Lucarelli has one-two punch in Emerald Friday feature

AUBURN, Wash. – Frank Lucarelli could have ’em surrounded in Friday’s feature race at Emerald Downs when he sends out two starters in the $15,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares.

One, likely favorite Spot On Babe, is a front-running speedster coming off a career-best effort, and the other, Better to Be Lucky, is a closer getting class relief. If all goes according to form, they should cross paths somewhere near the finish line of the 5 1/2-furlong race.

Lucarelli is off to another strong start at Emerald, with nine wins from 22 starts through the first six days of the meeting. His recent success comes on the heels of a big winter in California, capped by Stormy Lucy’s victory in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita. Lucarelli, 57, is well on his way to establishing personal bests for wins, winning percentage, and earnings in a calendar year.

Spot On Babe captured a $10,000 claimer in her first start of the meeting, zipping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.15 to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 78. The 4-year-old filly has won 3 of 6 starts since launching her racing career in July. She figures to make a beeline for the front, with Clemens Brook and Golden Gate shipper Run Sophia Run in close pursuit.

Better to Be Lucky closed ground to finish fourth in a $25,000 claimer in her season debut. If the pace is fast, she and jockey Isaias Enriquez could be hard to hold off through the final furlong. And if the pace is moderate, Spot On Babe could go gate to wire under Leslie Mawing.

The others in the field are Seventyprcentcocoa and Agoodlawyer Willdo, both three-time winners at Emerald last summer, and Kenzie Carolina, who chased Spot On Babe around the track in her last start.

◗ Betting favorites have been dominant through the first six days of the meeting, winning 26 of the 58 races (45 percent). There have been eight odds-on winners – and nine odds-on losers – and the average $2 mutuel for all 58 winners is $9. Only eight of the winning horses have paid more than $15.

◗ The average field size in April was up incrementally from the corresponding period a year ago. Through 58 races, the average was 6.48 runners per race, up from 6.37 per race through 52 April races in 2013.

◗ Saturday’s card has been moved up to 1 p.m. from the usual 2 p.m. start time to accommodate the Kentucky Derby. Gates open at 8 a.m. for simulcast wagering.