Indian Brut gets change of scenery

Trainer Tim McCanna is looking for a good effort from Indian Brut when he makes his Pacific Northwest debut in a $40,000 optional-claiming race at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and headlines a nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific.

Indian Brut is looking for his first win since he romped in the slop in a maiden special weight race at Aqueduct on Nov. 27, 2014. Although he hasn’t been able to break through since, he’s come close, and the only time he didn’t finish in the top four was when he ran into subsequent Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes winner Speightster in a first-level allowance race at Belmont last June.

Indian Brut is coming off a fourth-place finish going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in a $25,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream on Jan. 16. He was bred by his owner, Charles Fipke.

“Mr. Fipke wanted to have a presence in the Northwest, and we are hoping Indian Brut will be a stakes horse here,“ said McCanna. “He’s a nice horse. He was freshened at my farm, and he has trained well since he went back into training.”

McCanna was hoping to run Indian Brut last week and then bring him back in the $50,000 Governor’s on May 22.

“The race didn’t go,” said McCanna. “If runs well Saturday, we still plan to run in the Governor’s. The Longacres Mile is the ultimate goal.”

Indian Brut drew post No. 6 with Joe Steiner riding.

Steiner was aboard Solemnly Swear when he had a rough trip while finishing third in a $50,000 optional-claiming race in his first start at Emerald for trainer Mike Puhich on April 10.

Isaias Enriquez picks up the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Indian Brut, by Indian Charlie

Last 3 Beyers: 82-92-94

◗ The consistent 5-year-old won’t mind the move back to dirt and may have tipped his hand when he worked a bullet five furlongs in 57.40 seconds on April 21.

Solemnly Swear, by Yes It’s True

Last 3 Beyers: 84-68-96

◗ Not sure if he was going to win, but he lost a lot of momentum when he was forced to steady on the turn in his first race since he finished fourth in the Richmond Derby Trial at Hastings in August 2014. The runner-up, Kaabraaj, earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure when he won an allowance race April 23.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Puhich has a 19 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.