More Power to Him tries dirt in Seattle Slew
If More Power to Him runs as well on dirt as he has on turf and Tapeta, he should be right there in the $50,000 Seattle Slew at Emerald Downs on Sunday. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds drew 10 horses and should give us a good indication of which local horses will be serious players in the $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby on July 23.
Trained by Faith Taylor, More Power to Him is a two-time route winner on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields and ran big races in a couple of stakes in the Bay Area. He was the runner-up in the $100,000 California Derby and was moved up to second in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby. He also finished third after setting the pace in the $75,000 Gold Rush.
With $160,653 in earnings, he is easily the top money earner in the field and is coming into the race off a couple of decent efforts on turf. He was the runner-up in the $75,000 Alcatraz at Golden Gate on May 14, and he lost by only three lengths while finishing fifth in the $201,035 Snow Chief for California-breds going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on May 29.
Adding to his appeal is the presence of leading rider Rocco Bowen, who will need a shrewd ride to avoid losing too much ground going into the first turn after breaking from the outside post.
The horse they will have to catch is Riser, who is coming off a 5 1/4-length romp going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Coca-Cola at Emerald on June 4.
Trainer Blaine Wright isn’t sure if the son of Mizzen Mast will be able to carry his considerable speed a middle distance though. In two tries going around two turns, on turf at Santa Anita and on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields, he came up empty.
“If we can slow him down and get a half-mile in 47 or so, he should go on,” said Wright. “If he has to go 45 and change, he’ll be in trouble.”
Riser drew post 3, with Eswan Flores retaining the mount.
The good news for Wright is that a fast and contested pace would play into the hands of Aqua Frio, who rallied to finish second for him in the Coca-Cola.
“The farther he goes, the better he is,” said Wright.
Prior to finishing fourth in his first start at Emerald in the $50,000 Auburn, he was the runner-up in front of More Power to Him in the Gold Rush on Dec. 6.
Sharkzilla should be heard from late. He came from out of the clouds to win the Auburn and was closer to the pace when he finished third in the Coca-Cola. To guarantee a fast pace Sunday, trainer Candi Tollett has entered the outclassed Marquee Marni, who undoubtedly will be employed as a rabbit for Sharkzilla. Both horses are owned by John Parker.
