Juveniles geared for battle

AUBURN, Wash. - Two-year-olds will take center stage at Emerald Downs on Friday when half of the eight-race card, including the feature, will be devoted to juveniles .

The seventh-race feature at 5 1/2 furlongs will match six 2-year-old fillies, each eligible to be claimed for $30,000 to $25,000.

Basket Wave may be the one to beat off her last race, a close fourth to male rivals in a $20,000 starter-allowance race on Sept. 10. Basket Wave, a daughter of Basket Weave from the barn of trainer Aubrey Villyard, was beaten less than a length by the heavily favored Country Cop after running 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.20. She tried stakes company in her two prior tries, finishing fifth in the Angie C and eighth in the Knights Choice, and she should appreciate the easier placement.

Basket Wave could get her sternest test from Game Writer, who overcame trouble to win her debut at the maiden $12,500 level on Aug. 28. Game Writer, a daughter of Game Plan, was forced to take up at the five-sixteenths pole, but recovered to win by more than a length, running 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.20. She was claimed by trainer Craig Roberts and would seem to require only modest improvement to repeat.

Also dangerous is Volare Princess, who is the apparent speed of Friday's field. Volare Princess held second after setting a pressured pace in a 5 1/2-furlong race for open $20,000 claimers in her last start on Aug. 25.