000 maidens by more than four lengths after five furlongs in a rapid 57.60.

Cascade Rose, a regally bred daughter of Giant's Causeway, defeated Welken in her June 24 debut, but came back to go unplaced in the Angie C. and in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance test on Aug. 6.

"She is still green, but she is a beautiful mover with a giant stride, and I feel she really wants to go long," said Harwood. "She could come to hand in this spot."

Jadelet, Just Get'er Done, and Gula Gold round out the field.