Kiss My Lulu should be hard to catch in Friday feature

Kiss My Lulu is the one to catch and beat in Friday’s feature at Emerald Downs. However, she is by no means a cinch in the $15,000 claiming race for fillies and mares that drew eight horses.

She will have to deal with other speed in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, particularly Listo, who is coming off a 10 1/4-length romp over considerably easier company in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two Aug. 11.

Post time for the first of seven races is 6:30 p.m. Pacific. The feature is race 6.

Trained by Blaine Wright, Kiss My Lulu is dropping in price after back-to-back losses in $20,000 claiming races restricted to Washington-breds. She sat just off the speed before losing by a head to Iwannabeadivatoo on July 16 and then faded to fourth after dueling through quick interior fractions Aug. 6.

Prior to her two losses, she romped by 7 1/2 lengths in a $15,000 conditional claimer June 25. The 77 Beyer Speed Figure she received is her career best, and if she can post a similar figure Friday, she’s the winner.

Kiss My Lulu drew post 7, with Julien Couton riding her for the first time.

Listo set honest fractions when she dominated her rivals in her first start for trainer Manuel Ortiz, who had claimed her on behalf of Tim Bankers for $15,000 on July 22. In her only other win, she also ran off and hid, winning a $15,000 maiden claimer by more than 13 lengths in her first race this year.

Listo will break from post 3, with Erick Lopez retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Kiss My Lulu, by Coast Guard
Last 3 Beyers: 51-72-77

◗ The five-time winner could be gone if she gets the jump on Listo. Adding to her appeal are the strong numbers Couton has riding for Wright. Since 2013, he has won with 34 percent of his mounts at Emerald from the current leading trainer.

McDove, by Proud Citizen
Last 3 Beyers: 20-70-66

◗ Trained by Larry Ross, she is going to appreciate the substantially easier company after tackling the best fillies and mares at Emerald in the one-mile, $50,000 Boeing Stakes on July 16.

◗ She was stakes-placed at the distance at Hastings last year, so she shouldn’t mind the cutback to a sprint.

Listo, by Preachinatthebar
Last 3 Beyers: 65-38-56

◗ The 65 Beyer she received for her blowout win isn’t anything to get overly excited about, but she was well in hand and could have gone faster if Lopez had encouraged her to.

Trinni, by Private Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 68-43-67

◗ With leading rider Rocco Bowen aboard for trainer Jeff Metz, she came from a stalking position to win a $10,000 claiming race Aug. 4. She should get a similar trip here with Bowen retaining the mount and could pick up the pieces if they get carried away up front.