Meet's prime week begins modestly

AUBURN, Wash. - Longacres Mile week begins Thursday with an eight-race card featuring an evenly-matched field of six 3-year-olds going a mile for $17,500 claiming prices.

The Grade 3, $300,000 Longacres Mile is expected to attract a full field of 12. The Mile and the $100,000 Emerald Distaff both will be run on Sunday, and there will be a special $2 daily double wager on Saturday's $100,000 Washington Oaks and the Mile. The Mile is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race this year, with the winner automatically qualifying for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

Favoritism is up for grabs in Thursday's headliner, but One Quick Brew figures to attract attention after defeating older $12,500 rivals in his last outing on July 3. It was the third win from nine starts for One Quick Brew, who won the 1 1/8-mile Oregon Derby in March at Portland Meadows. One Quick Brew is trained by Jonathan Nance and will be ridden by J. Luis Torres.

Sargon's Law, making his third career start, is also a contender. Trained by Bob Meeking, Sargon's Law defeated $12,500 maidens at a mile in his debut, then jumped to the $32,000 optional-claiming level for his second start. He closed eight lengths in that race to finish fifth of seven. He worked a sharp half-mile since and appears to be dropping for action on Thursday under leading rider Kevin Radke.