So Lucky will be heard from early in feature
The daily average mutuel handle of $1,927,853 at the current Emerald Downs meet is up 72 percent compared to last year, according to track officials. It is a little like comparing apples to oranges, though. Emerald is running just two days per week – as opposed to three last year – and running more races on the days they are running.
Nonetheless, management is pleased with the strong numbers, and handicappers can expect decent pools to bet into on Wednesday’s 10-race card that begins at 2:20 p.m. Pacific.
Adding interest is a $21,032 carryover in the Jackpot Pick 7 that begins in race 4.
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In the featured ninth race, the Howard Belvoir-trained So Lucky might be worth taking a flyer on. At the least, he figures to be in the mix early in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up running for a top claiming price of $12,500.
The 6-year-old gelded son of Coast Guard certainly won’t be favored over his eight rivals. After all, he is coming off a ninth-place finish at the same level going six furlongs in his first start of the year July 8. With Jennifer Whitaker aboard, he chased a fast pace before fading badly.
So Lucky may have needed the race. Although he did not run as poorly in his seasonal debut last year, he took a big step forward when he won his second start back in a $25,000 claimer. He paid $20.40 for his victory over 22-time winner Mike Man’s Gold.
A three-time stakes winner as a juvenile, So Lucky is the speed of the speed and is capable of stalking if he doesn’t break on top. Whitaker will be aboard when he breaks from post 3.
Mixo, trained by Sharon Ross, rallied to finish second in the same race So Lucky exits and should have an honest pace to work with again. He was coming off a third-place finish going six furlongs on March 20 at Turf Paradise for trainer Heather Collins.
In order for Mixo to win, he will need a duel up front and a track that is not favoring speed.
Mixo will break from post 6 with Heribert Martinez riding.
Omache Kid, the 7-2 morning-line favorite, is going for his third win at the meet. He is coming off back-to-back victories in $6,250 claiming races for trainer Sam Dronen. In both races, he got up late to win the six-furlong dashes. This will be his first start for trainer Tena Birdwell. She was acting on behalf of Joe Crawford and Joe Burke when she claimed the 6-year-old Washington-bred out of his last race July 9.
Pulpits Power is another possibility in the wide-open event. Trained by Joe Toye, he just missed in a 5 1/2-furlong $3,500 starter race with a $7,500 claiming option on June 24 at Emerald. In his previous race, he won an $8,500 conditioned claiming race going 1 1/16 miles on turf March 9 at Turf Paradise. A stalker, he could get a nice trip sitting just off what may be a fast and contested pace.