Lukewarm favorite Chuckanut Bay leads wide-open allowance

Chuckanut Bay is a tepid favorite among a six-pack of runners who will go a mile and 70 yards in Saturday’s allowance feature at Emerald Downs.

In his only prior two-turn race on dirt, Chuckanut Bay finished second in the Gottstein Futurity. The Jorge Rosales trainee exits a six-furlong win at the $25,000 claiming level, gets the leading rider, and boasts the top last-out Beyer Speed Figure.

A son of Abraaj and two-time stakes winner Zenovit, Chuckanut Bay has a versatile style and the outside draw. Having raced just twice since last June when he was 3, he may have even more to offer when stretching out to a longer distance.

Leading trainer Justin Evans will send out a pair in the race, including Ever a Rebel, who was second as the favorite behind Chuckanut Bay on June 7.

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“I thought he ran great in a very fast race the other day and I definitely think he’s ready to stretch out and try to [go two turns] again,” Evans said.

The other starter from the Evans barn is Coastal Jazz, claimed two starts ago on May 18 for $30,000 when going a mile for the first time.

“First time going a mile, just got beat by a better horse of mine in Arma d’Oro,” said Evans. “I expect him to run another really nice race.”

Karlo Lopez has the call aboard Coastal Jazz while Kevin Krigger will handle Ever a Rebel.

Candice Cryderman-trained Dirt Road Red won five straight races at Emerald in 2023 and will be making his third start of 2024 on Saturday. The son of Clubhouse Ride won going a mile in the slop here June 2.

Falsely Accused has raced at Emerald on five occasions and has yet to finish in the top three. A June 16 race at a mile marked the gelding’s first local appearance since the 2021 Muckleshoot Derby. Jason Homer now trains the son of Strong Mandate, who may not have been too comfortable when just five lengths behind a demanding half-mile split of 44.35 in his local return.

The 2022 Muckleshoot Derby was won in upset fashion by You’re the Cause, who is the other entrant in this race. The Debbie Van Horne runner returned $115.60 to win in that contest and is at his best when afforded a white-hot pace to close into.

Multi-race exotics bettors should really consider the “all” button in this allowance event as the pace could be anything and all of the six runners have a reasonable chance at success.

Saturday’s card begins at 1:30 p.m. Pacific. Mild weather is anticipated.

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