Take Charge Deputy should get the setup he needs in starter allowance
Take Charge Deputy is a possibility in a competitive starter allowance race that headlines the first Friday evening card at Emerald Downs this year. The 5 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up who have started for a $10,000 claiming price or less in 2021-2022 drew 10 horses and goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 7 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Jorge Rosales, Take Charge Deputy burned a lot of money in his latest race when he was the runner-up as the 4-5 favorite to Wheel Rally in a $20,000 claimer at Emerald on May 22. It was a solid effort, though, as the winner was never under any serious pressure while leading from start to finish.
A 7-year-old California-bred gelding by Take Charge Indy, Take Charge Deputy was trying to complete the hat trick after back-to-back wins in $20,000 stakes races at Rillito Park. Take Charge Deputy came from well back in both races, the 1 1/16-mile Pima County Classic on April 3, and the six-furlong John K. Goodman on March 26.
Unlike in his last race, Take Charge Deputy should have an honest and contested pace to work with Friday. He should be rolling late and could pick up the pieces with Alex Cruz riding from post 2.
Leprino owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 80, which he received for his narrow win in a $12,500 starter allowance race at Santa Anita for trainer Charles Treece on Oct. 21. Now trained by Debbie Peery, Leprino will be making his first start at Emerald, and he signaled his readiness when he worked a sharp five furlongs in 58.40 seconds May 26.
A Kentucky-bred son of Medaglia d’Oro, Leprino might be better going longer at this stage in his career, but he did win the only time he went 5 1/2 furlongs, which came in an $8,000 claimer for nonwinners of two at Los Alamitos in 2020. In his latest victory, the seven-time winner sat just off the speed going seven furlongs.
Leprino drew the rail and could be dangerous if Kassie Guglielmino can get him into the mix early.
Some of the speed should be provided by the Rigoberto Velasquez-trained Cody’s Choice, who was eased in the $15,000 Medford at Grants Pass in his last start on Oct. 19.
Cody’s Choice will appreciate being back at Emerald, where he has compiled an 8-9-5 record from 38 starts, with his latest victory a seven-length romp going six furlongs in a $12,500 claimer Sept. 5. Prior to being eased in the Medford, Cody’s Choice was the runner-up in a conditioned $25,000 claiming race at Emerald on Sept. 19.
A 7-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Raise the Bluff, Cody’s Choice can fire fresh, and his bullet four-furlong move in 46 seconds May 29 tells us all we need to know about his condition. He will break from post 3 with Juan Gutierrez up, and he could be tough to reel in if he gets his head in front early.