Fortune's Freude returns off tough beat

Contention runs deep in the feature race Wednesday at Emerald Downs. The conditioned allowance race for fillies and mares drew six horses and goes as the fifth race on a 10-race card that begins at 2:25 p.m. Pacific. There is a $40,000 claiming option in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, with For You Only the only horse entered for the price.

Fortune’s Freude could end up being favored. Trained by Kay Cooper, the 5-year-old daughter of Freud is coming off a narrow defeat to Alittlelesstalk in the $40,000 Washington Cup Filly or Mare on Oct. 1. Alittlelesstalk was the top 3-year-old filly in Washington last year and is the best older filly or mare this year.

With Javier Matias riding, Fortune’s Freude was well back early in the 1 1/16-mile race, made her presence known at the top of the stretch, and loomed a serious threat at the sixteenth pole. However, she could not get past Alittlelesstalk, who once again was a game winner and paid $2.80 as the overwhelming favorite.

The solid effort by Fortune’s Freude came on the heels of a front-running score going a mile in a $10,000 starter race with a $15,000 claiming option Sept. 3.

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The two-time sprint winner should be okay with the cutback in distance and could get a nice trip from a stalking position after breaking from the outside post with Matias retaining the mount.

Paddy’s Secret, trained by Frank Lucarelli, also is coming off a runner-up finish behind Alittlelesstalk on Sept. 10. However, she was never a serious threat in the $40,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap as she made a late move to edge Killarney Lass by a head but was 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner in the 1 1/16-mile race.

The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Paddy O’Prado won a couple of sprints earlier in her career but is a better horse going around two turns. She is perfect on wet tracks, though, and there is some rain in the forecast.

She drew post 5 and should be rolling late with Leslie Mawing riding.

Dontkissntell, third in the Washington Cup Filly or Mare, is looking for her first win at the meet. She has tactical speed, could get a nice trip from a forward position with leading rider Alex Cruz aboard, and with a 1-2-2 record from five starts at the distance at the very least should be part of any exotics ticket.

The 5-year-old British Columbia-bred daughter of Rosberg is trained by Tom Wenzel, as is Diamonds R, who finished last in the Emerald Distaff after breaking a half step slow before forcing an honest pace.

Diamonds R will not mind the move back to a sprint and could be dangerous if she breaks alertly from the rail under Eddie Martinez.