Klokstad has classy 1-2 punch

AUBURN, Wash. - The Bud Klokstad-trained entry of Jumron Won and Prodigious head an accomplished field of six older horses, each eligible to be claimed for $32,000, in Saturday's one-mile feature at Emerald Downs.

Between them, the 6-year-old Jumron Won and the 7-year-old Prodigious have won 16 races and nearly $600,000, but Jumron Won will be making just his second start since 2002 and Prodigious will be starting for the first time since last September.

Jumron Won, a multiple stakes winner here at 2 and 3, returned from his long absence to run an encouraging third in a $32,000 optional claiming affair at six furlongs on May 16. He has since posted two drills, including a flashy five furlongs in 57.40, and appears ready to stretch out to Saturday's more favorable distance.

Prodigious, a front-runner who complements Jumron Won's closing style, was claimed by Klokstad for $40,000 at Golden Gate in December of 2002. He did not win in four starts last year, but he missed by only a nose when matched with $50,000 optional claiming company here last June.

The Klokstad trainees might get their sternest challenge from the Hastings Park-based Weepinbell, a 4-year-old son of Alydeed who will be saddled on Saturday by local trainer Roy Lumm. Weepinbell will be stretching out after a pair of sixth-place finishes at Hastings against optional $50,000 claimers going 6 1/2 furlongs. His lone win from six starts last year came going 1 1/16 miles against optional $50,000 claiming company.

Rounding out the field are Wailea Warrior, Yesss, and Bold Mango.