Look for Alley Boss in the stretch

Alley Boss could feast on what should be a fast and contested pace when he makes his first start at Emerald Downs in a $10,000 starter-allowance race that will serve as Saturday’s feature. The horses he will be trying to run down in the 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew eight horses are Daytona Beach, who is gunning for his fourth-straight win, and Royal Privacy, a winner in six of his last eight starts.

Post time for the first of eight races is 1:50 p.m. Pacific, and the feature is race 7.

Alley Boss has been a good claim for trainer Joe Toye, who haltered him for $10,000 on behalf of Bill Jenson on Dec. 10 at Turf Paradise. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred won two of his three starts for Toye in Phoenix, and he might have been perfect except for the traffic trouble he encountered in the race between his two wins. Instead he had to settle for second in a first-level allowance race won by Mixo, who also is entered in the Emerald feature.

Alley Boss has come from well off the pace in his three races for Toye. In his first start for him, Alley Boss had one horse beat at the first call, and in his latest win, which came in a first-level allowance race March 14 at Turf Paradise, he was last early.

He will break from post 7 with Jose Zunino riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Alley Boss, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-74

◗ Alley Boss set the pace in his two races before being claimed. He had trouble at the start of his first two races for Toye, and he has improved substantially since he’s started coming from behind.

◗ His bullet half-mile move in 45.60 seconds May 14 tells us all we need to know about his readiness for his first start in just more than two months.

Royal Privacy, by Rocky Bar

Last 3 Beyers: 69-75-83

◗ The 5-year-old gelding used his good speed to win three straight at Turf Paradise after being claimed by trainer Manuel Ortiz for $10,000 on Jan. 23. In his last start, he set the pace and finished third in the $29,625 Lyman and Bradley Rollins Handicap for Arizona-breds on April 21.

◗ Adding to his appeal is the presence of leading rider Rocco Bowen, who will likely try to gun him to the lead from the outside post.

Daytona Beach, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 81-75-78

◗ The Harold Belvoir-trained 6-year-old is on a roll and looked great taking them all the way going 5 1/2 furlongs at this level in his first start at the meet.

Mixo, by Abraaj

Last 3 Beyers: 74-64-80

◗ Trained by Larry Ross, he has tactical speed, and if the race goes as expected he should get first crack at Daytona Beach and Royal Privacy.