Parioli's Legacy is reliable

AUBURN, Wash. - Parioli's Legacy looms the one to beat in Friday's feature at Emerald Downs, a one-mile race for $20,000 fillies and mares that drew a field of nine.

Parioli's Legacy, 6, has been a model of consistency since being claimed by trainer Joe Toye for owners Greg and Chuck Conley in July of last year, compiling a record of 3 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 13 starts. She won under the conditions of Friday's headliner on July 13, covering the mile distance in 1:36, then came back in her most recent outing on July 26 to lose by a neck to Arsen Annie in a 1 1/16-mile race for $20,000 claimers. A. L. Gutierrez will ride Parioli's Legacy at 121 pounds Friday, two pounds more than her rivals will carry.

Parioli's Legacy figures to get a stern test from Beautify, who dueled with Parioli's Legacy through much of the July 26 race before finishing third, a length behind the winner. Beautify beat $25,000 optional claimers here on June 9, when she came from well off the pace to score by two lengths, running the mile in 1:39.20 on a sloppy track. Jennifer Whitaker will ride.

Another likely contender is Gold Deville, who closed to finish fourth, beaten two lengths by Arsen Annie in the July 26 race. Gold Deville won three races here last year and appears to be coming around to her best form.

Ricky Frazier will ride Gold Deville, a strong finisher who would be advantaged by a fast and contested pace.