Knight Club steps up in class, seeks fourth straight win

Friday’s feature at Emerald Downs is only a $10,000 claiming race for fillies and mares, but the seven horses entered in the one-mile race are a hard-knocking group. With 56 wins between them, it figures to be a hotly contested battle.

Knight Club, trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, is doubling her price after winning a $5,000 claiming race going 5 1/2-furlongs on April 24. She is going for her fourth win in a row and might be good enough to handle the jump in class.

Knight Club has been on a roll since she won a $2,500 claiming race at Portland Meadows last winter. Including her win over a wet-fast track Nov. 16, she has finished in front in six of her last seven races. She was disqualified to second for causing interference in the Crescent Lake Handicap at Portland on Jan. 26. In her only other loss in the streak, she was the runner-up in a $2,500 claimer at Portland on Dec. 8.

In her latest win, she came from off the pace to edge Sometimes a Lady by three-quarters of a length.

Leonel Camacho-Flores retains the mount.

Come On Cozzene will try to make amends for her third-place finish as the favorite in a $5,000 starter race April 17. Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Come On Cozzene has won 12 times in her 41-race career. She is looking for her 10th win at Emerald.

KEY CONTENDERS

Knight Club, by Matty G

Last 3 Beyers: 55-56-54

◗ The 5-year-old mare is on a roll, and with a 4-3-0 record from 9 starts at the distance, she won’t have any trouble going from a sprint to a route.

Come On Cozzene, by Devine Cozzene

Last 3 Beyers: 56-58-69

◗ She won three races on the grass at Turf Paradise last winter, thrives on this track, and figures to move forward in her second start at the meet.

Stephanie Plum, by Memo

Last 3 Beyers: 42-50-60

◗ A multiple route winner, she should appreciate the added distance following back-to-back runner-up finishes going 5 1/2 furlongs at this level.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, trainer Hilbern Mullens has a 13 percent strike rate at Emerald with horses going from a sprint to a route.

Another Winter, by Demon Warlock

Last 3 Beyers: 45-50-61

◗ Trained by Jeff Metz, she used her good speed to defeat Stephanie Plum in her last start and is capable of taking them all the way if she clears early.