Grand Palais stepping down, Prince of Silver moving up
Grand Palais and Prince of Silver look like the main players in a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up restricted to nonwinners of two that will serve as the featured race at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash goes as race 7 on a nine-race card that starts at 2 p.m. Pacific.
Grand Palais is stepping down a notch after finishing second in a first-level allowance race; Prince of Silver is moving up in price following a runner-up finish in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two.
Trained by Blaine Wright, Grand Palais was racing on dirt for the first time at Emerald when he forced an honest pace set by the winner, Awesome Indian, going 6 1/2 furlongs June 20. He began his career at Woodbine for trainer Justin Nixon on Oct. 31, and in two starts on Polytrack, he just missed in his debut and then romped in a $32,000 maiden claimer in his second start Nov. 27.
Following his blowout win, he was sold to John and Janene Maryanski, who moved him to Wright’s barn at Golden Gate Fields. His best races in four starts on Tapeta were a couple of runner-up finishes in $40,000 starter races March 13 and April 13. In his last start at Golden Gate, he didn’t show his usual speed and finished sixth in a similar race April 24.
Grand Palais will break from the rail, with Javier Gutierrez retaining the mount.
There is other speed in the seven-horse field that should help Prince of Silver, who likely will stalk. Trained by Diane Garrison, he was getting to the front-running winner, It’s Little Richie, going six furlongs June 11. He shouldn’t mind the extra sixteenth of a mile in this spot.
KEY CONTENDERS
Grand Palais, by Grand Slam
Last 3 Beyers: 68-64-81
◗ He had been off for close to two months when he ran a big race in his first start on dirt and could take a big step forward with a race behind him.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Emerald, Wright has a 26 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.
Prince of Silver, by Even the Score
Last 3 Beyers: 73-54-70
◗ The 73 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in his latest is a career-best and is the top last-race figure in this field.
Political Debate, by Misremembered
Last 3 Beyers: 53-61-64
◗ Trained by Kenneth Person, he used his good speed to win a $25,000 maiden-claiming race May 8 and will appreciate the class relief after going unplaced in a $40,000 optional-claiming race May 28.