There are no stakes races scheduled this weekend at Emerald Downs.
Perhaps the handicappers can use a week away from stakes activities to look at the track’s best horses. Through four stakes races the only consistency has been large fields—an average of nine horses per stakes event, and an average $2 win payoff of $33.80.
Then again, big fields and big prices go hand in hand in thoroughbred racing.
The average payoff, of course, is skewed by a $102.40 mutuel, courtesy of Showme Yourfriends in the $50,000 Auburn Handicap on Memorial Day. Lest we forget, though, You Me and Ema B returned $23.20 in the Hastings Handicap on May 15, and that Noosa Beach in the Governor’s Handicap is the only winning favorite to date.
Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, rider on both Showme Yourfriends and You Me and Ema B, is off to her finest start ever at Emerald Downs. The 44-year-old jockey’s 25 wins (24 thoroughbreds, 1 quarter horse) are fourth in the standings, and she’s on pace to shatter her single-season Emerald Downs mark of 68 wins set in 2005.
Actually there is an Emerald Downs stakes this Saturday—the $50,000 Emerald Downs Stakes for 3-year-old fillies—but it’s at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, B.C. Race 6 at 3:50 p.m., the 6 ½-furlong Emerald Downs features Washington-bred Castinette Dancer, a daughter of Ministers Wild Cat claimed last fall at Golden Gate Fields and winner of last month’s $50,000 Boulevard Casino at Hastings.
Emerald Downs Director of Simulcasting Eric Berry will serve as honorary steward for the Emerald Downs Stakes. Or as they say in Canada, Berry will “decorate the winner.”
ATTA BOY ROY SEEKS REDEMPTION IN ARISTIDES
Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy seeks redemption Saturday in the $100,000 Aristides (GIII) at Churchill Downs, where he finished second in last year’s Aristides despite breaking in the air and losing his footing at the start.
The six-furlong stakes goes as the 10th race, post time at approx. 2:29 p.m. (Pacific).
Trained by Valorie Lund and owned by REV Racing, Atta Boy Roy has compiled an 11-6-0 record in 25 starts with earnings of $490,016. With a victory Saturday, the state’s two-time Champion Sprinter Atta Boy Roy could move ahead of Wasserman for fifth place in the standings for top Washington-bred earners. Atta Boy Roy would receive $62,380 for first-place money, which would put his total earnings at $551,396. Saratoga Passage ranks No. 1 all-time with $800,212 in earnings.
“By the end of the year, I’d like to see Atta Boy Roy at the top spot,” Lund said.
Breaking from the 7-post, Atta Boy Roy will be ridden by Jesus Castanon, who recently scored a half-length victory aboard Shackleford in the 136th Running of the Preakness Stakes.
“I love the post,” Lund said. “(Atta Boy) Roy will be able to avoid any trouble that he might have had from the inside, and to top it off, Castanon is a great front-end rider.”
Appointed 6-to-1 odds on the morning line, Atta Boy Roy will have to contend with some very accomplished runners. The field features 2010 Forego (GI) winner Here Comes Ben, Aristides defending champion Riley Tucker and 5-to-2 morning-line favorite Capt. Candyman Can, who has captured two of his last three stakes races.
The field for The Aristides, at 118 lbs.: 1-Here Comes Ben, Julien Leparoux; 2-Riley Tucker, Kent Desormeaux; 3-Capt. Candyman Can, Calvin Borel; 4-Hurricane Ike, Robbie Albarado; 5-Cash Refund, Shaun Bridgmohan; 6-Good Lord, Corey Lanerie; 7-Atta Boy Roy, Castanon; 8-Noble’s Promise, Alan Garcia.
SKYRIDER MAKES 2011 DEBUT ON SUNDAY
Not only will West Seattle Boy—the all-time leader with 18 wins at Emerald Downs—race on Sunday, but Skyrider, second among active-runners with 13 wins at the track, will also make his 2011 debut on the same card.
Trained by Blaine Wright, Skyrider is the only horse to win eight years in a row at Emerald Downs. In 52 starts, Skyrider has compiled a 14-2-8 record with $162,314 in purse earnings. Assistant trainer Richard Wright said he thinks Skyrider has a great shot to win on Sunday.
“He’s been training really well for this race,” he said. “But he’s going up against some other pretty nice horses.”
Most notably a router, Skyrider would love fast early fractions to run down in the six-furlong sprint, as the bay gelding will likely sit from well off the pace. Vic-Tory Stables’ Highdleburg and back-to-back winner Majestic Peak could duel early, which would set up nicely for Skyrider.
Claimed by Richard Wright in 2006, Skyrider has always possessed a touch of class. Stakes-placed at 2 and 4 years-old, Skyrider has continued to face tough competition in 2010, when he scored a 1 ¼-length victory over Youhadyourchance, a strong candidate for Claimer of the Meet. Richard Wright admits a strong liking for the high-spirited Skyrider.
“He’s one of my favorites,” he said. “He’s got personality, and he can run, too.”
NOTES: Week 7 Honors—Jockey-Leslie Mawing (30-9-8-0); Trainer-Chris Stenslie (9-4-1-0); Owner-Jody Peetz-One Horse Will Do Corp. (Showme Yourfriends, 50-to-1 win Auburn Handicap); Groom-Manuel Osoria (three wins).
With his massive upset in the Auburn Handicap, Showme Yourfriends moved into first place in meet earnings with $39,950. You Me and Ema B is the leading female earner with $37,730…Showme Yourfriends is involved in most of the highest mutuels at the meet—$2 win and $2 stakes win: $102.40; $1 exacta: $501; $1 Pick 3: $3,310.20 (races 5-7); $0.50 Pick 4: $12,829.25 (races 6-9).
According to a post on Zenyatta’s website on Tuesday, the 2010 Horse of the Year is 60 days in foal after being bred to Bernadini. Owners Jerry and Ann Moss will not announce the foal’s sex until after birth.
Noosa Beach worked four furlongs in :49 2/5 Thursday and makes his next start either in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 26 or the $75,000 Lt. Governor’s Handicap on Friday, July 1 at Hastings Racecourse. Trainer Doris Harwood said she and husband/owner Jeff Harwood have until June 30 to pay a $25,000 provisional nomination fee for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
KRKO AM 1380 and Stitch Mitchell will broadcast live at Emerald Downs from 3-6 p.m. Friday, with interviews from trainers, jockeys and handicappers.
Jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores will remain out of action this weekend with a sprained ankle. Agent Steve Puhich said Camacho-Flores has a doctor appointment Friday that will determine whether the rider would be able to ride next week…And finally, the National Weather Service is calling for temperatures in the 70s this weekend, and it could even reach 80 by Sunday!
