Muncey brings top last-race Beyer to deep field

Muncey is moving up in price but down in class when he runs in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of three that will serve as the feature race Saturday at Emerald Downs. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as the seventh race on an eight-race card that begins at 2:15 p.m. Pacific.

Trainer Howard Belvoir nominated Muncey to the $150,000 Longacres Mile, which drew a full field of 12 horses and headlines a stellar card Sunday that includes the $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby, $75,000 Emerald Distaff, and $75,000 Washington Oaks.

Muncey would have been a longshot in the most prestigious race at Emerald. Instead, Belvoir opted for the easier spot, and Muncey looks like a serious contender in what appears to be a wide-open event Saturday.

The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Munnings finished third by a neck behind Mixo and Take Charge Deputy in a $20,000 open claiming race July 29. Mixo, who edged Take Charge Deputy by a nose in the six-furlong sprint, is a nine-time winner with $152,022 in earnings. Take Charge Deputy has a 14-6-6 record from 45 starts for earnings of $179,718, and he was going for his fifth win in 2022.

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With Leslie Mawing riding, Muncey was last early behind a fast pace before finishing with determination to narrowly miss in a solid effort. The 72 Beyer Speed Figure he received is easily the best last-race number in the field.

They will not likely be going as fast in this spot, but Muncey has shown tactical speed in the past and could be dangerous if he can get into the race early. He will break from post 3 with Mawing up.

Contention runs deep beginning with Toil and Trouble who is coming off a third-place finish behind Mixo in a $10,000 starter race July 1 for trainer Debbie Peery.

Toil and Trouble’s stablemate Democrat will appreciate the class relief after finishing last in a conditioned allowance race that carried a $40,000 claiming option July 2. The 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Candy Ride may have bounced after winning an allowance race for nonwinners of two or nonwinners-of-three Washington-breds on June 4.

The Bonnie Jenne-trained Harbor Outlaw looks like a serious threat off his third-place finish going 6 1/2 furlongs at the same level Democrat won on June 4.

Ididntseethatcoming chased an honest pace before finishing a neck behind Harbor Outlaw and could be the one they have to run down with Juan Gutierrez riding for Jenne.

Hungry Henry appeared to be on his way to big things when he won an allowance race for nonwinners of two by five lengths in his third start at Indiana last year. He will be making his first start at Emerald for trainer Blaine Wright and will try to get back on track following a couple of disappointing efforts in his two starts as a sophomore at Turf Paradise on May 3 and Canterbury on July 7.