Fantastic Day back where he belongs in allowance sprint

Due to the lingering smoke coming from the wildfires in Oregon and Washington, it has been a tough week for horsemen in the Northwest. First, Hastings moved last Sunday’s card to Thursday only to be forced to reschedule it for Saturday. Then, Emerald Downs moved Wednesday’s races to Saturday. Management at Emerald was hoping by Thursday the air would have cleared enough to race. However, when there was no relief, the races as carded will go on Sunday. Post time for the 10-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

After finishing fifth in the $40,000 Muckleshoot Derby, Fantastic Day will appreciate the class relief when he runs in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds that will serve as the feature. The 6 1/2-furlong dash has a $30,000 claiming option available, with Lolo Paniolo the only horse entered for the price in the field of seven.

Fantastic Day went into the Muckleshoot Derby off a 22 1/2-length romp in an $8,000 maiden-claiming race on Aug. 5. It was his first start at Emerald and first for trainer Jorge Rosales and owner Alan Peterson.

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Purchased for $500,000 by Spendrift Farm as a yearling in 2018, Fantastic Day made his debut in a maiden special race on Feb. 20 at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. After finishing last in the one-mile race on the main track, he was transferred to trainer Dan Blacker. In his first start for Blacker, he again finished last, this time going a mile on turf in a $62,500 maiden claimer on May 29.

After another dull performance for Blacker in a $5,000 maiden claimer at Golden Gate Fields, Fantastic Day was sold privately and surfaced at Emerald, where he toyed with his overmatched rivals.

His impressive victory earned him a shot in the Muckleshoot Derby, but he never really threatened while going five wide around both turns in the 1 1/16-mile race.

In his blowout win, he was fourth at the first call before taking complete control of the six-furlong race. He could get a similar trip Sunday after breaking from post 5 with Figueroa aboard. Figueroa rode Fantastic Day in both of his races at Emerald.

Spittin Image is an attractive proposition if he goes off close to his 8-1 morning-line odds.

Trained by Chris Stenslie, the Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold was hooked every step of the way when he won a maiden special weight race by a head going 6 1/2 furlongs in his third start on Aug. 13. Facing winners for the first time in a conditioned allowance race Sept. 3, he was in the mix early but steadied sharply on the turn in the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up and ended up third.

Spittin Image is back with 3-year-olds only on Sunday, and the full brother to three-time stakes winner O B Harbor could have plenty of upside. O B Harbor, also trained by Stenslie, finished third in the 2016 Grade 3 Longacres Mile.

Lolo Paniolo and Vinny From Dixie won prior to being in over their heads in the Muckleshoot Derby.

Lolo Paniolo came from well back to win a conditioned allowance race by a half-length for trainer Kay Cooper on July 30.

The Rigoberto Velazquez-trained Vinny From Dixie romped by seven lengths in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two Aug. 5.