Missed the Boat finds good spot for move back to two turns

Missed the Boat finds the allowance conditions in his favor in Sunday’s feature race over one mile at Emerald Downs. The Candice Cryderman trainee stretches out to a mile after sprinting all season, but he does have a 5-2-1 record from his last eight two-turn starts.

The 7-year-old son of Midshipman won a second-level allowance race over 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 6, but he remains eligible for this race by entering for the $30,000 tag. Missed the Boat will begin from the rail, and his 81 Beyer Speed Figure is the top last-out figure in the eight-horse field.

Even with all of the seeming advantages, Missed the Boat is anything but a cinch.

“I expect it will be a battle,” Cryderman said. “He’ll be tough. He loves the mile and has a huge heart.”

Prayer of Jabez, trained by Edward Kereluk, got the jump on Missed the Boat in the Aug. 6 allowance but was unable to hold off his move, finishing five lengths back in third. Prayer of Jabez will start from the outside post while making his second start at a mile following a wide seventh in a $20,000 claimer in February at Santa Anita.

Sunday’s feature boasts a number of runners who would be happy to be in front early, although only Langston Road could be said to need the early lead for success. The Blaine Wright trainee is a 3-year-old taking on older horses after having finished sixth, beaten 14 lengths, in the Muckleshoot Derby on Aug. 13. Closers dominated that race, so it is possible the gelding deserves another chance.

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If a pace battle does develop, it will play right into the hand of You’re the Cause, who upset last year’s Muckleshoot Derby paying $115.60. Trained by Debbie Van Horne, You’re the Cause most recently finished a non-threatening eighth in the Longacres Mile.

Another closer who would love a fast pace is Jin Tong, who as a 3-year-old has improvement potential. Jin Tong most recently finished fourth, beaten four lengths, in an Aug. 20 allowance in which Prayer of Jabez was second, beaten one length.

El Alto Hombre has just one win from 11 tries at Emerald Downs, but he could be a factor here if able to get the best of the pace scenario.

Also in the field is Smiling Goodbye, trained by Debbie Peery. Smiling Goodbye’s only previous two-turn start came in last year’s Muckleshoot Derby, where he set a torrid pace but still held on to finish third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in a race otherwise swept by closers.

Howard Belvoir-trained Muncey has finished a close second in each of his two starts over one mile in 2023. He’ll be looking for the ideal spot from which to offer his best run, not too far behind the speed.

First post Sunday is 2 p.m. Pacific with the forecast calling for partly cloudy skies and a chance of showers.

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