Two of last year’s top juveniles will make their 3-year-old debuts Saturday in the $18,000 feature race at 5 ½ furlongs.
Forener and Gottstein Futurity winner Koala Beach head a six-horse field that features Boundtogetbusy, Saintly I Ain’t, Rescue Plan and Clear to Canada.
A Kentucky-bred by Lost Soldier, Forener was all the rage after two handy scores last summer for trainer Vann Belvoir and jockey Gallyn Mitchell. Forener’s first outing, a two-length victory came at the expense of Hollywood Harbor, who would win four races and three stakes while being named the meet’s Top Juvenile.
Forener’s second outing was a nine-length thumping of Sweet Nellie Brown, who was coming off a 17-length debut victory, with Forener running 5 ½ furlongs in a brisk 1 minute, 3 seconds. A subsequent sale to East Coast interests fell through, and the dark bay or brown gelding is back with Belvoir and owners Swag Stables and Appassionato Stables.
“After nine months off, I’m very excited to see him run again,” co-owner Keith Swagerty said. “He’s training well, but it’s a fantastic 3-year-old male division this year with horses like Hollywood Harbor and Koala Beach.”
Belvoir has overseen a string of fast workouts capped by five furlongs in 58 2/5 last Saturday.
“He hasn’t missed a beat, he’s doing super,” Belvoir said of Forener. “He isn’t a heavy horse, doesn’t carry a lot of extra fat.
“It’s exciting to get him going. Of all the stakes groups, I think 3-year-olds are the toughest.”
Although Jeff Harwood’s Koala Beach won both the Dennis Dodge Stakes and Gottstein Futurity last season, the Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold is eligible for Saturday’s race.
Dan Jukich in announcer’s booth
Veteran track announcer Dan Jukich will fill-in for Robert Geller this weekend at Emerald Downs. A 56-year-old native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Jukich has been the regular announcer at Fraser Downs (harness) since 1978 and at Hastings Racecourse since 1990.
Jukich is no stranger to Emerald Downs, having participated in the international announcers exchange between Emerald and Hastings every year since 1997. Jukich also will handicap the weekend’s races at Emerald Downs. He and Joe Withee’s selections are available free at emeralddowns.com.
Geller is in New Mexico for the final week of the Sunland Park meet and will return to Emerald Downs on Friday, April 23.
News and Notes
Week 1 honors:
• Jockey-Gallyn Mitchell (6-for-17, three feature race wins);
• Trainer-Junior Coffey (3-for-3);
• Owner-Mike and Amy Feuerborn (3-for-3);
• Groom-Ana Regalado (Vann Belvoir)
Coffey was still beaming following a perfect week that included victories Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “It’s great for morale around the barn,” he said. “When you win, everybody sees that their hard work is paying off.”
Coffey got the nod over Vann Belvoir, who also had a sensational opening week while going 5-for-14.
Coffey and the Feuerborns are scheduled to place their perfect records on the line with first-time starter Alfaari’s Luck in the fourth race Friday.
Jockey Francisco Duran is named to ride three horses Saturday at Emerald Downs. A 32-year-old native of Stockton, Calif., Duran began riding in 2001 and scored his 1,000th career victory last month at Golden Gate Fields. Vito Lucarelli will book mounts for Duran at Emerald Downs.
Swag Stables (Keith and Jan Swagerty) now race all their horses in partnership with Phil Sanken’s Appassionato. Sanken is co-founder of Caffé Appassionato.
Nominations for the meet’s first stakes, the May 2 Hastings Handicap, close Saturday, April 24. The $50,000 guaranteed Hastings is for older fillies and mares at six furlongs.
