Fantastic Day tries allowance company

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 race at Emerald Downs on Thursday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash has a $30,000 claiming option with Lolo Paniolo the only horse entered for the price in the field of seven. It goes as race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.

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 Downs for trainer Jorge Rosales and owner Alan Peterson.

Purchased for $500,000 by Spendthrift Farm as a yearling in 2018, Fantastic Day made his debut for trainer Bob Baffert in a maiden-special race at Santa Anita on Feb. 20. After finishing last in the one-mile race on the main track, he was transferred to trainer Bob Blacker. In his first start for Blacker, he again finished last going a mile on turf in a $6,250 maiden claimer on May 29.

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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 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 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 dash for 3-year-olds and up.

He is back with 3-year-olds only and being a lightly raced the full brother to three-time stakes winner O B Harbor could have plenty of upside. O B Harbor, trained by Stenslie, finished third in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in 2016.

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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.