Kaabraaj tries two turns in featured allowance
Kaabraaj will try to carry his substantial speed around two turns for the first time when he runs in an unrestricted allowance race Saturday at Emerald Downs. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds drew six horses, and with the speedy Daytona Beach breaking from the rail, Kaabraaj’s task won’t be easy.
Trained by Jeff Metz, Kaabraaj is coming off back-to-back front-running wins, and with just four starts behind him, he could have a bright future. He romped by 4 3/4 lengths going six furlongs in a key $25,000 maiden-claiming race July 25, and he repeated by the same margin in a 6 1/2-furlong, $40,000 optional-claiming race Aug. 9.
Kaabraaj could have distance limitations, however. His dam only won sprinting, and while his siblings have won a total of 29 races, just one of those wins came at a middle distance. His sire also was strictly a sprinter.
He drew post 5, and jockey Juan Gutierrez likely will put him into the race right from the start.
The Doris Harwood-trained Daytona Beach also is fast and drew the rail, and with blinkers going back on, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him force the issue early.
A duel between those two should benefit Raspberry Road, who can stalk. He will appreciate the class relief after finishing fifth Aug. 9 in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby.
Trained by Dan Markle, Raspberry Road went into the Derby off a win in a one-mile, $40,000 optional-claiming race July 4, when he was going around two turns for the first time.
Jake Barton retains the mount and is likely to ease him into a stalking position after he breaks from post 2.
Key contenders
Raspberry Road (Last 3 Beyers: 62-74-63)
* Following a decent effort in the Emerald Derby, he earned a bullet for his five-furlong move Aug. 19.
He has good speed and won’t be too far behind what figures to be a fast and contested pace.
Kaabraaj (Last 3 Beyers: 73-69-52)
* Not convinced he wants to go this far, but he is talented and could be tough to catch if he gets the jump on Daytona Beach.
Its Allabout Jerry (Last 3 Beyers: 61-69-69)
* Trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, the deep closer will appreciate the move back to a route after finishing fourth as the favorite going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $40,000 optional claimer Aug. 9. Prior to that, he rallied to win a one-mile, $40,000 optional claimer July 25.