Racing rolled up with promotions at Emerald Downs
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It will be business as usual when the 2023 live meet at Emerald Downs gets under way Saturday. Business as usual means promotions, promotions, and more promotions.
“Corgis, wiener dogs, bull dogs, T-Rexes, Family Fun Day, they are all back,” Emerald president Phil Ziegler said. “We have something planned every weekend. We try to make it fun. Whenever somebody shows up, it should be special for them.”
One of the most popular events is the T-Rex races, scheduled for Aug. 20.
“This year we are taking it a step further,” Ziegler said. “We are going to have heats and crown the World Champion T-Rex.”
Ziegler had good news for people who like to wager on the daily double and pick three.
“There are a lot of takeout promotions on pick four and pick five wagers, but those are tough to hit,” he said. “We wanted to give the players a better chance to win with a 10 percent takeout on all our daily doubles and pick threes.”
The 52-day meet runs through Sept. 16. Post times for Saturday and Sunday are 2 p.m. Saturdays move to a 5 p.m. start July 1. Fridays – June 3-Aug. 26 – will begin at 7 p.m. There is a special 1 p.m. start to the opening-day seven-race card.
The highlight of the meet is the $150,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 2. The Longacres Mile headlines a stakes-rich program that includes the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $50,000 Washington Oaks.
The Washington Cup is spread over two days, with the Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings and Washington Juvenile Fillies on Aug. 27. The $50,000 Muckleshoot Classic for 3-year-olds and up and the $50,000 Washington Cup Fillies and Mares close out the meet. The $70,000 Gottstein Futurity also will be part of the closing-day card.
Due to the closing of Arizona Downs, there has been an influx of horses from Turf Paradise. Justin Evans, the leading trainer at Turf Paradise, will be racing at Emerald for the first time.
“I have 33 horses here now and with another trailer coming after Turf Paradise ends this weekend,” Evans said. “When they canceled Arizona Downs I was looking for a place to go and I am glad I came here. The people have been fantastic and I think my horses will do well here. Plus, the place is absolutely breathtaking.”
The opening-day feature is a $10,000 starter race for 3-year-olds and up. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and goes at race 6.
Polacco, trained by Jill Soranno, could be a handful if he handles dirt as well as he did Tapeta in his last two starts at Golden Gate Fields.
The 4-year-old California-bred son of Bluegrass Cat is coming off easy front-running wins for trainer Jonathan Wong going a mile in a $5,000 conditioned claimer Jan. 22 and at the same distance in an $8,000 claimer March 9.
Dirt Road Red did not fire when favored in a $7,500 starter with a $10,000 claiming option at SunRay Park, but he worked nicely over the local strip and could be dangerous while making his first start for Evans.
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