Estellara steps up in class in sprint
Estellara will be stepping above her conditions when she runs in an allowance race for fillies and mares that serves as Sunday’s featured race at Emerald Downs. Nonetheless, she looks capable of winning the wide-open, six-furlong dash that drew six horses.
Trained by Len Kasmerski, Estellara is looking for her second win and will be facing multiple-race winners in a race restricted to horses who have not won $30,000 this year or who have never won three races. She is coming off a solid effort in a first-level allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on March 12, however, and with three races behind her, she should have a fitness edge over her rivals.
In her last start, the versatile 4-year-old broke sharply but was wrangled back to fifth in the six-furlong sprint. She appeared to be a bit rank early, but after settling down, she closed with a rush to just miss by a half-length to Precious Time. It was the fifth win for Precious Time, who has earned $95,329. Precious Time earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, then was the runner-up in her next start in a $40,000 claiming race at Golden Gate on April 3.
Estellara hasn’t raced at Emerald, but she has a 0-3-1 record from six starts on dirt and has worked well over the local surface. She has good tactical speed, and jockey Erick Lopez likely will have her in a stalking position soon after she breaks from post No. 5.
The 4-year-old Perhaps a Pie came off a long layoff to win her first start of the year in 2015, and she closed out her sophomore season with a game win over Ethan’s Baby in an unrestricted allowance race for 3-year-old fillies. She could come out firing with Rocco Bowen riding for trainer Chris Stensile.
KEY CONTENDERS
Estellara, by Henrythenavigator
Last 3 Beyers: 73-73-73
◗ The consistent 4-year-old is win shy, but with a possible fitness edge, she could finally get her second win.
Perhaps a Pie, by Tale of Ekati
Last 3 Beyers: 72-72-68
◗ She can fire fresh and was trending in the right direction when she went home last year.
Ethan’s Baby, by Offlee Wild
Last 3 Beyers: 65-58-72
◗ She moved forward in her second start this year, winning a second-level allowance race for fillies and mares at Turf Paradise on March 6.
◗ She will be making her first start for red-hot trainer Blaine Wright, who has won with three of his four starters at the meet.
◗ Wright also entered Seeking the Light, who is the speed of the speed and could be dangerous if she breaks alertly from her outside post.