'Notes' eyes first win at one turn

AUBURN, Wash. - Swingn' Notes will carry high weight of 119 pounds when she takes on seven rivals in Sunday's six-furlong Hastings Park Handicap at Emerald Downs.

A 4-year-old daughter of French Deputy trained by Bud Klokstad, Swingn' Notes earned her impost with three stakes wins last season. All four of her career triumphs have come around two turns, however, and she is winless in four starts at six furlongs.

Swingn' Notes prepared for Sunday's assignment with a third to Marva Jean in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance test here April 16. Gallyn Mitchell has the mount.

Marva Jean may be favored off her five-length allowance win, which she accomplished in a rapid 1:02.40. Marva Jean led throughout that day, but she placed in three stakes last season when coming from well off the pace. Jockey Mick Ruis will ride.

If Marva Jean elects to try for the lead, she figures to be challenged by Only Oralee, who was an impressive wire-to-wire winner in both of her career starts, and Spirit to Spare, who has shown the way in all six of her outings in Alberta, where she posted four wins last season.

A hotly contested pace could open the door for Top Penny, who comes off a late-running win in a 5 1/2-furlong stakes at Turf Paradise on April 3. Top Penny placed in four stakes as a 3-year-old here in 2003, and she won a pair of allowance races here last summer.