Retreat After Me has been close all year

AUBURN, Wash. - Retreat After Me heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's Emerald Downs feature, a first-level allowance at a mile.

Retreat After Me, a daughter of Liberty Gold from the barn of trainer Doris Harwood, has been close in all three of her starts this year. She finished second twice when racing at the $25,000 level, then jumped to the allowance level for her last outing and closed from fifth to third, beaten only three-quarters of a length by Firetrail after six furlongs in 1:09.20.

Retreat After Me, like all but one of her rivals on Saturday, will be attempting the mile distance for the first time. She has been finishing well going shorter, however, and she could benefit from more ground. Leading rider Ricky Frazier retains the mount.

Retreat After Me might get her sternest opposition from Secret Game and Follow Your Shot, who both are dropping out of the stakes ranks after contesting the 6o1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap on June 2. Secret Game finished seventh in the stakes after pressing the pace through a hot half-mile in 44.20 seconds, while Follow Your Shot faded to eighth after stalking the early leaders. Both fillies had graduated in their previous start, with Secret Game defeating maiden special weight rivals and Follow Your Shot beating $25,000 maidens.

Ms. Patrona, Cahill Rose, and Guessaway round out the field. Guessaway is the only entrant with two-turn experience.