Emerald Derby and Washington Oaks ready to run | Horse Racing

The sophomores take the spotlight next weekend with championship events in both 3-year-old divisions at Emerald Downs. The $75,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies will be run Saturday, Aug. 14, and the $75,000 Emerald Derby for 3-year-olds will be contested Sunday, Aug. 15. Both races are a 1 1/8 mile, with Oaks starters to carry 120 pounds and Derby starters 122.

August 9, 2010 4:30 pm

The sophomores take the spotlight next weekend with championship events in both 3-year-old divisions at Emerald Downs.

The $75,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies will be run Saturday, Aug. 14, and the $75,000 Emerald Derby for 3-year-olds will be contested Sunday, Aug. 15. Both races are a 1 1/8 mile, with Oaks starters to carry 120 pounds and Derby starters 122.

Posse Power, Koala Beach and Newfound Man, all with a stakes victory at the meet, top the 10 nominations to the Emerald Derby, which is scheduled three weeks earlier than in recent seasons. Washington-bred Slew the Man, third versus older horses in the July 4 Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton, is an interesting new shooter for trainer Jeff Bonde.

Thirteen fillies are nominated to the Washington Oaks, including Rewritten, Sis’s Sis and Feeling Fancy, all stakes winners this season at Emerald Downs. Dearest Princess and Otero, the top 3-year-old fillies this season at Hastings Racecourse, also are nominated to the Oaks.