Marathon rematch

AUBURN, Wash. - The second leg of the Harley Hoppe and Associates Marathon Championship Series goes as the featured eighth race at Emerald Downs on Friday. The 1 1/4-mile race has drawn a field of nine to race under $10,000 starter allowance conditions for a purse of $10,400.

Prince of the Wild and Super Writer, who staged a memorable stretch duel in the initial 1 1/8-mile leg of the series two weeks ago, figure as the ones to beat. Prince of the Wild used a rail-skimming trip to beat Super Writer by a head in their recent meeting, and the added furlong Friday could be to his advantage. A 5-year-old son of Wild Again and Czar's Princess, by Czaravich, Prince of the Wild competed in all three legs of last season's marathon series and made his best showing in the 1 1/4-mile leg, finishing fourth of nine. He picks up two pounds off his recent score and will carry 120 pounds with Osman Cedeno returning to ride on Friday.

Super Writer has never tried 10 furlongs, but the 6-year-old Super Seven gelding boasts a record of 11 wins from 26 career starts and seems to be tough at any distance. A front-runner, Super Writer yielded after dueling for the lead in his last outing and may be able to set a softer pace Friday. Kevin Radke, who will make his Emerald Downs debut after a stint at Ohio's Thistledown Park, has the mount at 118 pounds.

Radke, who was a regular on the northern California circuit before moving east last spring, has seven mounts on Friday's nine-race card. He intends to ride at Emerald through the end of the meeting on Sept. 17, according to his agent, Chris Ecklund.