Race could set up for 'Betabuck'

AUBURN, Wash. - Idabetabuck has the right style to prevail in Friday's Emerald Downs feature, a six-furlong race for $20,000 claimers that has lured a field of six older sprinters.

Idabetabuck, a 4-year-old son of Individual Style from the barn of trainer Frank Lucarelli, is coming off a sharp score over $15,000 claimers in which he came from just off the pace to score by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:09.40. That stalking style should serve Idabetabuck well on Friday, as he will be meeting a great deal of speed.

Two of Idabetabuck's opponents, Palanca and City Lights, are coming off gate-to-wire sprint wins against $17,500 company. Two others, Diamond View and Prize Weaver, are confirmed front-runners. And the final entrant, Intensive, is a front-running router who is 0 for 10 in one-turn races.

Diamond View's designation as a front-runner comes with an asterisk, however. While he led throughout in three of his four career victories, the fourth was a noteworthy exception.

Diamond View, a 6-year-old trained by Jim Penney, was entered in last year's six-furlong Old Glory Handicap along with stablemate Salt Grinder. Salt Grinder is a front-runner with rare speed, and Penney didn't want his entrants to duel each other into exhaustion, so he experimented by taking Diamond View far off the pace. Diamond View responded with the best effort of his career, outfinishing eventual Longacres Mile winner No Giveaway to win by almost a length in a sizzling 1:08.60.