Reginella brings class to allowance spot

Reginella returns to Emerald Downs where she looks pretty salty in a conditioned allowance race that headlines Saturday’s eight-race card. The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew eight horses and has a $30,000 claiming option. It goes as race 7 on an eight-race program that begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.

The last time Reginella ran at Emerald she won the 1 1/8-mile Emerald Distaff by 2 3/4 lengths over Top Quality on Aug. 12. By virtue of that victory, she was voted the top older filly or mare at Emerald last year.

Following the Distaff, trainer Blaine Wright shipped her to Hastings where she won the $50,000 Delta Coleen. It was her first time going around three turns, and after dueling early she was very game in holding off Notis the Jewell by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Her winning streak came to an end when she finished sixth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Ballerina at Hastings on Oct. 8.

Reginella didn’t race again until June 1 when she finished fourth going six furlongs in an open allowance race for fillies and mares at Golden Gate.

She should move forward with a race behind her and she will appreciate the added yardage she gets to work with in this spot.

The 5-year-old California-bred has good speed and should use it breaking from the outside post with Kevn Orozco riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Reginella, by Ministers Wild Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 68-59-76

◗ The class is there for all to see, and considering that Wright has a 33 percent strike rate and $2.33 ROI at Emerald with horses making their second start following a layoff the past five years, she is probably sitting on a huge performance.

Little Dancer, by Successful Appeal
Last 3 Beyers: 62-50-74

◗ Trained by Doris Harwood, she should appreciate the added distance following a couple of even efforts in sprints.

◗ Harwood is hoping that taking the blinkers off the Kentucky-bred 5-year-old will rekindle some of the magic that saw her win the Washington Oaks and finish second in the Emerald Distaff in 2017.

Jerre to Carrie, by Congrats
Last 3 Beyers: 67-68-62

◗ She has won eight races, all at Emerald, including a first-level allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option going six furlongs on May 11. She rallied to finish second going 6 1/2 furlongs at the same level when in for the tag on June 8.

◗ She should be okay with the added yardage, plus she was claimed out of her last race by trainer Rigoberto Velasquez, who the past couple of years has a 40 percent strike rate and $3.25 ROI with claimed horses running back the first time.