Processor favored in 2007 debut

AUBURN, Wash. - Emerald Downs will celebrate a milestone Friday, and one lucky fan will have something to celebrate as well.

The track, which opened June 20, 1995, will stage its 10,000th race with Friday's third event. Fans whose entry blanks are drawn at random will be matched with the nine horses in the third race. The fan matched with the winner will be rewarded with a party at the track worth $10,000.

Friday's feature, which will go as the seventh of eight races on the card, will match seven older sprinters, each eligible to be claimed for $20,000, at six furlongs. All seven will be making their yearly debuts, but Processor may be favored off the ability he flashed here last season.

Processor, a 5-year-old son of Forestry from the barn of trainer Janet Armstrong, logged a pair of thirds against $35,000 optional claiming company last spring at Hastings Park before shipping to Emerald on June 18 to register a 1 1/4-length victory over $32,000 optional claimers at six furlongs. Processor returned to run fourth in a $40,000 optional claiming sprint won by Westsideclyde on Aug. 5.

Processor signaled his readiness for Friday's race with a five-furlong drill in 58.20 on April 19.

Processor faces a stern challenge from Prize Weaver, a 7-year-old Connie Bouslaugh trainee with seven wins to his credit. Prize Weaver posted a pair of front-running wins here last season, both over $20,000 claiming company at sprint distances.