Papa's Golden Boy drops out of Longacres Mile into allowance
Multiple stakes winner Papa’s Golden Boy goes from graded stakes competition into a no-conditions allowance race Thursday at Emerald Downs. The featured sixth race is for 3-year-olds and up at a mile.
Papa’s Golden Boy raced at the distance in his last start, when running fourth in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 15 at Emerald. He broke from the rail in the field of 11 and contested the pace through six furlongs in a quick 1:09.73. Papa’s Golden Boy finished 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Background, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 77 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Thursday.
Papa’s Golden Boy is returning to the overnight ranks for the first time since June 6, when he won a local allowance by six lengths. From there, he captured the $50,000 Budweiser and the $50,000 Governor’s, both at Emerald.
Julien Couton has the mount from post 5 for trainer Vince Gibson.
Papa’s Golden Boy faces other speed in the race, like the rail-drawn Spittin Image and Big Endeavor, but could prove to be the dominant speed Thursday.
The allowance could set Papa’s Golden Boy up for a start in the restricted $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic on Sept. 23 at Emerald.
The 9-year-old Oh Marvelous Me also will get support Thursday. He was third at this level and distance in his most recent start July 24 at Emerald. He also has some back class to call upon, as he was Grade 3-placed at 6.
Oh Marvelous Me is a half-brother to My Girl Red, who won the Grade 2 Sorrento, and Gold Street, a multiple stakes winner of nearly $300,000.
Oh Marvelous Me, who has tactical speed, could get an ideal trip just off Papa’s Golden Boy, Spittin Image, and Big Endeavor. McKenna Anderson has the mount on Oh Marvelous Me, who will break from post 2 for trainer Sharon Ross.
Big Endeavor is moving back into the allowance ranks following a sixth in the $50,000 Irish Day on July 25. He is stretching out from 6 1/2 furlongs and could race with the pace when he starts from post 3 under Juan Gutierrez.
The Irish Day has produced two next-out winners, both at Emerald. The fourth-place finisher, Slew’s Tiz Whiz, came back to win a first-level allowance with a Beyer of 63, and the seventh-place finisher, Kowboykabin, won an allowance with a Beyer of 73.