Maiden could win this stakes

AUBURN, Wash. - Music to My Heart will head a compact field of six, including a stable coupling, in Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong, $40,000 filly division of the Northwest Stallion Stakes at Emerald Downs.

Music to My Heart has raced only once, but she made a lasting impression by running second to Perfect Plan despite breaking slowly in the five-furlong Pierce County Stakes on June 10. Music to My Heart, a daughter of Game Plan and the stakes-producing mare Sodeartomyheart, has not raced in seven weeks but figures to be fit off a strong six-furlong workout in 1:12.60 on June 10. She lures leading rider Ben Russell to ride at 116 pounds.

Music to My Heart is one of four maidens in the filly division of the Northwest Stallion Stakes, which is restricted to fillies whose sires were nominated and who were themselves made eligible to the Northwest Race Series. The winners in the stakes are Happy Side, who won a maiden race over $8,000 rivals, and Wild Blackberries, who has won twice, defeating $16,000 winners after collecting her maiden score for the same claiming price.

Wild Blackberries should challenge Music to My Heart for the favorite's role off her most recent win, as she drew off to triumph by more than seven lengths after 5 1/2 furlongs in a nifty 1:04.60 under Gallyn Mitchell, who again has the mount at 118 pounds.

The Jeff Hudson-trained duo of Tesse Jo, who showed speed to maiden special weight company on July 22, and Midnight Margie, who has twice run second against $25,000 rivals, will race coupled in the wagering.

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