Following two sprint wins, All American Hero tries a mile

All American Hero figures to be a handful when he runs in a $10,000 starter race with a $15,000 claiming option that will serve as the feature race at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.

All American Hero romped in his first two starts at Emerald, which were also his first for trainer Joe Toye. Acting on behalf of Bill Jensen, Toye claimed All American Hero out of a $10,000 conditioned claimer at Turf Paradise on April 20. It was a shrewd claim as the 5-year-old gelding finished eighth at just over 10-1 in the six-furlong dash.

In his first start for Toye and Jensen, All American Hero won a $10,000 starter with a $15,000 claiming option by 4 3/4 lengths on May 26. He broke on top and never looked back in the 5 1/2-furlong race. Proving it was no fluke, he dueled through honest fractions before drawing off to win a $20,000 claimer going six furlongs on June 24.

It has been a while since All American Hero tried a middle distance, but he won a maiden special weight race going a mile on turf in his third start so he can handle the assignment.

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American Hero will have to deal with the speedy Adens Dream breaking from the rail, but he has passed horses in the past and could get a nice trip sitting just off Adens Dream, who has never tried a middle distance in his 40-race career.

American Hero will break from post 5 with Alex Cruz retaining the mount.

Adens Dream is coming off a win going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 10, but is questionable at the distance. At the least he ensures a fast pace for his stablemate Swamp Souffle, who is making his first start at Emerald and first for trainer Ari Herbertson.

Swamp Souffle is a two-time winner going a mile on dirt and has a couple of wins going the same distance on turf. His latest victory came going a mile and a quarter in a $25,000 starter race at Santa Anita on Feb. 29 of last year. He finished fourth in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey going a mile and a half on turf in his next start.

The 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Bodemeister is coming off a fifth-place finish in a $12,500 starter race at Santa Anita for trainer Reed Saldana on May 31.

The past five years, Herbertson has a 33 percent strike rate and $2.15 ROI with new shooters. It is easy to imagine Swamp Souffle, who has back class, firing a big shot in is first start for a trainer who is winning races at a 47 percent clip at the meet.

Lolo Paniolo looked good winning a $12,500 claimer going a mile and a sixteenth on turf for trainer Tim McCanna at Golden Gate on June 12.

A three-time winner at Emerald, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Paynter should be fine being back on dirt. He could also get a nice trip rallying into what figures to be a fast pace.