Dirt Road Red has successfully cut back on short rest before

Dirt Road Red will cut back in distance and return to the $25,000 claiming level in Friday’s 6 1/2-furlong feature at Emerald Downs. The Candice Cryderman trainee is 2 for 4 this year, having won a pair of two-turn races, but the 7-year-old faltered after forcing the pace in his last start going a mile and 70 yards on July 27.

“I don’t have an excuse" for Dirt Road Red, Cryderman said. “When [El Alto Hombre] gunned for the lead, [jockey Leonel] Reyes decided to take back, and he just didn’t fire.”

Friday’s race may be just the ticket to get Dirt Road Red’s confidence back. A seven-time winner at Emerald Downs owned by John Parker, the son of Clubhouse Ride has gone route to sprint with a quick turnaround on two occasions and he won both races, with 13 and 14 days between starts. It will be 13 days between starts for Dirt Road Red on Friday.

Perhaps the chief competitor for Dirt Road Red will be Welton, a last-out claim by trainer Frank Lucarelli for owner Mike Hill. A 4-year-old by Creative Cause, Welton was a winner June 23 at the same $25,000 claiming level after benefiting from a torrid initial quarter-mile run in 20.95 seconds. That opening quarter is among the fastest at Emerald Downs since Russellthemussell went 20.60 with a gale force wind at his back in March 1997.

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There appears to be plenty of early speed in the field, though perhaps not up to the standard enjoyed by Welton in his two-back win.

A View From Above is a Kay Cooper trainee who has five career wins, all in wire-to-wire fashion. Mister Mafioso, trained by Faustino Patino, won his last start July 20 in wire-to-wire fashion. He has not been more than a half-length back at any point of call in his four career wins.

Chuckanut Bay is a versatile sort, trained by Jorge Rosales, who has finished in front on four occasions, two in wire-to-wire fashion and a pair when stalking from third in the early going.

All of these pace players should give Dirt Road Red and Welton great chances at relaxed trips as they stalk from the outside.

Potentially coming from far back will be Fantastic Day, a Rosales trainee who was a neck behind Welton on June 23. Another potential closer is Firewalker, a Howard Belvoir trainee who was an allowance winner July 7 before he broke very poorly and didn’t recover in the July 21 Governor’s Handicap.

Although just seven are entered, the race has all the components to be a great contest. There are multiple speed horses, multiple middle-move types, and a couple of potential closers who could take advantage if the pace is exceptionally fast.

First post to kick off Longacres Mile weekend is 7 p.m. Pacific.

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