This Great Nation must prove himself in Washington Cup Juvenile

This Great Nation will try to prove his shocking win in the $45,000 WTBOA Lads on Aug. 12 was no fluke when he runs in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings at Emerald Downs Sunday.

The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew 12 horses and is restricted to horses foaled in Washington or sired by a stallion who was standing in Washington in 2015. It goes as race 8, with the fillies version, which drew eight horses, going as race 6. Post time for the first of 10 races is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Felimon Alvarado, This Great Nation paid $98.80 for his two-length win over Jack Van Berg in the Lads, and he earned it the hard way. Breaking alertly from the rail with Erick Lopez riding, This Great Nation dueled with Jack Van Berg and Verynsky through quick interior fractions of 21.99 and 44.60 seconds in the six-furlong dash. He never got a breather and was still able to draw away from Jack Van Berg in the final 70 yards.

A son of Nationhood, This Great Nation will break from post 9 with Javier Matias picking up the mount. Matias will be the fourth different rider for This Great Nation, who went into the Lads off a fourth-place finish in the $45,000 King County Executive.

The main threat could come from Emily’s Gold, who was also a surprise when he paid $32.20 for his debut win in a maiden special weight race on Aug. 19.

Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Emily’s Gold can stalk, and could get a nice trip from post 8 with Austin Solis retaining the mount.

Lucarelli will also be represented by Fuzzy Dolphin. That gelding will wear blinkers for the first time after finishing seventh as the favorite in the Lads.

The well-bred Time n’ Time Again rallied to dead heat for second in his debut, and ran an even race when he finished fourth in the Lads.

Trained by Kay Cooper, Time n’ Time Again is a half-brother to 2017 Grade 3 Longacres Mile winner Gold Rush Dancer. He worked a sharp five furlongs last Sunday and could be sitting on a big effort with Julien Couton picking up the mount from Solis.

Ally On Fire eligible to improve with the addition of blinkers following a third-place finish in his debut behind Emily’s Gold. He is trained by Manny Ortiz, who is winning races at a 33 percent clip at the meet.

Money Inthe Starrs is the one to beat in the fillies division.

Trained by Mike Puhich, the daughter of Abraaj owns the best Beyer Speed Figures in the field and will appreciate the easier company after dueling through honest fractions before fading to finish fifth in the $58,500 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes on Aug. 12.