'Luvgoes' heads field in claimer

AUBURN, Wash. - Emerald Downs will introduce Thursday racing to its 2007 meeting with an eight-race program featuring a $10,000 claimer for fillies and mares going six furlongs.

While none of the seven entrants won last out, Thatsthewayluvgoes comes off a vastly improved effort and could be returning to the form that saw her win four races here in 2006. Thatsthewayluvgoes, a 4-year-old daughter of Tough Knight from the barn of trainer Valorie Lund, stopped badly in her first two starts at the current stand, both on the $15,000 claiming level.

Dropped in for $10,000 in her last outing on May 18, Thatsthewayluvgoes again showed the way and held on for second, beaten less than two lengths by Cryptic Memo after six furlongs in a rapid 1:09.80. What made the effort more impressive was that May 18 was one of the few days at this meeting in which the track played strongly in favor of closers. A neutral track may be all that Thatsthewayluvgoes needs to lead throughout on Thursday, when she will again be ridden by Joe Crispin.

Miz Mitzie, a 6-year-old with eight career wins, finished less than two lengths behind Thatsthewayluvgoes when fourth on May 18 and looms as the chief danger to that rival Thursday. Miz Mitzie was making her first start since December on May 18 and may have been a bit short. She returned to work four furlongs in a sprightly 47.80 seconds on Sunday and should be set to move forward.