Leprino could get perfect setup at mile
Leprino figures to get lots of early pace to chase in Saturday’s $10,000 claiming feature over one mile at Emerald Downs.
No stranger to the lead going two turns himself, Leprino has more recently evolved to have a midpack style that should serve him well in this speed-laden event.
The Debbie Peery trainee has been lightly raced this season, having started just four times at the stand. He collected a win on July 9 in a 6 1/2-furlong starter allowance but has raced just once since.
“He is training well and I’m excited to finally get to run him in a route,” Peery said.
In reference to the early pacesetters in Leprino’s latest race on Aug. 18, Peery said, “They never came back, and when that happens it is hard to catch them.”
Mosquito Fleet, Cody’s Choice, Cobra Jet, and A View From Above all figure to be pace factors.
Mosquito Fleet, trained by Justin Evans, finished in front twice in August after racing on the pace going a mile. He was disqualified from first and placed fourth on Aug. 13. The son of Midshipman is definitely tractable, although he drew the rail and has only had one way of going in recent races.
Cody’s Choice is a reliable 8-year-old trained by Vince Gibson. He has spent most of his career racing in front in sprint races but once led all the way at a mile in 2021.
Cobra Jet is trained by Frank Lucarelli. Although adept at competing from a stalking position, Cobra Jet raced a mile for the first time and won in wire-to-wire fashion on Aug. 6. This may not be the easiest time to switch styles and find success again.
Kay Cooper-trained A View From Above boasts considerable speed, although he has raced around two turns just three times with a pair of those on dirt. In his most recent attempt going long, A View From Above dueled for the early lead before dropping back to finish third of six, beaten 11 1/4 lengths, on July 28.
With the abundance of early pace expected, just about any of the remaining closers seem a threat to reach the exotics.
Mahi Mahi, trained by Valentin Garcia, has had some two-turn success from a stalking position. Mahi Mahi has been sprinting all season but has improved in his two most recent starts. He can save ground and take aim at the tired front-runners.
Sproston is trained by Jennifer Nunnally. He is another who has had some success going long on the front end, but he seems comfortable when rated behind the leaders.
A second entrant trained by Peery is recently acquired Rip City, whose only career start away from turf was a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap on the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields. In that race on Nov. 5, Rip City attended the pace and backed up to be fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths. Rip City has had some turf success on or very near the early pace, though he seems most likely to let others share the pacesetting chores Saturday.
March On Linch has shown an affinity for wet tracks but also is just the sort to come running late and surprise everyone in a spot like this.
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