Miss Fast Dancer likely to feel pace pressure

AUBURN, Wash. - Miss Fast Dancer figures to be the horse to catch in Saturday's feature at Emerald Downs, a $15,000 claiming race for older fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. The nine-race program begins at 2 p.m. and the feature, which attracted a field of five, will be the eighth race on the card.

Miss Fast Dancer was a game front-running winner in her most recent outing, clearing a field of $12,500 claimers on the turn and then holding on bravely after being collared with more than a furlong to run. It was the sixth victory in 25 career starts for the 5-year-old Glitterman mare. Jockey Gallyn Mitchell, who has ridden Miss Fast Dancer in both of her starts at the current meeting, will be back aboard Saturday for trainer Blaine Wright.

Miss Fast Dancer is likely to feel pace pressure from Let Me Get My Hat, a 4-year-old filly trained by Howard Belvoir. A two-time winner during her 3-year-old season last summer, Let Me Get My Hat tired in her 2009 debut after showing sharp speed for a half-mile in a $25,000 claiming race in early May. Three interim workouts could have Let Me Get My Hat primed for a big run in her second start. She will be ridden by Jennifer Whitaker.

With Miss Fast Dancer and Let Me Get My Hat poised to hook up early, the feature may set up nicely for Follow Your Shot, a fast-closing third in Miss Fast Dancer's winning race May 15. Follow Your Shot, a 5-year-old mare trained by Doris Harwood, has won 5 times in 15 starts at Emerald Downs. Juan Gutierrez had the riding assignment.

The other two entrants do their best running from slightly off the pace. Lady Yodeler, making her first start since January for trainer Jim Penney, has been first or second 15 times in 33 starts. Nina Win, trained by Roy Lumm, has hit the board 15 times in 20 starts at Emerald Downs. Jose Zunino has the call on Lady Yodeler, and apprentice Cassie Papineau is scheduled to ride Nina Win.

Saturday's card also features the career debut of Kingledo, a full-brother to six-time Emerald Down stakes winner Queenledo. Trained by Tim McCanna, Kingledo tops a field of six in the fourth race, a maiden special weights for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Seth Martinez, the defending riding champion at Emerald Downs, has the mount on the son of Slewdledo from the Wronsky mare Tenderness.