Plenty of pace for Remembertobreathe in claiming feature

In his first start at Emerald Downs this year, Remembertobreathe couldn’t catch 2-5 favorite Mike Man’s Gold, who was loose on the lead in a one-mile, $20,000 claiming race on July 7. With a local race behind him and plenty of potential speed lined up, he looks like the one to beat in a $15,000 claimer that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Emerald Downs.

The one-mile race drew nine horses, including Party Pooper, who – wait for it – could spoil the party for Remembertobreathe.

Post time for the first of nine races on the final Saturday evening card at Emerald this year is 6:30 Pacific.

Remembertobreathe has raced primarily at Hastings and Emerald, but following a fourth-place finish in the $75,000 S.W. Randall Plate in Vancouver on Sept. 10, he showed up at Keeneland, where he finished third in a $16,000 starter race Oct. 22. He ended up in Pennsylvania where he hit all of the major tracks, compiling a 2-2-2 record from eight starts at Penn National, Parx, and Presque Isle Downs. Both of his wins came at Penn National, where he won back-to-back claiming races for $8,000 and $10,000 on April 14 and May 4.

Returning to the Pacific Northwest, he ran a big race for trainer Robert Baze, but with no help up front, he couldn’t run down Mike Man’s Gold. It was a strong effort though, and he was four lengths clear of the third-place finisher, Archie Graham, who is also entered here.

KEY CONTENDERS

Remembertobreathe, by D’wildcat

Last 3 Beyers: 80-70-64

◗ He has a solid record over this track, and while he wasn’t going to catch the winner, he did have to wait for room on the stretch turn in his last start. He drew post 6, and with Julien Couton retaining the mount, he could be tough to handle stalking what figures to be an honest and contested pace.

Party Pooper, by Desert Party

Last 3 Beyers: 75-65-64

◗ Trained by Tim McCanna, the Hastings stakes winner was a game victor at this level going 6 1/2 furlongs July 1, and he has a solid record at the distance, so the added yardage shouldn’t be an issue.

◗ He has good speed but doesn’t necessarily need the lead, and he’s finished in the top three in 11 of his 13 starts at Emerald.

Please Be Me, by Sea of Secrets

Last 3 Beyers: 42-77-59

◗ The Jeff Metz-trained California-bred closed out his 3-year-old year with a romp in a one-mile, $15,000 conditional claimer but was overmatched in his first start back in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes on July 16. He fits better here, and he was an easy winner in his lone try at the distance.

◗ Blinkers go on, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take a big step forward with a race behind him.