Provost will be tough to deny if he can avoid a duel

Provost is the runner to beat in Saturday’s feature at Emerald Downs. The 6-year-old son of Street Boss, trained by Justin Evans, meets a field of five other $10,000 claimers in the one-mile race.

“I think he’s very versatile and can go either sprint or route,” Evans said. “Ideally he can set his own pace and make things happen on the front end.”

Provost, 6, sold for $210,000 at Keeneland as a yearling. He has won 7 of 36 starts, good for a career bankroll of $108,332. Evans claimed the runner for $8,000 in May and quickly got a return on the investment with a romping win at the $10,000 claiming level going six furlongs.

In his most recent start at a mile and 70 yards, Provost dueled hard from the inside and managed to put away the other speed before being overhauled in the final furlong by Affirm Chief, who won by 3 1/2 lengths. It was 7 3/4 lengths back to the third horse in that July 28 race.

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Affirm Chief is a 4-year-old who did not start until Jan. 29. He has now won 4 of 10 career starts. The Luciano Gabriel trainee has posted a trio of wins going a mile and seems poised to come collecting if Provost is pressured in the early going.

Hard to Deny has started only once since a dull 11th-place finish in the 2022 Longacres Mile. In that July 28 outing, Hard to Deny forced the early pace and then backed up to finish sixth and last, beaten 11 3/4 lengths in a $25,000 claiming sprint. The son of Hard Spun was in a tough spot in his return and should be comforted by the drop to the $10,000 level.

Gabriel claimed Decimate from his most recent start for $3,500. The 4-year-old brings good early speed to what will be the initial route try of his career.

Six-year-old Forty Smooches has raced at a mile or more only twice, with the first being a disappointing stakes try in 2019, which was immediately followed by a layoff of almost two years. The Kay Cooper trainee finished third last month over a mile and 70 yards and more recently won by a nose when sprinting at the $8,000 nonwinners-of-three level.

Forty Smooches seems best in a stalker’s role and may be able to sit a nice trip just behind the speed.

Eight-year-old Hey Sequoia was recently claimed for $5,000 by trainer Tom Wenzel, who wheeled the gelding back in three weeks for a $10,000 tag going six furlongs. Hey Sequoia finished fourth, beaten nine lengths, and now returns to two turns.

The eight-race card will begin at 5 p.m. Pacific.

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