La Waun sprinting again after Longacres Mile sojurn

La Waun, seventh in the Grade 3 Longacres Miles in his last start, figures to be a short price in a $10,000 starter race that carries a $15,000 claiming option at Emerald Downs on Thursday.

The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 10.

Kicking off the 11-race card that begins at 5 p.m. Pacific is an allowance race for nonwinners of two, or Washington-bred nonwinners of three. The Jack McCartney-trained Machable, second as the favorite in the $40,000 Muckleshoot Derby on Sept. 3, is the one to beat in the one-mile race that drew five horses.

La Waun was in way over his head in the Longacres Mile won by Anothertwistafate. At least he was in the race for six furlongs before fading. He went into the Mile off three strong races going six furlongs for trainer Candice Cryderman. He was ridden by Alex Cruz in his last four starts.

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The 5-year-old California-bred by The Pamplemousse took them all the way in a $10,000 claimer on July 8 and then forced a quick pace before going on to win a $10,000 starter with a $15,000 claiming option on July 29. In his next start, a first-level allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option on Aug. 26, he broke poorly and was last early. After tugging his way into contention and then having to wait for room around the turn, he finished with determination to lose by a head to Windribbon.

Adding to his appeal is his fondness for the Emerald Downs surface, where he has compiled a 5-4-0 record from 12 starts. Overall, he has won 10 races from 37 starts for earnings of $149,835.

He will break from post 2 with Cruz riding.

Missed the Boat is a three-time winner at the meet, and after winning back-to-back conditioned claimers going 5 1/2 furlongs he finished second to La Waun on July 29.

Trained by Dan Markle, Missed the Boat came from a stalking position to win an $8,000 claimer for nonwinners of two on July 1, and ran a similar race in a $12,500 nonwinners of three 14 days later.

Missed the Boat came from farther back in his runner-up finish to La Waun and then had a wide trip when he stretched out to a mile in a $10,000 starter with a $15,000 claiming option on Aug. 12, when he finished a distant fifth.

With Gary Wales riding, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Midshipman came back with a sharp front-running victory at the same level and distance on Sept. 2.

He will break from post 4 with Wales retaining the mount. With plenty of speed in the field he could get the right kind of trip.

Speaking of speed, So Lucky is coming off a front-running victory for trainer Howard Belvoir in a $12,500 claimer going 5 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 3.