Posse Power will run in Auburn Handicap for Enumclaw trainer Frank Lucarelli | Horse Racing

With 24 Emerald Downs’s stakes wins, but zero in 2009, it was only a matter of time until trainer Frank Lucarelli made a splash in the 2010 stakes division. California invader Feeling Fancy made sure it didn’t take long when she took home Emerald’s second stakes of the meet—the $50,000 Federal Way Handicap on May 9. Lucarelli will attempt to double the score with Posse Power, who makes his Emerald Downs debut in Sunday’s $50,000 Auburn Handicap for 3 year olds.

May 20, 2010 8:47 pm

With 24 Emerald Downs’s stakes wins, but zero in 2009, it was only a matter of time until trainer Frank Lucarelli made a splash in the 2010 stakes division.

California invader Feeling Fancy made sure it didn’t take long when she took home Emerald’s second stakes of the meet—the $50,000 Federal Way Handicap on May 9. Lucarelli will attempt to double the score with Posse Power, who makes his Emerald Downs debut in Sunday’s $50,000 Auburn Handicap for 3 year olds.

“He’s worked twice at Emerald Downs and he worked well both times,” Lucarelli said. “He’s ready to run.”

The 3-year-old colt has already picked up graded stakes earnings with a third-place finish in the El Camino Real Derby, Grade 3, on Feb. 20 at Golden Gate. Lucarelli and owner Claire Lein shipped Posse Power farther south against some of the country’s best 3 year olds in the Santa Anita Derby, Grade 1, April 3. The Kentucky-bred by Posse finished eighth, less than four lengths behind Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky.

Even with the class advantage, there are still two big questions surrounding Posse Power. Will he be comfortable with his first race on a dirt surface and will there be enough speed for the late-closer to chase down with the scratch of Hollywood Harbor? The former does not seem to be a concern for Lucarelli or jockey Francisco Duran, who worked Posse Power and picks up Sunday’s mount.

“I think he will handle the dirt just fine,” Duran said. “In fact, I think it’s to his liking.”

However, Lucarelli expressed disappointment with the news about Hollywood Harbor. He expected the Emerald Downs 2009 Top Juvenile to set up a favorable pace scenario for his horse to chase down. Instead, it appears that Forener, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, will be the only horse entered with sprint-speed.

“My horse doesn’t have a lot of front end speed. Even with Hollywood Harbor out, I don’t want to change (Posse Power’s) style,” Lucarelli said. “We’ll just have to run our race.”

The field for the 15th running of the Auburn Handicap (Race 6, post time 4:49 p.m.): Forener, Gallyn Mitchell, 120 pounds.; Posse Power, Francisco Duran, 121; Hollywood Harbor-scratched; Saratoga Boot, Inoel Beato, 114; Clear to Canada, Mario Gutierrez, 115; Seven Torrents, Juan Gutierrez, 119.