'Nephew' deserves another shot

AUBURN, Wash. - A half-dozen of the best 3-year-olds on the grounds will prep for the $65,000 Seattle Slew Breeders' Cup on Aug. 7 in Friday's Emerald Downs feature, a one-mile allowance event with a purse of $19,600.

The field includes the second- through fourth-place finishers in the division's last stakes, the one-mile Tacoma Handicap on

June 26. Datzig was the runner-up to California invader Thirsty Guy's in the Tacoma, finishing just a neck behind the winner and a neck ahead of Confidential Call in third. Norm's Nephew finished fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths as the 7-5 favorite.

Those who witnessed the Tacoma may be inclined to give Norm's Nephew another chance, as he broke slowly and was trapped behind horses most of the way. Norm's Nephew, a son of Jazzing Around from the barn of Jimmy Orr, seems to prefer running on the lead and could go dramatically better if he breaks on top Friday. Two races back, he was a five-length winner in the 6 1/2-furlong Pepsi Cola Handicap after leading throughout.

Norm's Nephew may be challenged early by the rapidly improving Another Bob, a Rick Terry-trained son of Memo. Another Bob finished far behind Norm's Nephew in the Pepsi-Cola, but came back to run a solid second to Wasserman in an allowance sprint and then broke through last time with a game victory over The Great Face in a 5 1/2-furlong overnight handicap on July 4.