Stalking trip could put New Eagle in winner's circle
New Eagle is primed to capitalize as early position will play a major role in determining the winner of Friday’s $25,000 claiming feature over one mile at Emerald Downs. New Eagle, from the barn of Jeff Metz, seems to have the right blend of present fitness and tactical speed to have a strong say in how the race unfolds.
New Eagle has made seven starts this year, compiling a win, three seconds, and a third. The 6-year-old gelding by Street Boss is coming off a stalking second-place finish in a one-mile race for $10,000 claimers on May 20 at Emerald.
A group of six runners is entered, including possible pacesetter The Third Ring, who hasn’t started since November and will try to last a mile off the long layoff. The Third Ring has just a single win in 24 lifetime starts.
Another sprint-leaning entrant who might do well to take his shot on the front end is Muncey, a Howard Belvoir trainee who is winless in seven two-turn races. He would seem to have little to lose in attempting to set the pace Friday.
Trainer Justin Evans has a pair of capable entrants in Barossa and Westphal.
“A decent pace will set both of those horses up for success,” Evans said.
Barossa, a son of Into Mischief who will be making his first start for Evans, has been down on his luck of late after having finished ninth of 10 in the San Juan County Commissioners Stakes on May 21 at SunRay Park in New Mexico. Two weeks earlier, Barossa was last of nine in the 1 7/8-mile Hasta La Vista Stakes on grass, the traditional closing-day feature at Turf Paradise.
Earlier this year, Barossa was second on dirt over 1 1/16 miles at Turf Paradise, earning a 79 Beyer Speed Figure that stacks up very well in Friday’s field. Barossa finished ninth of 11 in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for trainer Bob Baffert.
Westphal last raced seven weeks ago in a $16,000 claiming race at Turf Paradise, where a claim was entered for him and later voided. Westphal finished second in the race, ahead of New Eagle, who was sixth of nine.
“I was really surprised that the claim was voided. I truly didn’t expect it,” Evans said. “I was upset to see him be claimed, so I was glad to have him back.”
Westphal, a 4-year-old gelding by Exaggerator out of the Tapit mare New Narration, is a half-brother to recent Churchill Downs allowance winner Saudi Crown, a $240,000 yearling purchase who is 2 for 2 with Beyer Speed Figures of 93 and 97.
“He has worked super over this racetrack,” Evans said of Westphal. “Looking for big races from both him and Barossa.”
The first Friday evening card of the season begins at 7 p.m. Pacific. It marks the return of the “Fabulous Friday Nights” promotion, where all paid admissions will receive a free “Fab Friday” T-shirt good for free admission when worn on Friday nights during the rest of the 2023 season.
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