While it wouldn’t be fair to say that Travel the Map’s victory in his Emerald Downs debut on May 3 was a surprise, the dominant manner in which he won was nevertheless eye-catching. A 1-2 favorite in the $5,000 claiming race, the 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map went right to the lead in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint and never let up, winning by 9 1/2 lengths. Prior to that Saturday, trainer Tim McCanna had the gelding stationed at Santa Anita, where he got absolutely smoked, losing three $16,000 claiming races by 10 1/2, 28, and 15 3/4 lengths, respectively. So it’s understandable that, when asked to explain Travel the Map’s sudden improvement at Emerald, McCanna replied, “I think he likes the company a little better than other places.” Indeed, it’s easier to win against more pedestrian rivals, but Travel the Map’s Beyer Speed Figure of 62 on May 3 was more than 20 points higher than any number he put up in Southern California and just a point off a career-high. Surely, there were other factors at play – like Travel the Map’s first-time rider, Kevin Krigger. A native of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Krigger finished second in the Emerald jockey standings last year with 49 wins from 165 mounts. Alex Cruz won 63 of 359 races to lead the way, but his strike rate of 17 percent was a far cry from Krigger’s sublime 29 percent. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. This year, with nine victories in 36 starts, Krigger finds himself three wins clear of his closest competitors, while McCanna, with five wins in 12 starts, trails only Blaine Wright’s seven wins in the trainer standings. They are a dynamic duo who team up often, and their relationship dates back to when Krigger was just a kid. “My brother” – Boone McCanna – “was his first agent when he was 16 back in the Bay Area,” said McCanna. “He lived with him when he started riding and lived with me at Emerald, too. He’s part of the family. We’ve always had good luck and he’s just a natural, is what he is. Horses relax for him and he’s got a great attitude. “He’s from the Virgin Islands. He never gets too shook up about anything. He’s helped me settle down.” McCanna has three horses entered on Emerald’s eight-race Saturday card, which boasts an average field size of 9.25 – a startlingly robust figure for the workaday track that can be chalked up to the northward migration of California barns. Krigger will be aboard two of McCanna’s charges, including Travel the Map, who could go off favored against six rivals in a well-matched $8,000 claiming race at six furlongs. Stout competition in race 3 can be expected from Mr. Executive, a 4-year-old gelding who posted a career-high 68 Beyer while getting beaten a neck over 5 1/2 furlongs on April 27. Francisco Duran, tied for second at the meet with six wins in 20 starts, will ride the Wright trainee. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.