Race 1: #3 Spot On was claimed last out for connections looking for wins, and has good early speed, an advantage on the Emerald dirt. #2 Jerre to Carrie drops slightly from the last out, gets the blinkers back on for a barn that does well with this move, and has two bullet works since she was last seen. #6 Stay in Grace ran a huge race last time, and if the step up in class doesn’t bother her, could fire again.
Race 2: #7 Flat Out Feisty could upset as he is cutting back from a mile to 5 furlongs, has racing experience, and gets a jock upgrade. #2 Songbird Edie might have enough to wire this field, goes out first off the claim from a good barn, 4 thirds in 7 starts, but might get over the hump today. #6 Downthemiddle Dan is dropping after taking money on debut and racing against tougher. Trainer has positive ROI down two classes and might have needed the first race.
Race 3: #7 This Great Nation takes the biggest drop and has won this year against tougher. Barn hits at a huge rate, but should be a short price. #6 Dudley Studley likes to be on the front and has good numbers at this level. Won on the lead last out at 6.5, so 6 should be no problem. #2 Don’tbeshywillie also enjoys a front running trip, and the jockey/trainer combo has been heating up the latter part of the meet.
Race 4: #5 So Lucky has finished 3rd his last two, but has had the lead early. Cutback should help carry the early speed. #1 Freiburg has a lot of back class, but hasn’t put it together at Emerald this year. The class relief looks to help, and the trainer Cryderman is 25% with a positive ROI the second time out with a horse. #2 Mike Man’s Gold is a really cool horse coming off a layoff with good works. Has won 22 races, all at Emerald, including Stakes at 2, 3, and 4 years old.
Race 5: #6 Little Dancer was well off the pace last race, but closed great to show, and galloped out well past the winner. A trip closer to the pacesetters would help this mare. #2 Semi Sweet got bumped last out, had to rush up, and still finished well to finish 2nd. #5 Tesla tried to wire last out, and might be in shape enough today to pull it off with possibly less pace pressure.
Race 6: #6 Scout Patrol went among the betting favorites among these common contenders, should get a good trip stalking and is a much better price today. #2 Pulpits Power has yet to win this meet, but drops in class here after racing great digs recently. #7 West Coast Indy had a rough trip, weaving through traffic and going wide last out. He likes the route distance and should be tough.
Race 7: #1 Tadeo has some early foot and should get good position, dropping in class for a trainer who doesn’t run many, but they always run well. Figures at this level two back fit. #6 Tiger On Your Six has been knocking at the door of clearing this level, and has shown versatility, closing as well as wiring. #8 Johnny Five might improve off the cutback from a mile.
Race 8: The co-feature of the card is the Muckleshoot Derby for 3 year olds going a mile and a sixteenth. Much of the field have faced each other through their young careers, but a new face is #8 Fantastic Day. Bought for $500k, originally trained by Baffert and then Blacker in Southern California, this son of Medaglia d’Oro was always meant to be something. Rosales finally got him to wake up sprinting at Emerald, winning by the length of the stretch. Worked well since that start at 7 furlongs, so if he can stretch out here he might upset. #4 Muncey seems like the type to want more ground, making good late moves in his sprints this year. Only went a route once as a 2 year old on a sloppy track, his only poor effort. #6 Unmachable is bred to go two turns, and makes a steady move that screams he wants more distance.
Race 9: The Washington Oaks features a filly that may cement her place atop the division with a win in #2 Daffodil Sweet. She has done nothing wrong in 3 romping wins at shorter distances, and with the ease she did then with, the two turns shouldn’t be a problem. Quick enough to get the early lead, and relaxes easy after making it, any other filly would be surprising here. #8 For You Only could improve at the route distance after coming up short against the favorite her last two out. #6 Windy Point failed at her only route attempt last year, but given the wet track that day, she might improve on a fast surface and regain her 2 year old form.
Race 10: #4 Hard to Deny broke out earlier this meet, but has yet to recapture that form. Bumped early last out and gets a jock who does well with this trainer. #3 Frolic and Detour has raced good figures and might improve 3rd time facing winners. #5 Spittin Image is lightly raced and could stroll through this condition first try if he moves forward from his open maiden win.
Race 11: #8 Thunderbolt S. is dropping for top trainer, raced against tougher in California, and switches from turf to dirt, where Lucarelli is 20% with a positive ROI. #2 Friendswithbourbon popped a big fig on debut this winter in Arizona, seems to be training well over the track. #6 Cancale could put it together in her 3rd start at this class level.