Movies, plus fireworks on and off the track
According to track president Phil Ziegler, there were tickets still available Thursday morning for the fireworks extravaganza at Emerald Downs on Saturday. Last year was the first time since Emerald opened in 1996 that the fireworks show was not held at the Auburn, Wash., oval.
“We always get our largest crowd for the fireworks show,” Ziegler said. “This year we are going to limit capacity to 6,000 people, and the tickets are going fast. We could open it up to more people, but given everything that is going on we just want everyone to feel safe and comfortable.”
The fireworks show is traditionally a family affair, and people will start arriving at 1 p.m. Pacific.
“We’re going to show a couple of movies in the afternoon and then we have a seven-race card that begins at 6 o’clock,” Ziegler said.
The fireworks show begins soon after the last race, which will go at approximately 8:50 p.m.
The feature is a $10,000 starter race with a $15,000 claiming option. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and mares drew six horses and goes as the third race.
Bella’s Back is perfect at Emerald for trainer Ari Herberson and is going for the hat trick after back-to-back wins going six furlongs in $3,500 starter races that each carried a $7,500 claiming option.
In the May 20 and June 16 races, Bella’s Back set a quick pace while being ridden by Julien Couton.
A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Hold Me Back, Bella’s Back has compiled a 9-7-3 record from 35 starts for earnings of $101,125. In most of her victories she took them all the way and there is not much doubt Couton will attempt to put her on the lead after she breaks from post 2. With a good start, she could be gone.
There is other speed in the field, which could help Red Noon Rising.
Trained by Joe Toye, Red Noon Rising came from a stalking position to win a $20,000 claimer going 5 1/2 furlongs in her first start at Emerald on June 2. In her next race, she chased the speed before finishing third at six furlongs on June 20 in a $10,000 starter with a $15,000 claiming option.
A 5-year-old daughter of Yes It’s True, Red Noon Rising will break from the rail with Alex Cruz retaining the mount.
Blue Mountain Bell should appreciate the shape of the race. The 4-year-old Colorado-bred daughter of Strong Mandate was last early before finishing with a rush to just miss by a half-length to Lady Campbell in the race Red Noon Rising exits.
A stakes winner at Arapahoe Park as a 2-year-old, Blue Mountain Bell figures to move forward in her second start at Emerald for trainer O.A. Martinez Jr. She could pick up the pieces if Bella’s Back succumbs to the expected pressure from Rita Lorrain and Sigrid’s Gold, who are each coming off front-running victories.
Please Me completes the field.