No Constraints stakes favorite

AUBURN, Wash. - No Constraints figures to be favored over a half-dozen other 2-year-old fillies in Saturday's $45,000 Knights Choice Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

The Knights Choice is limited to fillies whose sires were nominated to the Northwest Stallion Stakes program in the year of their conception. It also is limited to fillies who are eligible for the Northwest Race Series, so it is doubly restricted.

No Constraints, a daughter of Katowice and Nightatmisskittys from the barn of trainer Tim McCanna, is a full sister to Sundance Circle, a double stakes winner here as a juvenile in 2003. No Constraints ran an even fourth behind Sunningdale in her maiden special weight debut at five furlongs July 7, then came back July 28 to beat the same kind by a neck after 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.60. Ricky Frazier, who was up for that score, has the mount at 119 pounds.

No Constraints figures to get a stern challenge from Katie's Cruiser, an impressive 6 1/2-length winner over $30,000 maidens in her five-furlong debut on June 23. Katie's Cruiser, a daughter of He's Tops who is trained by Steve Bullock, came back to contest the six-furlong Angie C. Stakes on July 15, but she faded badly to finish seventh, beaten almost 16 lengths by Smarty Deb, after chasing a fast early pace. Gallyn Mitchell will ride Katie's Cruiser, who figures to have her best chance if she can open an early lead.

Also dropping out of the Angie C. is Russian, a Doris Harwood-trained daughter of Tribunal who graduated by four lengths over $30,000 maidens on July 4. Russian showed little en route to an eighth-place finish in the Angie C., but Harwood reported that she caught a clod in her eye during the running of that race. The trainer said Russian will be equipped with screens Saturday, when she will be ridden by Leslie Mawing.

Other winners in the Knights Choice field are Pop Pop Fizz Fizz, who graduated at the $7,500 level in her second start, and Liberty Belle, who defeated $20,000 company in her third outing.

Rounding out the field are Silky Sally, who was third to $30,000 maidens in her only start, and Pete's Glory Girl, who is still a maiden after three starts. Pete's Glory Girl has twice run second, however, and she lures rider Juan Gutierrez off Katie's Cruiser.