Klokstad takes two shots

AUBURN, Wash. - A field of 11 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, each eligible to be claimed for $25,000, will race over six furlongs in Friday's featured seventh race at Emerald Downs.

The field includes the Bud Klokstad-trained entry of Jumpingjupiter and My Plan, which may go favored on the strength of a very strong effort by Jumpingjupiter in his last appearance on June 13. In that 6 1/2-furlong race for open $16,000 company, he dueled throughout with a razor sharp Thunzarr before yielding by a neck in 1:16. He meets a great deal of other speed in Friday's feature, but he has the highest last race Beyer Speed Figure in the field, an 80, and he is eligible to improve in just his second start since April 18.

My Plan adds another dimension to the entry, because he is capable of stalking the early pace and finishing strongly. He employed those tactics to score a smart 2 1/4-length win over $15,000 company in his seasonal debut at six furlongs on May 1. He came back to run third against $32,000 company in a six-furlong race on June 26.

Class droppers Sowhatsyourpoint and Bomartini may pose the most serious competition to the Klokstad trainees. Both have been meeting optional claiming

company with little success, but they will be meeting softer competition on Friday.

Another possibility is Moonlight Storm, a winner of five races from 15 career starts. Moonlight Storm finished a close fourth against open $20,000 claimers going six furlongs last time out on May 28.