B C Z Middleton seeks repeat in Washington State Legislators

B C Z Middleton paid $32.60 when she beat older fillies and mares in the Washington State Legislators as a 3-year-old at Emerald Downs last year. She won’t be nearly the same price when she defends her title in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint on Saturday.

One of the horses standing in her way of repeating is her stablemate Citizen Kitty, who beat her by three-quarters of a length in the $50,000 Hastings at Emerald on May 20.

Trained by Jeff Metz, B C Z Middleton and Citizen Kitty are both versatile. B C Z Middleton came from a stalking position to win the Washington State Legislators last year, but she set the pace in the Hastings before giving way grudgingly.

Citizen Kitty, who has three wins and two runner-up finishes in her last five starts, also is capable of taking them all the way, or she can sit just off the speed like she did in winning the Hastings. Part of the reason Citizen Kitty was sitting just off the speed in the Hastings was due to B C Z Middleton, ridden by Jose Zenino, cutting her off just past the half-mile pole. Citizen Kitty was ridden by Eswan Flores.

“I wasn’t thrilled to see one of my horses cut off the other,” Metz said. “But I really enjoyed watching the stretch run. They were both clear of the field, and I was pretty sure they were going to run one-two.”

The shape of the Hastings changed dramatically when the heavily favored Invested Prospect, who would have been the speed, was scratched after flipping in the starting gate.

“I thought the boys did a good job improvising,” Metz said. “Obviously, I couldn’t give them instructions, and I won’t be telling them what to do Saturday.”

Citizen Kitty impressed Metz when she worked a bullet half-mile in 45.50 seconds on June 8.

“She couldn’t be doing any better,” he said.

Citizen Kitty will break from post 6, with Flores retaining the mount.

B C Z Middleton, in post 4, will be ridden by Zunino.

The main threat to the uncoupled Metz entry is Profound Moment, who returns to trainer Mike Puhich’s barn after a successful Oaklawn Park meet where she won two races for trainer Jack Van Berg.

She showed a lot of potential when she romped in her debut for Puhich in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race at Emerald last year. After going unplaced in two subsequent starts, she was turned out for the year and resurfaced at Oaklawn, where she was a game winner of a $50,000 starter race March 2. She will appreciate the cutback in distance after finishing fifth going 1 1/16 miles in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Churchill Downs on May 13.