Repeat seems likely for 'Code'

AUBURN, Wash. - Lasting Code will be strongly favored to defeat six other older fillies and mares in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Washington State Legislators Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Lasting Code, who will carry high weight of 119 pounds, will be seeking her sixth career stakes win at Emerald and her eighth win in 12 career starts.

Lasting Code, a 5-year-old daughter of Lost Code who races for Jerre Paxton's Northwest Farms, is coming off an authoritative 2 1/4-length victory over many of the same rivals in the May 9 Hastings Park Handicap, which also was contested at 6 1/2 furlongs. She will again be ridden by Gary Baze, Washington's career leader in stakes wins.

Aunt Sophie and Marva Jean, the second and third finishers in the Hastings Park, will be back to try Lasting Code again on Sunday. Aunt Sophie, a 6-year-old mare by Altazarr, will be making just her second start since last July and stands to improve with a recent race under her girth.

Also returning from the Hastings Park are Neon Queen and Princess Forever, who finished sixth and eighth. Both came back in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race on May 23, with Neon Queen running second, less than a length behind Ruby Dawn, and Princess Forever third, 2 3/4 lengths out of second.

The newcomers in Sunday's $40,000 stakes are Cascade Corona and Pic Em Hof. Last year, Cascade Corona won her first two career starts in spectacular fashion before twice disappointing.