Get You figures out front in Emerald Downs claimer

AUBURN, Wash. – Get You, who threatened the six-furlong track record in his last start, headlines the feature race Thursday at Emerald Downs. A $15,000 claimer for older horses at six furlongs, it’s the sixth of seven races on a program that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific.

A lightly raced 6-year-old trained by Jim Penney, Get You has captured a pair of $17,500 claiming sprints at the current meeting, running six furlongs in 1:08.40 in his season debut May 9 and then 1:07.40 – .40 of a second off the track record shared by Atta Boy Roy and Noosa Beach – in his most recent outing June 25. Sandwiched between those efforts was a fifth-place finish as the 1-2 favorite in a $15,000 claimer in early June.

Get You, a homebred for the Penney family’s Homestretch Farms, has won 6 of 16 career starts and is 5 for 11 at Thursday’s distance. He’s had the lead at the first call in 14 of his 16 starts and could be a formidable target once again under jockey Juan Gutierrez. He figures to be the wagering favorite in a field of seven that includes top challengers Ernie Owl and Olympic Lights.

Ernie Owl won his first two starts at the meeting but was beaten as the odds-on favorite in each of his past two outings. Claimed by John Chase for $10,000 out of his last start July 16, he’ll make his first appearance for trainer Charles Essex, who named Gallyn Mitchell to ride. Ernie Owl has never finished worse than second in five starts at six furlongs and is fast enough to keep Get You in easy striking range. If the pace is fast, Ernie Owl could assert himself in the final furlong.

Olympic Lights, formerly trained by Essex, also changed hands after his last race. Claimed by Shady Valley Ranch for $17,500, the Doris Harwood-trained runner will drop a class level and be ridden for the first time by Ricky Frazier, who enters the week with a 72-58 lead over Gutierrez in the jockey standings. Olympic Lights is winless in two starts this year but 6 for 17 all-time at Emerald Downs.

Others in the field are Highdleburg, winner for $10,000 in his last start; Flaming Bullet, who will be making his first start since early February; Carry On John, third behind Get You in his last start June 25; and probable longshot Chet the Jet.