Mike Man's Gold in 2018 debut

Mike Man’s Gold will be a prohibitive favorite when he makes his 2018 debut in a $10,000 starter race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Emerald Downs.

The 5 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Mike Man’s Gold can be singled in the Emerald Downs Jackpot Pick 7, which has a $1,662 carryover. A new wager to Emerald Downs, Jackpot Pick 7 has a 20-cent minimum and it is paid out only if there is a unique winning ticket. If nobody has a single ticket, 60 percent of the net pool will be paid out to holders of the tickets with the most winners.

Trained by Joe Toye, Mike Man’s Gold reeled off four straight front-running wins when he arrived here from Turf Paradise last year. Following the last win in the streak, in a first-level $40,000 optional-claiming race Aug. 5, he ran a big race to finish third in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Classic, won by top local older horse Mach One Rules.

A five-time stakes winner, Mike Man’s Gold closed out his 2017 campaign with a third-place finish in a $40,000 optional race followed by a sharp win in a $10,000 starter race Sept. 23.

Last year, Mike Man’s Gold started twice at Turf Paradise before beginning his winning streak at Emerald. With bullets fired in his last two works in Arizona, he appears primed for a big effort Sunday.

He drew post 3 with usual rider Rocco Bowen aboard.

The main threat could come from Thirty Pepperonis, who will appreciate the move back to a sprint after finishing fourth in a $20,000 conditional-claiming race at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 8. Making his first start after being claimed by trainer Blaine Wright, he set the pace before weakening late in the one-mile race.

Jockey Eswann Flores rides Thirty Pepperonis. Since 2016 he has won with eight of his 19 mounts from Wright.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mike Man’s Gold, by Liberty Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-81

◗ The classy 8-year-old is the speed of the speed and will be tough to handle if he breaks on top. With 17 wins at Emerald, he thrives running over the local surface.

Thirty Pepperonis, by Tizway
Last 3 Beyers: 70-75-81

◗ He could improve in his second start for Wright, who was the leading trainer at Emerald the past two years. He can also rate and there should be speed coming back to him.

There’s No Doubt, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 51-72-52

◗ He was no match for Mike Man’s Gold on Sept. 23, but it was his only poor effort in five lifetime starts and being a lightly raced 5-year-old he could have some upside. His trainer, Kay Cooper, won with two of her three starters opening day. Plus, they were longshots: Of Good Cheer returned $21.40, and Spot On returned $39.80.

Hastings cancels Saturday

Due to not enough horses being entered, the Saturday card at Hastings was canceled. There are eight races scheduled for Sunday.