Hot trainers send out top contenders Bear Chum, All American Hero
Bear Chum and All American Hero stand out in a $20,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that headlines the eight-race card at Emerald Downs on Thursday. Washington-breds can run for $25,000 in the six-furlong dash, which drew five horses. It goes as race 3 on an eight-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific.
Bear Chum will be making his first start since he won a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option running on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields on Aug. 9. He can handle dirt, too. Two starts back, he came from a stalking position to win a $40,000 claimer at Pleasanton.
Both wins came for trainer Isidro Tamayo. This will be Bear Chum’s first start at Emerald and for trainer Ari Herbertson, who is having a strong meet with six winners from 14 starters. Herbertson also has solid numbers with horses coming off lengthy layoffs. Since 2018 he has a 50-percent strike and $5.53 ROI with horses returning from a break of 180 days or more.
Bred in Australia, Bear Chum began his career in Hong Kong, where from 15 starts he won a single race. Since arriving in California in 2018, the 8-year-old son of I Am Invincible has won eight of his 15 races, with seven of his victories coming on Tapeta at Golden Gate.
Bear Chum has tactical speed and should get a nice trip sitting just off All American Hero and Capital Expense.
He will break from post 3 with Alex Anaya riding.
All American Hero took a shine to the Emerald surface in his first start there May 26. With leading rider Alex Cruz aboard, All American Hero broke on top and never looked back while cruising to a 4 3/4-length victory going 5 1/2 furlongs in a $10,000 starter race that carried a $15,000 claiming option. The 79 Beyer Speed Figure he received is a career best.
In his previous start, All American Hero finished last in a $10,000 conditioned claimer at Turf Paradise on April 20 for trainer Dick Cappellucci. Acting on behalf of Bill Jensen, trainer Joe Toye claimed the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Hard Spun.
Toye is having a strong meet, winning nine of 25 starts. Going into Wednesday, he leads the trainer standings with three more wins than Herbertson, Tim McCanna, and Vince Gibson.
All American Hero is a four-time winner who has had the lead at the first call in all of his victories. It may be a good time to see if he can stalk with the speedy Capital Expense in the field.
All American Hero will break from post 2 with Cruz retaining the mount.
Capital Expense, trained by Robert Baze, is coming off a win gong two furlongs in a $20,000 claimer at Turf Paradise on April 7.
The Frank Lucarelli-trained Elliott Bay is looking for his first win since he captured the $40,000 Mount Rainer at Emerald on Aug. 13.