Race 1: We start the evening of racing at Emerald Downs with a group of 6 looking for their first win. 3 of the runners are wheeling back after only a week, and if #4 Always Working didn’t lose too much from that effort, where he lost by a length and was involved throughout, should get the win. If the favorite bounces off that huge effort, #3 Atta Boy Billy may have something in the tank, after doing some running before fading and basically wrapped up in his outing last week. Drops to a lower level today. #2 Heavenly Pursuit has improved in both of his career starts at GG, could move up with hot handed Cepario Figueroa in the irons.
Race 2: Finally! The first route race of the year! 6 horses will go a two turn mile over the Emerald dirt. After racing last week in a sprint, #4 West Coast Indy put up great late pace figures, and should appreciate the stretch back out to his preferred distance. #5 Check and Raise has been running at Turf Paradise since last fall, and has been keeping consistent numbers in his route races. 2 of his 3 lifetime wins come at a mile, and trainer Manuel Ortiz, Sr. had horses run a 2nd and 3rd in his only to outing last week, showing the barn has runners where they need to be physically. #3 Zippy Groom has been racing on the all-weather track at Golden Gate, but has performed well on dirt in the past. Should improve this outing, second off a layoff.
Race 3: It’s hard to look past the #3 Dancin in Paradise, as this filly comes up from California, and is now running out of the Tena Birdwell barn. Starting out in the Midwest with Brad Cox, and then for Doug O’Neal, if she takes to the Emerald dirt, her figures are great. #5 Somethin’bout Iris comes off a long layoff, but has shown quick works in the morning all Spring, and should sit behind the speed. #2 Coastal Tulips ran some good races last year, and if he wins, will get trainer Chris Stensile off the duck.
Race 4: In this maiden event, where all but 1 have had at least a couple of starts, #7 Four Score intrigues me. She has been off for a year, but took money in her debut race. Ran a great figure, losing to eventual Champion Juvenile Filly Windy Point, who came back yesterday to win the feature allowance. Stumbled out of the gate next out, and put on the shelf until today. #2 Smashing Success has raced 3 times, with a 2nd and a 3rd, and drops in class from the races she was competing in last year. #1 Shezjustinthyme switches to dirt after racing twice at GG. Her last out was a dismal display as she went off the post time favorite, but if she runs back to her debut, could win at a low price.
Race 5: This conditional claiming sprint is wide open, and many have chances to get into the winner’s circle. #2 Bernie has good figures from last year at the distance. He may want longer again down the road. Gets piloted by Juan Gutierrez, who left the ML favorite #3 Last One Standing, who raced well a week ago. Getting Wales is no downgrade, and the slight drop in class after a rough trip last week, makes him a contender. #5 Dustin’s Passion is a hard-knocking 10 year old, who always brings an effort. An honest work tab of late, might use this sprint to gain some fitness for longer races, but will be a very square price.
Race 6: In this MSW for 3 and up fillies, I’m going with #5 She Owns the Paynt, a KY bred that has put in two decent efforts recently at GG for Lucarelli. The addition of blinkers could put this one over the edge today. #4 Kissable U comes in off the claim for Rosales, and was previously running against much heavier competition in California, when she was under the care of Doug O’Neill. Also gets the blinkers for the first time in 6 starts, and at what should be a square price, could put her more into the race then she has been in the past. #7 Fly Away makes her debut at the track as a 3 year old, but trainer Blaine Wright wins at 17% in MSW, and this filly out of Street Cry has a dam that has produced well, including a stakes winner.
Race 7: A contentious group of conditional claimers, 9 fillies and mares go in an optional claimer for $15k, where any number can win. I’m going to look past the favorite, and try and get some better priced horses in, starting with #4 Close the Show Lo, who has been off for 9 months, but shows consistent numbers at the sprint distances going back to last year. The other Lucarelli runner in here is #6 Frisky Fox, who loves to be on the front end, and could steal the race if no one wants to press her. #8 Gazing comes up from Arizona, is first off the claim for Terry Gilligan, and has run well against heavier company this year.
Race 8: The feature allowance on Thursday has 2 heavy ML favorites to deal with, and it’s hard to look past the #1 Elliott Bay. The 5 year old gelding who has been knocking around Emerald for a while, only winning twice, but always puts up respectable numbers, and has the advantage of racing over the track. #6 Hollywood Heat might have had the lightbulb go off two back when he broke his maiden at GG, because he ran a great race coming back against winners next out. If he takes to the Emerald dirt, he could be dangerous. The horse I like at a longer price to try and beat the favorites is #2 Muncey. His start last week resulted in some antics, and rider Jennifer Whitaker was dismounted. Could get forgotten in the betting after that performance.
Race 9: Another tough maiden race to end the second week of racing at Emerald Downs, the top pick will be #3 Rough Ride, who I thought could run well last week, showing a string of quick works. He went out to set the early pace, only to fade in the stretch, and could use that experience and run over the track to move forward. #4 Jamason is a deserving favorite, as he has the largest body of work. The class relief from California to Washington may help him get over the hump and grab a diploma. #8 Plan in the Makin goes out first time for trainer Tom Wenzel, who does well with new stock. Has experience this year in AZ, and has taken money at higher class levels.
-Good Luck!