Owners' Prestige gets class test

Owners’ Prestige will get tested for class when he makes his second start in North America in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Emerald Downs Saturday.

The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses, including Conquest Cobra, who finished third in the Grade 1 Triple Bend at Santa Anita last year.

Owners’ Prestige started his career at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong last year where he finished seventh and 10th in two starts on turf. Making his first start in North America, he romped in a maiden special weight race at Emerald on Aug. 4.

Trainer Blaine Wright didn’t know what to expect when owner Wing Ho asked him to take a look at Owners’ Prestige earlier this year.

“He said he had a horse that had raced twice in Hong Kong and wanted to know if I would like to train him,” said Wright. “I liked what I saw, so I put him in training.”

Wright also liked what he saw when Owners’ Prestige opened up a four-length lead at the eighth pole and then widened to win the six-furlong dash by 6 1/2 lengths.

“I don’t know what kind of horses he beat, and I don’t know what level he’ll eventually end up at,” said Wright. “He’s bred to run long on grass, and he doesn’t train like a horse that needs to be in front. He was just much the best last time. There is other speed in Saturday’s race, but we aren’t going to take him back to last or anything like that. I would have preferred to run him in a non-winners of two, but those kind of races aren’t filling at Emerald, and he is doing very well right now.”

Owners’ Prestige will break from post 2 with Gary Wales retaining the mount.

Conquest Cobra will try to get back on track for trainer Tim McCanna. The 6-year-old Florida-bred is coming off back-to-back sixth-place finishes in $62,500 optional-claiming races at Pleasanton on June 22 and Sacramento on July 28.

KEY CONTENDERS

Owners’ Prestige, by Testa Rossa
Last 3 Beyers: 70-NA-NA

◗ The 5-year-old Australian-bred was very impressive winning his first start on dirt and he could take a big step forward making his second start following a layoff.

Conquest Cobra, by Pioneerof the Nile,
Last 3 Beyers: 71-73-84

◗ He hasn’t been a factor in his last four starts, but he has plenty of back class and he may have tipped his hand when he worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.20 seconds at Emerald on Aug. 18.

◗ The presence of leading rider Rocco Bowen adds to his appeal.

Mah Gellin, by Skimming
Last 3 Beyers: 70-79-69

◗ Also trained by Wright, he will appreciate the class relief after chasing Riser in the $50,000 Budweiser on June 24.

◗ The 8-year-old California-bred has speed, but he doesn’t need the lead. Depending on the break, he could end up stalking his stablemate.

Hit the Beach, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 74-64-70

◗ The Hilbern Mullens trainee rallied to win a $25,000 conditional claimer in his last start and could pick up the pieces if the leaders get carried away early.