It's Turbo can motor past the speed in Emerald allowance
A trio of trainers will send tag teams of runners after the purse in Sunday’s feature at Emerald Downs, a $25,000 first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs.
The field of six is comprised of runners from the barns of Vince Gibson, Frank Lucarelli, and Candi Cryderman. In a quirk of the draw, the stablemates will all start alongside each other in the gate.
There appears to be an abundance of front-runners among the group, which should ensure a lively pace. Four of the six are returning from layoffs, with It’s Turbo, the only bona fide closer in the lineup, showing the most recent start, on April 17 at Turf Paradise.
Trained by Lucarelli, It’s Turbo chased a romping winner in that six-furlong allowance/optional-claiming race, finishing third. The race went in 1:08.16, and It’s Turbo earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 67, the highest in this field.
“There was a big favorite in there from Santa Anita, and we figured we had no shot against him unless we gave him a little run early,” Lucarelli said. “It probably cost us second money, at least I think it did.”
It’s Turbo, winner of the $50,0000 WTBOA Lads Stakes last year at Emerald, should be able to relax behind the early pace Sunday, allowing jockey Isaias Enriquez to make his run in the stretch.
Lucarelli’s second entrant is Royal Halo, who will be making his first start for the trainer after previously being with Luis Mendez in Southern California. Royal Halo is coming off a 5 1/2-furlong maiden-special win for California-breds on March 25 at Santa Anita.
“He’s pretty quick,” Lucarelli said. “I’ve had him up here just a couple of weeks. He’ll probably be in the mix early.”
Ice Tower, trained by Gibson, could outrun his odds. After finishing third in his debut last August at 5 1/2 furlongs, Ice Tower defeated maidens at six furlongs on Sept. 4 at Emerald. He then stretched out to 1 1/16 miles two weeks later, taking on the top juveniles on the grounds in the $70,000 Gottstein Futurity.
Ice Tower was part of a fast, contested early pace in the Gottstein, fading to finish 10th, 49 1/2 lengths behind romping winner Lloyds Logic. The effort may have been better than it looks on paper.
First post Sunday is 2 p.m. Pacific, with the feature going as race 9. Sunny weather and temperatures in the mid-80s are expected.
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