Code Charlie on the improve for Washington Cup Juvenile

Code Charlie improved substantially when he took them all the way in a maiden special weight race on Aug. 25 at Emerald Downs. If he continues to progress, he could be a handful in the Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings on Sunday at Emerald. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew 10 horses and goes as race eight on a 10-race card that begins at 2:10 p.m. Pacific.

It shares the spotlight with the Washington Cup Juvenile Filly, which also drew 10 horses. It goes as race 6.

Both races are restricted to horses bred or sired by a stallion standing in Washington. The Juvenile Colts and Geldings is a wide-open event with no obvious favorite. Windy Point is the one to beat in the Juvenile Filly.

The 54 Beyer Speed Figure that Code Charlie received for his 5 1/4-length romp over Stanley’s Wave is the best in the field for the colts and geldings race. With Kevin Krigger up, the Vince Gibson-trained son of Desert Code set honest fractions and kept rolling while appearing to have something left in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint.

It was a big improvement over his previous race where he set wicked fractions before being overwhelmed by Wilson to Lockett, who will be breaking from post 8 on Saturday, one post outside of Code Charlie.

Code Charlie has improved his Beyers in each start, so his best may be yet to come.

“He just keeps getting better,” Gibson said. “We sent him pretty hard in his first few races, but he has matured and he rated nicely for Kevin last time. As long as Kevin can slow down, the extra furlong shouldn’t be a problem.”

One of the horses Code Charlie will have to deal with early is Gold Crusher, who romped in his second start in a $25,000 maiden claimer on Aug. 17 for Gibson.

He was claimed by Emerald’s all-time leading trainer Frank Lucarelli.

“He’s a nice horse, too,” Gibson said.

A son of Harbor the Gold, Gold Crusher will break from the inside post with leading rider Gary Wales.

Wilson to Locket followed up his win over Code Charlie with a third-place finish in the $45,000 WTBOA. Lads on Aug. 18. The Steve Bullock trainee is capable of passing horses and should have speed to run at.

Harbors Rule, trained by Chris Stenslie, forced the pace and came up a neck short to Muncey at 31-1 in the Lads. The son of Harbor the Gold drew the outside post and could be dangerous from a stalking position.

The Juvenile Filly is more clear-cut, with Windy Point the likely favorite.

Trained by Jose Navarro, the daughter of Coast Guard followed up her debut win with runner-up finishes in the $54,000 Angie C and $58,500 Barbara Shinpoch on Aug. 18.

Windy Point didn’t get off to a great start in the Shinpock, and she also had trouble in the Angie C when she had to steady at the seven-sixteenths pole. She will break from post 2 with Juan Gutierrez. She could be tough to handle with a clean trip.

For You Only, trained by Howard Belvoir, won the Angie C in her second start but regressed when she finished fourth in the Shinpoch.

You Go Girl is on an upward trend for Bullock. She could make a big impact running with blinkers the first time.