Red-hot Judicial can go to lead or stalk from outside post
Judicial figures to be favored when she goes for her fifth straight victory in a $20,000 claiming race that will serve as the feature race Saturday at Emerald Downs. The six-furlong dash for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as the seventh race on the eight-race program that begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Joe Toye and ridden by Julien Couton, Judicial started her streak with a front-running win going 5 1/2 furlongs in a $6,250 claimer on June 2. The 6-year-old mare by Tribal Run has not seen the rear end of a horse in any of her races since, with her latest victory coming in a $10,000 starter race with a $15,000 claiming option on Aug. 14.
Judicial will have to deal with other speed, but she drew the outside post and has won from a stalking position in the past. Couton will have more than one option, depending on how she breaks.
Please Me and Stay in Grace look like the main threats to Judicial.
Please Me, trained by Candi Cryderman, rallied to finish second by a nose to Stay in Grace on Aug. 15 and should appreciate the shape of the race.
The Rigoberto Velasquez-trained Stay in Grace, a winner of eight of her 19 starts at Emerald, will be sitting just off what should be a fast and contested pace.