La Patriotte seeks third in a row

AUBURN, Wash. - La Patriotte will seek a third straight win on Thursday when she heads a field of seven older fillies and mares in the Emerald Downs feature, a $10,000 starter allowance at 1 1/8 miles.

The 5-year-old La Patriotte, from the barn of trainer Alexandria Brenchley, was a maiden through her first eight starts. She broke through with a 2 3/4-length win over $10,000 maidens on June 1, when she covered six furlongs over a sloppy track in a modest 1:12. La Patriotte improved dramatically when matched against $17,500 winners at 1 1/16 miles on July 1, however, as she again won by 2 3/4 lengths in a rapid 1:43.60. The 70 Beyer Speed Figure she earned that day was 17 points higher than she had ever earned before, suggesting she has a true affinity for distance racing. If that is the case, the additional sixteenth in Thursday's feature should only make her tougher to beat.

La Patriotte figures to be tested by Last Thoughts, who has won two of her last three outings. Last Thoughts, a 4-year-old trained by Roy Lumm, defeated $10,000 claimers at 1 1/16 miles in May, and is coming off a 3 1/2-length win at the same level on July 4, when she was timed in 1:36.80 for a mile.

Also dangerous is Darling Silver, who ran second to win machine Halonator while racing under Thursday's conditions last August.