More aggressive Lucarelli sets two Emerald records in a single race

Frank Lucarelli set two records in the fifth race at Emerald Downs on Saturday.

He became the first trainer to win five races in a row at the Auburn, Wash., oval, by sweeping the opening five on the card. Golden Prince’s win in the fifth gave Lucarelli his 67th win at the meet, eclipsing the record of 66 wins set by Tim McCanna in 2008 and equaled by Jeff Metz in 2015.

“It’s been a great meet,” said Lucarelli. “The main reason is I have more aggressive owners who let me run them where I want. A lot of guys can train well when they get the green light.”

A good example of the aggressiveness Lucarelli mentioned is Pure Pursuit, who is running in the first race at Emerald on Friday night.

Pure Pursuit is coming off a runner-up finish in an open $5,000 claimer on Aug. 25 for trainer Joe Toye. Acting on behalf of owner Chad Christenson, Lucarelli claimed the 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic. He figures to be a short price in the $3,500 conditioned claimer Friday.

A victory by Pure Pursuit would give Christensen his 27th win at the meet, which would tie the record set by Swag Stables in 2009.

Lucarelli had a lot of horses fit and ready for the right kind of races when he arrived from Golden Gate Fields and Turf Paradise at the beginning of the meet.

“We had a lot of horses with conditions,” he said. “You can always knock off a few wins with cheap horses that have conditions.”

There are just six days left at the Emerald meet, which ends on Sept. 22. Lucarelli is again making plans to ship horses south. He will have a bigger presence at Turf Paradise this year.

“I think I’ll have about 35 in Phoenix,” he said. “Last year I only had 10. I’ll still have quite a few at Golden Gate.”

Lucarelli wasn’t on hand to see his record-setting performance Saturday. He was making a rare appearance at Hastings, where he ran Killarney Lass in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks. The runaway winner of the Washington Oaks at Woodbine, she finished eighth in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Oaks, won by Amazonian.

“I haven’t had a lot of luck in Canada and that should do me for another 10 years,” said Lucarelli. “Killarney Lass really struggled over the track. She’s going to get some time off to regroup.”

Lucarelli is looking for a big effort from Golden Cowboy in the featured sixth race Friday. The 4-year-old son of Gold Aly will need to run his best race in order to beat General Mach Four in the $10,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs.

Trained by Jorge Rosales, General Mach Four is gunning for his fourth win in row. His last three came in $3,500 starter races that carried a $7,500 claiming option.