Lucarelli duo of Elliott Bay, Killarney Lass ready for next challenge

Trainer Frank Lucarelli was in a celebratory mood Sunday evening. And why not? After all, he won both stakes at Emerald Downs on Thursday and was thrilled with how Elliott Bay and Killarney Lass came out of their respective races.

Elliott Bay looked like he had no chance of catching Papa’s Golden Boy in midstretch in the $40,000 Mount Rainier Stakes. However, a combination of Elliott Bay closing with determination and Papa’s Golden Boy tiring after setting wicked fractions resulted in a half-length victory for Elliott Bay in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.

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Lucarelli could have started walking to the winner’s enclosure at the quarter pole in Killarney Lass’s easy five-length romp over Alittlelesstalk in the Boeing Stakes for fillies and mares.

Her final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:14.74 compared to 1:15.30 for Elliott Bay.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Eskendereya, Killarney Lass was given a career-high 85 Beyer Speed Figure. Elliott Bay received a 77 Beyer, which was close to his career-best 79.

Both horses were ridden by Eddie Martinez.

“It was a great night,” Lucarelli said. “Killarney Lass is the kind of filly that when she has her day, she is tough to beat at Emerald. I really liked the way she was coming up to the race and I told Eddie to just send her. When she made the lead as easy as she did, I was pretty confident about the outcome.”

Last year, Killarney Lass won the 1 1/8-mile Washington Oaks by 9 1/4 lengths.

She won’t have any trouble stretching out to 1 1/16 miles when she makes her next start, which comes in the $40,000 Emerald Distaff on Sept. 10.

Lucarelli is hoping for another double when he runs Elliott Bay in the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile on the same day.

“He ran a good race,” Lucarelli said of Elliott Bay’s Mount Rainier effort. “I didn’t think he was going to get there. But he surged at the end and Papa’s Golden Boy was backing up a bit.”

Lucarelli would prefer if Elliott Bay had a couple more weeks to prepare for the Mile.

“He seems to need a lot of time between races,” Lucarelli said. “After he won his first start this year, I decided I was going to keep him in the barn until the stakes. It is almost a month to the Mile, so he should be okay. Six weeks would be right in his wheelhouse, though.”

◗ Emerald announced the meet will be extended until Oct. 15. It was originally scheduled to end on Oct. 4. It is welcome news to trainers, especially ones that make the trip to Turf Paradise every year. Due to problems associated with the pandemic, Turf Paradise will not be running its 2020-21 meet.

◗ Wednesday’s 11-race card at Emerald begins at 2:27 p.m. Pacific. The feature is a $3,500 starter race that carries a $7,500 claiming option. The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew nine horses and goes as the 10th race.