Ms Parkside comes off gallant defeat
Ms Parkside is the one to beat in Friday’s six-furlong feature race at Emerald Downs. Seven older fillies or mares are entered in the $25,000 claiming race, including four who won their last start.
Expected favorite Ms Parkside last raced on July 9, when she fought tooth and nail in a speed duel only to miss by a neck. The third-place finisher that day, Our Lyla Grace, has since returned to win the Washington Legislators Stakes on July 23.
It seems significant that in winning that event, Our Lyla Grace earned a Beyer Speed Figure 13 points higher than the one assigned to her July 9. As Ms Parkside has been performing this year in a Beyer Speed Figure range most typically around 67 or 70, it is logical to assume she might rebound with a figure well above the 57 assigned July 9.
“She’s training excellent,” said trainer Justin Evans. “I think if she runs her race that should hopefully put her in the winner’s circle.”
Heading the opposition to Ms Parkside is Reign of Fire, trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, who was claimed for $10,000 from her runner-up performance on June 23 before she returned nine days later to win by 5 1/4 lengths at the $15,000 claiming level.
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Now 5, Reign of Fire has won 9 of 36 career starts and earned $194,846. She won two stakes at Arizona Downs in 2021.
Nan Elizabeth, trained by Luciano Gabriel, has won her last two starts at the $15,000 claiming level and will be moving up in class. Her latest win earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 65. The daughter of Flat Out has finished second and third in two other starts at Emerald.
Last-out winner Smiling Thunder scored at the $10,000 claiming level after finishing well behind Reign of Fire on June 23. Smiling Thunder is trained by Jennifer Nunnally.
Others entered are Frisco Frills, trained by Cliff Balcom; Brilliant Bird, trained by Robert Bean; and Nomi Lackee, who is trained by Gabriel and won a $5,000 maiden-claiming race last time out.
Brilliant Bird is a seven-time winner at Emerald Downs. Her last win came here on Aug. 19 of last year for the same $25,000 claiming tag she’ll race for Friday. In her most recent start, the daughter of Einstein set the pace for seven furlongs and then backed up to be third in a one-mile contest July 21.
Friday’s racing commences at 7 p.m. Pacific with expected temperatures near 80 degrees.
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