Premo Copy turns back to sprint

AUBURN, Wash. - Premo Copy, who has twice been stakes-placed at the Emerald Downs meeting, will have a prime opportunity to collect her first stakes win when she takes on just four rivals in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong John and Kitty Fletcher Memorial Stakes.

Premo Copy, a daughter of Supremo and the classy Soft Copy who races for breeder John Roche, is coming off a solid second to Erica's Smile in the nine-furlong Washington Oaks on Aug. 18. Earlier in the meet, she fell just a nose short of Lasting Code in the 1 1/16-mile Irish Day Handicap in June. Between her two stakes, Premo Copy scored a 1 1/2-length victory over $50,000 optional claiming company at a mile.

The challenge for Premo Copy on Sunday will be shortening up to a sprint distance, as her last four races have been routes. She scored her maiden win last season at Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong distance, however, and she was a creditable second to Bogus Plan in a $50,000 optional claiming event at 6 1/2 furlongs early in June. Trainer Bud Klokstad has named regular rider Gallyn Mitchell at 121 pounds on Sunday, when Premo Copy will conceded from three to six pounds to her rivals.

The main threat is the front-running Ippodamia, who won the filly division of the Northwest Stallion Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs last year. Ippodamia is coming off a wire-to-wire victory over $32,000 claimers on Aug. 9, when she ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.80, and she again figures to be on the lead with Nate Chaves riding at 118 pounds.

Bubble's Girl, Woven in Spirit, and Miss Ballard complete the field.