Promising fillies take next step

AUBURN, Wash. Maiden special weight winners Super Dixie and Cherokee Echo will head a field of 10 fillies in Sundays initial 2-year-old stakes of the Emerald Downs meeting, the $50,000 Angie C. at six furlongs.

Super Dixie, a homebred daughter of Haskell winner Dixie Union and former Emerald horse of the meeting Youcanttakeme, defeated maiden special weight rivals in her May 31 debut. Under Juan Gutierrez, Super Dixie led throughout 4 1/2 furlongs to prevail by more than two lengths in 51.20 seconds. Super Dixie, who is trained by Doris Harwood for owner Herman Sarkowsky, has since logged four workouts, including a five-furlong move in 59 on Tuesday. Gutierrez again has the call.

Cherokee Echo was equally impressive when scoring her debut win over maiden special weight rivals on June 28. Under Gallyn Mitchell, Cherokee Echo took the lead at the start and drew out to a 5 1/4-length victory in 57.80 for five furlongs. Trained by Bud Klokstad and owned by Billie Klokstad in partnership with Art McFadden, Cherokee Echo is a daughter of Cherokee Run and Silver Echo who sold for $42,000 at last summers WTBA yearling sale. Mitchell will again ride.

Harwood will also saddle Le Weaver, a 9 1/4-length debut winner over males in a $20,000 maiden test on May 30. She covered 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.60.

Harwoods entrants will be outnumbered by those trained by Frank Lucarelli, who has entered four. Shes a Sweetie, All the Rage, and Light of a Star are all owned by Chris and Diane Randall but will be uncoupled in the wagering. Owhatablast, who races for Donnybrook Stable, will also race as a separate interest.

Lucarelli said he intended to run All the Rage in a maiden special weight race scheduled for Saturday, but that race failed to fill.

It might work out for the best, said Lucarelli. She ran a good third to Super Dixie in her first race, and she kind of had a bad go last time against Cherokee Run. I actually like her quite a bit, and I dont think shell be overmatched in the stakes.

The only other maiden in the field is Shamus on Me, who finished second against $30,000 maidens in her only start. Completing the field are Wavy Road, who graduated at the maiden $20,000 level, and Savannas Makor, a winner over $7,500 maidens.