Papa's Golden Boy, Dutton bring major-league speed to allowance
Papa’s Golden Boy will appreciate being back home when he runs in a conditioned allowance race at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The 5 1/2-furlong dash drew a stakes-quality field of six horses and goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 2:15 p.m. Pacific.
Slew’s Tiz Wiz is the only horse taking advantage of the $50,000 claiming option.
Papa’s Golden Boy is clearly the one to beat. Trained by Vince Gibson, the 6-year-old son of Harbor the Gold was the champion sprinter at Emerald last year, winning three sprints, including back-to-back wins in the $50,000 Budweiser and $50,000 Governor’s prior to a solid effort in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, where he dueled through quick fractions before settling for fourth.
He returns to Emerald after a couple of starts for trainer Jack Steiner in California last November. He set a rapid pace before fading to sixth in the $54,400 Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate, where he was running on Tapeta for the first time. He also tried turf at Del Mar, finishing fourth in a conditioned allowance race that carried a $100,000 claiming option.
“Jack Steiner sent him back in excellent shape and hopefully he runs as well as he did last year,” said Gibson. “He runs well fresh and he has lots of miles under him.”
Papa’s Golden Boy will likely defend his title in the Budweiser on June 26.
“We are just taking it race by race,” said Gibson when asked about Papa’s Golden Boy taking another shot at the Longacres Mile on Aug. 14.
He will break from post 5 with Kevin Radke up.
Papa’s Golden Boy will have to deal with Dutton, who also has excellent speed. If they get tangled up early it could set the stage for the Blaine Wright-trained Windribbon, who is making his first start since he finished second in the Longacres Mile.
“We are looking at the race as a prep for the Budweiser,” said Wright.
Windribbon drew the rail and should get a nice trip from a stalking position with Kevin Radke riding.
Wright will also saddle Top Executive, who won three stakes at Emerald as a 3-year-old last year including the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby. He is coming off a dull effort in the $77, 250 Lost in the Fog at Golden Gate on April 30.
“I have no explanation for why he laid an egg in the Lost in the Fog,” said Wright. “He was a fit horse, but maybe I overtrained him.”
Five Star General, third in the Longacres Mile last year, makes his first start for trainer Doris Harwood. The 6-year-old horse was purchased by Ken Alhadeff for $110,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Glen Todd dispersal digital sale on May 3.
Winner of the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in 2019, Five Star General won coming off lengthy layoffs in 2020 and 2021, so he can fire fresh. In his last start, he finished fifth as the favorite in the $76,000 Century Mile Handicap in September at Century Mile, which is located in Edmonton, Alberta.