Mike Man's Gold gets class relief on Fan Appreciation Day

Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day at Emerald Downs, with $1 specials that include admission. The 2017 Emerald Downs meet ends Sunday with the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity.

The feature Saturday is a $10,000 starter race for 3-year-olds and up, and Mike Man’s Gold looks formidable in the six-furlong dash, which drew nine horses.

Post time for the first of nine races is 5 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Joe Toye, Mike Man’s Gold was an easy winner of a $10,000 claiming race in his first start at the meet May 21. It was the beginning of a four-race winning streak that culminated in a 3 1/2-length victory over Hit the Beach in a $40,000 optional-claiming race Aug. 5.

The 7-year-old Mike Man’s Gold had nothing to be ashamed about when he finished third to the multiple stakes winner Mach One Rules going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic on Aug. 27. He also ran into a tough one going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $40,000 optional-claiming race Sept 10. After dueling through quick interior fractions, he gave way grudgingly and settled for third. The winner, Emmitt Park, was finishing off a four-race winning streak of his own. In his previous start, Emmitt Park had rallied to win the $25,000 Pete Pedersen overnight stakes on Longacres Mile Day, Aug. 13.

Mike Man’s Gold is versatile, but more than likely leading rider Rocco Bowen will gun him to the lead after he breaks from post 3.

KEY CONTENDERS

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

◗ His Beyer Speed Figures stand out, and the 16-time winner will appreciate the class relief after tackling a couple of tough ones in his last two races. If he comes close to running as well as he has in all of his races at the meet, he is going to be tough to handle.

Party Pooper, by Desert Party
Last 3 Beyers: 69-69-50

◗ The 5-year-old stakes winner is going for the hat trick after winning back-to-back $10,000 claiming races. His first win in the streak came for trainer Tim McCanna on Aug. 26. He gave owner John Parker and trainer Candi Tollett a quick return on their investment when he won first off the claim in his latest start, Sept. 9.

◗ Party Pooper can stalk and should get a nice trip sitting off what figures to be a fast and contested pace.

◗ He drew post 8 with Erick Lopez riding him for the second straight race.

Botch, by Brother Derek
Last 3 Beyers: 81-69-33

◗ The Manuel Ortiz-trained 7-year-old rallied to finish second in a $15,000 claimer Sept. 1 and could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of his form cycle.

◗ There will also be speed coming back to him.