Lolo Paniolo returns at the same level

Lolo Paniolo rallied to win a one-mile first-level allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option for 3-year-olds on Oct. 8. He should again have an honest and contested pace to work with sprinting at the same level in the feature race Thursday at Emerald Downs. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew seven horses and goes as the ninth race on a 10-race card that begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.

The Kentucky-bred gelding by Paynter, as in his last win, is entered for the $30,000 tag. He is gunning for his third victory at the meet, which ends the following Thursday on Oct. 29.

Trained by Kay Cooper and ridden by Javier Matias, Lolo Paniolo came from well back to beat older horses in his second start this year, on July 30, in a six-furlong dash for nonwinners of two or Washington-bred nonwinners of three.

Prior to his win in his last start, he finished fourth going 6 1/2 furlongs at this level Sept. 20 and it’s possible he did not care for running over a muddy track.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

He is the only three-time winner in the field, and considering two of his victories came in sprints he should be fine with the cutback in distance. He also could get set up nicely if Stand To and Spittin Image hook up early.

Lolo Paniolo will break from post 2 with Matias riding.

The Rigoberto Velasquez-trained Stand To is back with 3-year-olds after chasing Papa’s Golden Boy, the fastest horse on the grounds, last Thursday. With Alex Anaya riding, Stand To was third while Papa’s Golden Boy reeled off wicked interior fractions of 21.81 seconds and 43.66 in the six-furlong sprint. He was 6 1/2 lengths behind at the half-mile mark and reduced the margin to 2 3/4 lengths at the wire.

The Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold was coming off an easy front-running victory in a maiden special weight race Sept. 2 in his third start. Being lightly raced, he could have plenty of upside and could be tough to reel in if he gets the jump on Spittin Image.

Stand To drew post 3 with Anaya retaining the mount.

Spittin Image, trained by Chris Stenslie, was going around two turns for the first time when he finished second to Lolo Paniolo on Oct. 8. He went into the race off a runner-up finish by a neck in the same race Lolo Paniolo finished fourth on Sept. 20. He was in front by two lengths at the eighth pole but could not hold off the late surge by Fantastic Day, who returned to win the $12,000 Medford Handicap on Oct. 13 at Grants Pass.

By Harbor the Gold out of Flying Memo, Spittin Image is a full brother to O B Harbor, who blossomed as a 4-year-old for Stenslie, winning three straight stakes before finishing third after setting a blistering pace in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile.

Spitting Image drew post 6, and there is not much doubt that leading rider Alex Cruz will put him into the race early.