Afleet Hope drops in class, stretches out in distance

Afleet Hope will appreciate the class relief as well as stretching out to a middle distance when she runs in a $12,500-$10,000 claimer at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew six horses and will serve as the feature for the eight-race card, which begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Tom Wenzel, Afleet Hope did not make much of an impact in her two starts at the meet, both first-level allowance sprints that carried a $30,000 claiming option. However, she did improve her Beyer Speed Figure significantly in her latest on May 19, and could be sitting on a big race in the third start of her form cycle.

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The last time she ran in a claiming race she romped by 4 3/4 lengths going a mile last August. The 74 Beyer she received is her career best as well as the best in the field. She followed up that win by finishing last in an optional claimer, but she got beat by only 4 1/4 lengths after being in the mix early.

Afleet Hope will break from post 4 with Franklin Ceballos riding for the first time. With a fast and contested pace expected, she could get a nice trip from a stalking position.

KEY CONTENDERS

Afleet Hope, by Afleet Express

Last 3 Beyers: 53-39-70

◗ The easier company could be an elixir for her, and adding to her appeal is the Daily Racing Form Formulator Fact that the past couple of years Wenzel has a 19 percent strike rate and $3.67 ROI with horses going from a sprint to route.

Goldie’s Darlins by Car Talk

Last 3 Beyers: 67-64-48

◗ Trained by Pablo De Jesus, the 4-year-old Washington-bred is coming off a third-place finish in a one-mile $10,000 starter race, and the 67 Beyer she received is easily the best last-race figure in the field.

◗ She hasn’t run a bad race in her last 12 starts and has an excellent 3-1-3 record from nine starts at the one-mile distance.

◗ She has tactical speed and figures to put it to good use breaking from the inside post with Juan Gutierrez riding.

Lovethisbar, by Demon Warlock

Last 3 Beyers: 48-29-65

◗ Showed big improvement in her second start at the meet and was claimed for the second-straight time.

◗ She is doubling in price, but her best races have come going around two turns, and she will be making her first start for trainer Roddina Barrett ,who is winning races at a 30 percent clip at the meet.