Woodland Breeze looks ready for a win

AUBURN, Wash. - A field of six older sprinters, each seeking his second win, will contest Friday's six-furlong feature for $12,500 claimers.

Though favoritism should be contested, Woodland Breeze appears to be an obvious contender off a pair of second-place finishes in similar spots. Woodland Breeze, a 4-year-old son of Forestry trained by James Orr, ran second against $12,500 company at 5 1/2 furlongs in his first start at the meet on May 17, then came back to run second again for the same claiming price on May 31. In that outing, Woodland Breeze was beaten just a neck by He's Always Right in 1:09.40 for six furlongs. Gary Baze, who was up for both of Woodland Breeze's local starts, again has the mount.

Woodland Breeze might get his sternest opposition from Snockered, who graduated at the maiden special weight level here last August with 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.80. Snockered, trained by Jim Penney, shipped to Northern California after the Emerald meeting ended and was unplaced in three starts, but he has worked extremely well of late and may be ready to regain his best form.

Im Pure Country figures to show the way after leading into the deep stretch in a 5 1/2-furlong race for $12,500 claimers on May 18. Before that, Im Pure Country won back-to-back allowance races going four furlongs at Sun Downs in Kennewick, Wash. Because Sun Downs is an unrecognized track, those wins do not count against Im Pure Country's eligibility.