Camille looks to bounce back in optional-claiming sprint
With two wins and three runner-up finishes from five starts at the distance, Camille could be a handful when she runs in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares Friday evening at Emerald Downs. The $25,000 optional-claiming race, which drew seven horses, has other speed, however, and Camille will need to be on her toes while breaking from the inside post with Francisco Duran aboard.
Trained by Manuel Ortiz, the 5-year-old Arizona-bred mare scored an impressive front-running win in a $50,000 optional claimer July 5 at Emerald Downs. However, in her next start, she finished last in a $40,000 optional-claiming race July 25, when she wore front wraps for the first time. It didn’t help that she hopped in the air at the start, and she was done after she dragged Duran to the lead and posted a quick half-mile split in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.
Going into her sharp win in her previous start, she was coming off a similar fade job in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Handicap, so it certainly is possible that she will bounce back in Friday’s sixth race.
Belladiva looks like the main threat. She can stalk and could get a nice trip sitting off what figures to be a fast and contested pace.
Trained by Junior Coffee, she was involved right from the start when she finished second as the favorite in a one-mile race at this level July 18.
Key contenders
Camille (Last 3 Beyers: 49-77-30)
* She could be heading in the wrong direction, with front wraps being added in her latest. Nonetheless, she is the speed of the speed and could be gone if she breaks on top.
* Adding to her appeal, she is running for a hot barn. Ortiz is winning races at a 31 percent clip at the meet.
Belladiva (Last 3 Beyers: 60-65-65)
* The stakes-placed filly has been right there in all three of her starts as a 4-year-old and won’t mind the move back to a sprint following a solid effort.
* She also could get the perfect trip if Camille and Spot On Babe hook up early.
DRF Formulator fact: Over the past five years, Coffee has a 25 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint.
Spot On Babe (Last 3 Beyers: 40-59-71)
* Trained by Frank Lucarelli, she used her good speed to win four races last year and may have needed a race when she finished last in her first start this year in the race Camille won July 5.