Invested Prospect's speed should help her bounce back

Invested Prospect is the one to catch and beat in a second-level allowance race at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The six-furlong dash for fillies and mares drew seven horses and has plenty of other speed, however. If Invested Prospect falters, Bonus Spin looks like the one with the best chance of picking up the pieces.

Trained by Blaine Wright, Invested Prospect won all three of her starts sprinting before the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes, where she set a quick pace before fading to last as the even-money favorite in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies May 25. It was just her second start this year, and she was coming off a romp going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes on May 8.

Wright was hesitant to run her in the Irish Day and wasn’t shocked by her disappointing performance.

“She ran such a big race coming off a layoff, it didn’t surprise me she bounced,” Wright said. “I probably should have been more disciplined and waited with her. She was a victim of the stakes schedule here, which is very hard on 3-year-old fillies that only race in Washington. After being off all winter, there is just one sprint, and then you have to stretch them out three weeks later.”

Wright said he is happy with the way Invested Prospect has bounced back from her loss in the Irish Day and expects her to run a good race Saturday.

Juan Gutierrez retains the mount; he will be asking Invested Prospect to use her substantial speed after she breaks from post No. 4.

Gutierrez was also aboard Bonus Spin when she came from a stalking position to win a first-level allowance race at Emerald on June 12. Based at Hastings with trainer Rosann Anderson, the 5-year-old mare was very sharp when she worked a half mile in 48.20 seconds with exercise rider Angie Smith aboard in Vancouver last Sunday.

Erick Lopez picks up the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Invested Prospect, by Abraaj

Last 3 Beyers: 25-75-54

◗ She is the speed of the speed, will appreciate the move back to a sprint, and could be gone if she breaks on top.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Emerald, Wright has a 25 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint.

Bonus Spin, by Hard Spun

Last 3 Beyers: 66-64-55

◗ With a plethora of speed signed on, this could set up nicely for her, and if her interim work at Hastings is any indication, Anderson has her primed for another big performance.