All for Me sharp enough to win on the rise
All for Me will get tested for class when he steps up to face open company in the feature race Friday at Emerald Downs.
All for Me dominated his opponents when he won a $7,500 conditional claiming race in his first start this year. If he can reproduce the 76 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his 8 3/4-length front-running win, he is probably the winner of Friday’s $10,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up.
All for Me, trained by Pablo De Jesus, will have to negotiate an extra furlong Friday, and in four starts going six furlongs he hasn’t won. He also will have to deal with other speed, particularly Ready Set Jet, who is making his seasonal debut. And, instead of running against horses with only two wins, he is facing hardened veterans with multiple scores behind them.
Nonetheless, All for Me is coming off a breakthrough performance, and it wouldn’t be the first time a horse improved dramatically when he turned 4.
Javier Gutierrez picks up the mount from apprentice Dave Martin, who will be riding Ready Set Jet.
All for Me drew the outside post in a field of nine.
If an all-out duel develops, the race could set up nicely for Doctor Bruce S., who didn’t break that well and finished full of run in a similar race April 21. It was the 8-year-old’s first start this year, and he has a right to move forward with a race behind him.
Doctor Bruce S. is trained by Jose Navarro. He will break from post 5 with Leonel Camacho Flores riding.
KEY CONTENDERS
All for Me, by Corinthian
Last 3 Beyers: 76-60-63
◗ He went into his blowout win off a string of bullet works, so it wasn’t surprising to see him run such a big race. It remains to be seen if he can come back with the same kind of performance while likely being under considerable pressure early.
Doctor Bruce S., by Packy
Last 3 Beyers: 65-57-70
◗ In his comeback race he threw his head in the air just when the starting gate opened and ended up having too much to do after trailing the rest of the field early.
◗ He has tactical speed, and with a better start he should get a nice trip stalking what figures to be a fast and contested pace.
Delineator Express, by My Top Secret
Last 3 Beyers: 61-66-71
◗ Not sure he was going anywhere when he had to steady in the stretch in the same race Doctor Bruce S. exits, but it certainly didn’t help his cause.
◗ The eight-time winner, trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, attracts leading rider Rocco Bowen and figures to take a big step forward in his second start this year.