Blazinbeauty faces up-and-comers in Seattle Stakes

The first stakes race of the year at Emerald Downs goes Sunday, and it is a good one. Not only should the $50,000 Seattle for 3-year-old fillies be a great race to watch, it isn’t a bad betting race either.

The proven stakes horses Risque’s Legacy and Blazinbeauty will be facing impressive debut winners Alliford Bay and Always Enuff in the six-furlong dash, which drew seven horses.

Retreat Yourself, who will break from the rail, is undefeated in two starts, and Reginella hasn’t been worse than second in her last four starts and is conditioned by leading trainer Blaine Wright.

Adding to the depth of the field is stakes-placed Getting Joellenned, who is coming off an easy front-running win for trainer Tom Wenzel in a $25,000 optional claimer April 29.

There is a plenty of potential speed, which could help Blazinbeauty, who will be making her first start since she rallied to beat the boys going 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity here Sept. 11. She also came from off the pace in her win over Getting Joellenned going six furlongs in the $49,000 Barbara Shinpoch.

Blazinbeauty’s main goal at Emerald this year is the $75,000 Washington Oaks on July 23, but trainer Frank Lucarelli isn’t looking at the Seattle as just a race to get her started in that direction.

“She’s fit and ready to roll,” said Lucarelli. “I am looking forward to seeing her going long, but she can sprint, and this race could set up for her.”

Blazinbeauty will break from post 4 with usual rider Isaias Enriquez aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Blazinbeauty, by Tale of Ekati

Last 3 Beyers: 63-55-52

◗ She appears to be primed for a big effort coming off the bench, and there will be speed coming back to her.

Always Enuff, by Tiz Wonderful

Beyer: 77

◗ Trained by Tim McCanna, she couldn’t have been more impressive when she won her debut by 10 widening lengths April 10, and she came back with a sharp five-furlong move in 59.40 seconds April 30.

“I thought she would run well, but maybe not like that,” said McCanna. “She came back with a nice work, so I am expecting another big effort.”

Alliford Bay, by City Zip

Beyer: 76

◗ Her only sibling is the Grade 2 winner Venus Valentine, so she has the pedigree to be a good one.

◗ The Wright trainee won a maiden special weight race with Irving Orozco aboard when she debuted at Golden Gate Fields on March 25, and three horses, including the runner-up and third-place finisher, won their next start.

◗ She drew post 2, with Orozco impressed enough to make the trip from California to retain the mount.