California import Leroy holds edge in wide-open race

In a race where it is hard to separate the contenders from pretenders it might be worth taking a shot with Leroy in a conditioned allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.

Leroy is coming off a third-place finish in a $35,000 conditioned claimer at Santa Anita for trainer Phil Oviedo and will be making his first start at Emerald and will be trained by Keith Hamma. One of the things that make him attractive is the presence of leading rider Gary Wales. Going into Friday, Wales had won at least one race on 26 consecutive days at Emerald.

A 5-year-old California-bred, Leroy has been off since May 3, but he can fire fresh. He won his debut and he finished third coming off a lengthy layoff in a $20,000 optional claimer for California-breds at Los Alamitos last Dec. 9.

He showed an affinity for the local surface when he worked a bullet four furlongs in 45.80 seconds on June 3, and has had three easy breezes since.

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He does his best running late and could be dangerous if Wales can keep him within striking distance of what should be an honest pace.

He breaks from post 6.

KEY CONTENDERS

Leroy, by Big Bad Leroybrown

Last 3 Beyers: 79-63-73

◗ That was a solid effort in his last start and the winner earned an 86 Beyer when he just missed in a $50,000 starter at Santa Anita in his next race.

Grinder Sparksaglo, by Grindstone

Last 3 Beyers: 76-82-65

◗ The Robert Baze trainee will appreciate getting some class relief after chasing Anyportinastorm in the $50,000 Budweiser on June 30 and the $50,000 Governor’s, where he was the runner-up.

◗ The 13-time winner could be the one they have to run down if he breaks alertly from post 3 with Juan Gutierrez aboard.

Boundary Bay, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 69-59-85

◗ He took a step forward in his second start as a 4-year-old for owner-trainer Glen Todd at Hastings, and he finished no worse than third in five stakes races for trainer Sandi Gann as a 3-year-old at Emerald last year.

◗ He has speed, and if he continues to progress should get a nice trip from a forward position with Javier Matias riding.

Upo, by Archarcharch

Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-68

◗ Trained by Blaine Wright, he owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, but it was earned going 1 1/16 miles and his only win sprinting came on turf coming down the hill in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Santa Anita.

◗ Anything coming out of this barn deserves respect, and he appears to have enough tactical speed to stay in touch with whatever happens up front.