Roanaway Bride runs back quick

AUBURN, Wash. - Roanaway Bride will drop from the stakes ranks to head a field of six older fillies and mares in Saturday's Emerald Downs feature, a 6 1/2-furlong race to be run under $50,000 optional claiming conditions.

Roanaway Bride, a 5-year-old daughter of Runaway Groom from the barn of trainer Doris Harwood, has run well despite breaking poorly in two stakes tries at the meeting. She closed strongly for fourth in the six-furlong Hastings Park Handicap on May 20, then finished with a rush to be seventh, beaten only 4 1/2 lengths by She's All Silk, in last Sunday's Washington State Legislators Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs. Roanaway Bride will be returning in six days, a move that Harwood has used to very good effect over the past five seasons here. According to the Emerald Downs Insider, Harwood trainees have won 11 of 53 tries - 21 percent - when returning in 10 days or less since 2002.

Wellingtons Arch is also exiting the stakes ranks, having run sixth in the Hastings Park Handicap. She has not raced since May 20, but she worked five furlongs in a scintillating 57.20 seconds on Tuesday.

Also a threat is Melba Jewel, who has been very sharp in two tries against high-level claimers at the meeting. Melba Jewel defeated $40,000 claimers at 5 1/2 furlongs on April 28 before dropping a head decision to Sudden Departure in a 6 1/2-furlong race for $32,000 claimers on May 26.