Ila Veiw tries to build on debut
Ila Veiw will try to prove that her blowout win in her debut was no fluke when she runs in a $15,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs on Friday. The 5 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Alan Bozell, Ila Veiw was overlooked in the wagering and paid $38.40 for her 8 1/2-length romp in an $8,000 maiden-claiming race at Emerald on May 29. It was the manner in which she won the six-furlong sprint that suggests she is capable of handling the step up in class.
With Erick Flores aboard, she broke flatfooted and spotted the rest of the field a couple of lengths. It didn’t take her long to start rolling, however, and Flores moved her to the middle of the track, where she blew by the rest of the field. She held a clear lead after a half-mile in 45.83 seconds before she started to draw off from her overmatched rivals.
Flores retains the mount, and Ila Veiw could be a handful if she breaks alertly from post 3.
Ila Veiw is by no means a cinch, and if she isn’t capable of handling the significant jump in class, it appears to be a wide-open race.
KEY CONTENDERS
Ila Veiw, by Rallying Cry
Beyer: 54
◗ It is never easy facing winners for the first time, but she was very impressive in overcoming a poor start to win her debut and is certainly eligible to improve with a race behind her.
Our Clementine, by Papa Clem
Last 3 Beyers: 39-49-46
◗ Trained by Tom Wenzel, she takes the plunge after not being able to keep up in back-to-back $25,000 claiming races. She was good enough to win a $25,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two in her first start this year, and she was restless in the gate and didn’t break that sharply in her latest.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Wenzel has an impressive 55 percent strike rate with horses dropping in value by 50 percent or more.
Sugarseeker, by Ready’s Image
Last 3 Beyers: 55-52-45
◗ Trained by Frank Lucarelli, she lost to Our Clementine in her first start this year but is trending in the right direction and is back with her own age group following a third-place finish in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two June 10.