Oh Marvelous Me looks to double up in sprint feature

Last year, Blaine Wright was the leading trainer at Emerald Downs for the first time, and he is well on his way to repeating. With the meet approaching the halfway mark, Wright has opened up a clear lead in the standings with 23 wins, seven more than Frank Lucarelli in second.

Wright also trains the leaders of the local 3-year-old male and filly divisions, Riser and Top Quality. Riser likely will be favored to win the $50,000 Seattle Slew on Sunday. Top Quality, making just the fourth start of her career, dominated the $50,000 Irish Day for 3-year-old fillies last Sunday.

Wright also has an excellent chance to win Friday evening’s feature with Oh Marvelous Me. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding is coming off a 4 1/4-length romp in a $25,000 conditional claimer on May 29. Considering that he is coming back at the same level and distance, it isn’t a stretch to think that he will be a short price in the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up that drew seven horses.

Oh Marvelous Me had a perfect trip in his blowout win last out. With three horses dueling through extremely fast fractions, Oh Marvelous Me was in the clear while sitting in a stalking position. When he was given his cue by jockey Jose Zunino approaching the half-mile pole, he responded with a strong four-wide move around the turn before drawing off in the stretch.

Oh Marvelous Me drew the outside post, and with his good tactical speed, he should get a another nice trip stalking what figures to be a fast and contested pace.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Oh Marvelous Me, by Bluegrass Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 80-71-69

◗ The 80 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his impressive win last out is a career best, and as a 5-year-old with just 13 starts, he might not have reached his peak.

Wine At Nine, by Divine Park
Last 3 Beyers: 76-82-68

◗ The eight-time winner from 23 starts looks like the main threat to Oh Marvelous Me but will need the right kind of trip from the inside post with Matthew Werner-Hagerty riding.

◗ Trained by Vince Gibson, Wine At Nine has won three of his four starts at the meet, and arguably his best race was when he was the runner-up to Mike Man’s Gold in an open, $10,000 claimer May 21. Mike Man’s Gold came back to win an open, $25,000 claiming race June 9.

Cross Creek, by Parker’s Storm
Last 3 Beyers: 66-76-72

◗ He looked good winning a $15,000 claiming race for non-winners of two June 18 and could be dangerous while making his first start for trainer Howard Belvoir, who over the past five years has a 22 percent strike rate with claimed horses running back the first time.