Seattle and Auburn stakes could come down to Cooper vs. Wright

Trainers Kay Cooper and Blaine Wright have big shots to win both stake races Sunday at Emerald Downs.

Koron will try to keep her undefeated record intact for Cooper in the $50,000 Seattle for 3-year-old fillies, which drew seven horses going six furlongs. A View From Above gives Cooper an excellent chance of winning the $50,000 Auburn for 3-year-olds. The six-furlong dash drew eight horses and closes out the eight-race card, which begins at 2:15 p.m. Pacific.

Wright counters with Slack Tide in the Seattle. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Shaman Ghost is coming off an impressive allowance win at Golden Gate Fields on April 22. Wright has two solid chances in the Auburn with Executive Chef and Little Casino. Both horses will be running on dirt for the first time.

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Cooper is happy with the way Koron is coming up to her first race since she won the Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 12.

“She is doing wonderful,” Cooper said. “She just loves her job.”

The Washington-bred daughter of Nationhood should be fit enough off a solid set of works highlighted by her bullet five-furlong move in 58.60 seconds on June 6. She will break from the rail with Kevin Orozco riding.

Slack Tide is trending in the right direction, and the 79 Beyer she received for her 3 1/4-length win in a first-level allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option on April 22 at Golden Gate is the top figure in the Seattle field.

Slack Tide won the $50,000 Angie C at Emerald last year in her second start, so she will not mind the move to dirt. She signaled her readiness when she worked a bullet five furlongs in 58.40 on June 11.

“She could have used a race, but nothing was filling so we put a solid work into her,” Wright said.

Slack Tide will break from post 4 with Evin Roman up.

A View From Above makes his first start in the Auburn since he finished third as the odd-on favorite in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings on Sept. 12. He went into the race off a front-running victory in the WTBOA Lads on Aug. 22.

His works are not nearly as fast as Koron’s.

“He is feeling great and training well,” Cooper said. “He’s not much of a work horse, but he’s fit.”

He will break from post 4 with Kevin Radke up.

Executive Chef, who has raced exclusively on Tapeta at Golden Gate, just missed going a mile in a first-level allowance race with $50,000 claiming option on May 21. Wright was not concerned about how he would handle the surface switch.

“He trained well over the track here last summer,” Wright said. “He drew a good post, and if he can stay in touch he’ll take a run at them.”

The Virginia-bred son of Cairo Prince will break from the outside post with Orozco up.

Little Casino will add blinkers after finishing third in a first-level allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option May 7 at Golden Gate. He was on his toes when he worked five furlongs in 58.60 in company with Slack Tide on June 11 at Emerald.