Two pair have punch in sprint

AUBURN, Wash. - A field of 10 juvenile colts and geldings, including a pair of stable couplings, will contest Saturday's six-furlong, $35,000 Emerald Express Stakes at Emerald Downs.

Kenny Hawk, the winner of the Captain Condo Stakes on June 16, and the impressive maiden winners Flying Notes and Bold Ranger are all missing from Saturday's stakes, so the favorite's role is up for grabs. Both of the stable couplings figure to attract strong support, however, and not only because they offer two chances for the price of one.

The Bud Klokstad-trained entry consists of Change of Plans, who collected his maiden win against $40,000 claimers on July 1, and Melcapwalker, who defeated maiden special weight company on

July 7. The two figure to offer a potent one-two punch, as Change of Plans has speed to vie for the lead, while Melcapwalker comes from well off the pace. Melcapwalker should be especially tough at the six-furlong distance, which is farther than any in Saturday's lineup has raced before.

The other entry is made up of Beat the Klok and Weavemesomefreedom, both of whom are trained by Dave Bennett. Beat the Klok's name is both a challenge and a tribute to Klokstad, who has been a dominant force in Northwest stakes for many years. A Jumron gelding, he may be able to live up to his name, however, as he ran a solid third after contesting the pace in the Captain Condo. Weavemesomefreedom is coming off a maiden win on the $16,000 level in his debut on June 22, when he came from fourth to score smartly by 2 1/2 lengths in 59.60 for five furlongs.