Cobra Jet, Cadillac Margarita heavy favorites in juvenile stakes
Juveniles take center stage at Emerald Downs on Sunday in the $50,000 King County Express for colts and geldings and the $50,000 Angie C for fillies. Both races will be contested at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Cobra Jet will be a short price in the King County Express, which drew five horses and goes as the fourth race on a nine-race card that begins at 2:30 p.m. Pacific.
Cobra Jet won his only start by 6 3/4 lengths as the 2-1 favorite on June 30 at Emerald. With Juan Gutierrez aboard, the Washington-bred son of Curlin to Mischief broke alertly and never looked back in the 4 1/2-furlong race.
“We were pretty sure he could run a bit,” trainer Frank Lucarelli said. “He acted like he could, anyway. Until they go over and do it, you never really know. We only paid $5,500 for him, so I originally entered him for $25,000 but the race didn’t go.”
Lucarelli is expecting another strong performance from Cobra Jet on Sunday.
“You always hope they move forward after they’ve had a race, but some horses get rattled a bit,” he said. “Cobra Jet seems like a pretty good horse, though, and he has a good mind. “
Cobra Jet will break from post 4 with Gutierrez riding.
Other than Bat Man’s Bull, who finished fifth in a $25,000 maiden claimer on July 10, Cobra Jet is facing the same horses he dominated in his debut.
If there is going to be an upset it could come from the Blaine Wright-trained Chumly. The Kentucky-bred son of Honor Code was within a half-length of Cobra Jet at the first call before finishing second, and he gets Lasix for the first time Sunday.
Chumly is a half-brother to Riser, who won four stakes at Emerald. Trained by Wright, he lost by a neck in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in 2017 and also finished first in the $50,000 Budweiser, but had his number taken down for causing interference leaving the starting gate.
Cadillac Margarita looks like the one to beat in the Angie C, which drew seven horses and goes as race 8.
With Gutierrez riding for trainer Jeff Metz, Cadillac Margarita won her only start by 3 3/4 lengths on June 30 at Emerald. Similar to Cobra Jet, she broke on top and dominated her opponents in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race.
The Washington-bred daughter of Stay Thirsty will have Gutierrez aboard Sunday when she breaks from post 4.
Akasi could make a big impact for trainer David Martinez in her debut. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Run Away and Hide has been working fast and has the pedigree to handle the assignment.
Akasi is the first foal out of Karula, who paid $62.50 when she won the 2016 Angie C by 11 lengths. She also was debuting for Martinez.
Akasi will be a much shorter price when she breaks from the inside post with leading rider Alex Cruz in the irons.