Atta Boy Billy may have easier company in Thursday feature
Atta Boy Billy could get the right kind of trip in the feature race at Emerald Downs on Thursday. He can stalk and there is plenty of potential speed in the $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that drew six horses.
The 5 1/2-furlong dash is restricted to nonwinners of two. However, races for $22,500 or less are not considered in determining eligibility. It goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific.
Atta Boy Billy, trained by Jeff Metz, will appreciate the easier company after finishing fifth in a first-level allowance race that carried a $40,000 claiming option July 25. The 4-year-old Washington-bred son of Atta Boy Roy went into that race looking for his fourth consecutive victory.
Atta Boy Billy’s first win in the streak for Metz and owner Willie Edwards came on June 17 in a $5,000 maiden claimer, in which he overcame a slow start in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. He was claimed out of the race by trainer Candi Cryderman, who was acting on behalf of John Parker.
Parker’s investment returned a quick dividend when Atta Boy Billy won a $5,000 claimer for nonwinners for two July 1. Metz claimed him back for Edwards, and Atta Boy Billy rewarded their confidence in him by romping in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of three that produced three next-out winners.
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In all of his victories he stalked early and finished strong with Juan Gutierrez riding. Atta Boy Billy will break from the rail with Gutierrez retaining the mount.
The Cryderman-trained Parker-owned Float On could be favored. He is coming off a front-running win in a $10,000 starter race with a $15,000 claiming option on July 24. With Julien Couton aboard, he broke sharply and cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory over Diction in the six-furlong dash. The 68 Beyer he received is the best last-race figure in the field.
The 3-year-old California-bred gelding began his career at Golden Gate Fields. He has compiled a solid 3-1-1 record from 5 starts since arriving at Emerald in the spring.
He will break from post 2 with Couton riding.
Other speed will not make Float On’s task easy.
Forever Gold set fast interior fractions on his way to a front-running win in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of three for trainer Howard Belvoir on Aug. 7.
Orcadian Storm, trained by Charles Essex, forced the issue before drawing off to an easy 5 1/4-length win in a $15,000 claimer for nonwinners of two on July 25. The race produced three next-out winners, and with a bullet half-mile move in :47.00 seconds Aug. 9, Orcadian Storm appears to be primed for another strong effort.
Leading rider Alex Cruz picks up the mount from Gutierrez, who bails to ride Atta Boy Billy.
Vicente’s Shadow, who is making his first start after winning a $12,500 claimer for nonwinners of three Oct. 29, completes the field.