Dontkissntell can step forward again in allowance

Dontkissntell will try to take her game to another level when she runs in a first-level allowance race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Emerald Downs. There is also a $32,000 claiming option on the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, which drew eight horses. Post time for the first of eight races is 5 p.m. Pacific, and the feature goes as race 7 at 8:09 p.m.

In her first start at Emerald and for trainer Tom Wenzel, Dontkissntell was an easy 6 1/4-length front-running winner of a maiden special weight race on July 14. The 70 Beyer Figure she received is better than any that her rivals have ever posted, and she does not appear to be a one-trick pony. In her debut at Turf Paradise, which came for trainer Valorie Lund, she rallied from well back to finish a close third. She also made a late move when she was the runner-up in the $30,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies on Dec. 30 in her second start.

Prior to moving to Wenzel’s barn at Emerald, she didn’t run a jump in the one-mile Arizona Oaks, her first attempt at a middle distance.

There is other speed in the field on Saturday and it will be interesting to see how Eswan Flores rides Dontkissntell when she breaks from post 2.

Sea Basket has yet to run a bad race in three starts. Trained by Charles Essex, she romped in her debut and was in for the price when she won a $32,000 optional-claiming race for non-winners of two on July 14. In her only loss, Sea Basket finished a length behind Assemble in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option on June 2.

She held the lead at the second call in all of her races, and leading rider Rocco Bowen will likely call on her speed when she breaks from post 5.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dontkissntell, by Rosberg

Last 3 Beyers: 70-9-61

◗ Toss her race in the Arizona Oaks and you are looking at three solid performances, especially her blowout win in her last start.

◗ Flores may try to ease her into a stalking position.

Sea Basket, by Coast Guard

Last 3 Beyers: 62-60-63

◗ She has fired big shots in all three of her starts and will be the one they have to get past.

Assemble, by Bodemeister

Last 3 Beyers: 52-54-63

◗ Trained by Blaine Wright, she came from well back to edge Sea Basket on June 2, and then was overmatched when she finished fifth in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes July 1.

◗ She got off to a slow start when she finished fourth in Sea Basket’s win on July 4, and with plenty of speed to run at and an extra half-furlong to work with, she could get up in time in what appears to be a wide-open event.