Sullivanitis back on familiar ground

AUBURN, Wash. - Sullivanitis looks to be the one to beat when he squares off against seven other $25,000 claimers in Saturday's six-furlong feature at Emerald Downs.

Sullivanitis, a 5-year-old son of Skywalker who races for Dunn Bar Ranch, is coming off a six-race campaign in Southern California that netted a second and a third, both on the $62,500 claiming level. The Tim McCanna-trained Sullivanitis has four wins from 10 starts at Emerald Downs, and will be starting at a career-low level on Saturday.

Leading rider Kevin Radke has the mount at 119 pounds.

Sullivanitis seems likely to get a comfortable stalking trip behind the field's probable pacesetters, Star of Elttaes and Hollow Memories.

Star of Elttaes won sprints on the $12,500 and $16,000 levels here last summer, leading throughout on both occasions, while Hollow Memories was a wire-to-wire winner over allowance company last fall at Turf Paradise.

A stalking trip will allow Sullivanitis to get first run on the closers in the field, which includes the Bud Klokstad-trained Go Not Whoa.

Now 8, Go Not Whoa has scored eight wins for more than $185,000 in his stellar career. He showed no sign of slowing down when he raced here last summer, winning sprints on the $20,000 and $25,000 levels.

The 4-year-old Victor Slew also poses a potent threat from behind, despite making his first start against older foes. Victor Slew, formerly a front-runner, ended his 3-year-old campaign by closing from fifth to post an impressive 5 1/2-length score over allowance runners here last summer, getting six furlongs in a quick 1:09.20. He has also been working forwardly for trainer Larry Wolf.