Trio rematched at a mile

AUBURN, Wash. - Only the distance will change when Knight in Silver, Expressionator, and Marbury, the top three finishers at 6 1/2 furlongs on May 31, are rematched in Thursday's one-mile feature. The race is for 3-year-olds eligible to be claimed for $32,000 or $25,000.

Knight in Silver led throughout to defeat Expressionator by three-quarters of a length May 31, and Marbury finished another 1 3/4 lengths farther back. The added distance shouldn't prove an insurmountable obstacle for Knight in Silver, who ran fourth in the one-mile WTBA Lads Stakes here last season. But he does have potential pace rivals in Thursday's field of six and may not have the lead to himself.

Also, he benefited from a potent speed bias on May 31, when six of the 10 races were won in wire-to-wire fashion. He may not have that advantage again on Thursday, but he will again have the riding services of Gary Baze at 116 pounds.

Expressionator is the only member of the field who has won at the distance of Thursday's race, having won a maiden special weight race at Turf Paradise going a mile on April 7. His good try on May 31 was his first outing against winners and he may very well improve. Gallyn Mitchell retains the mount at 116 pounds.

Marbury has been closing strongly in his sprint tries and may be the one to most appreciate the added distance of Thursday's rematch. A stoutly bred son of the Seattle Slew stallion Corslew from a daughter of the long-winded Turkoman, Marbury seems unlikely to be merely a closing sprinter and could be going best in the stretch. Leading jockey Kevin Radke re-rides at 116 pounds.