Risque's Legacy brings stakes-class speed to optional claimer

It is tough to separate the seven fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s feature at Emerald Downs. The $40,000 optional-claiming race includes stakes winners Quatre Cat, Risque’s Legacy, and My Heart Goes On. But they will have to bring their best stuff to beat the lightly raced Gazing and Jerre to Carrie, a winner of four straight races prior to a sixth-place finish in the $25,000 King County Stakes on Aug. 13 at Emerald.

Leading rider Rocco Bowen will likely put Risque’s Legacy into the 6 1/2-furlong dash right from the start.

Trained by Tom Wenzel, she took them all the way in the Washington Cup race for 2-year-old fillies last year, and she dueled with Alliford Bay before asserting herself in the stretch to win the $50,000 Kent on May 28 at Emerald. Alliford Bay came back to win the $60,000 California Governor’s Cup on July 22 at Sacramento.

Risque’s Legacy finished eighth in her next start, when she tried two turns for the first time in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes on June 25, and then dueled through quick fractions before finishing fourth in the King County.

Risque’s Legacy drew post 2, and she could be gone if she breaks on top.

There is plenty of other potential speed, however.

With no standout in the race, Quatre Cat is playable at what should be a decent price. The Sylvia Gregory-trained 5-year-old is the top money earner in the field with $177,174. She earned most of her money at Hastings, where she won three stakes as a 3-year-old in 2015 and the $50,000 B.C. Cup Debutante at 2.

KEY CONTENDERS

Risque’s Legacy, by Atta Boy Roy

Last 3 Beyers: 55-63-70

◗ She was coming off a layoff in the King County and could take a big step forward with a race behind her.

◗ The 83 Beyer she received for her runner-up finish behind Alliford Bay in the Seattle Stakes is the best in the field.

Quatre Cat, by Abraaj

Last 3 Beyers: 52-62-53

◗ She won at Emerald last year, and the six-time winner knows where the wire is. She also didn’t get beat by that much – five lengths – after getting off to a poor start in the King County.

My Heart Goes On, by Albertus Maximus

Last 3 Beyers: 61-63-56

◗ Trained by David Martinez, she won’t mind the move back to a sprint after setting a wicked pace and finishing third going 1 1/16 miles in the Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes on Aug. 27.

Gazing, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 72-70-56

◗ Trained by Terry Gillihan, the 3-year-old hasn’t been worse than second in four starts, and she could get a nice trip from a stalking position with Julien Couton taking over for Bowen.

Jerre to Carrie, by Congrats

Last 3 Beyers: 48-68-75

◗ The Kay Cooper-trained 4-year-old won back-to-back $40,000 optional-claiming races prior to a dull effort in the King County. Toss her race in the King County, and she looks like a serious contender.