They'll all be chasing Papa's Golden Boy in Wednesday allowance
Papa’s Golden Boy will try to use his substantial speed to win a first-level allowance race that carries a $40,000 claiming option at Emerald Downs Wednesday. The 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as race 5 on an eight-race program that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Vince Gibson, Papa’s Golden Boy will be making his first start since he finished sixth as the favorite gong six furlongs at the same level on Oct. 29. With Gary Wales riding, the 5-year-old son of Harbor the Gold quickly opened up a five-length advantage, but after posting a blistering half-mile time of 42.87 seconds, he had little left for the stretch run and was easily overtaken by Oh Marvelous Me, who beat Windribbon by a length.
Papa’s Golden Boy went into the race off an easy front-running victory in an allowance race for nonwinners of two or Washington-bred nonwinners of three. He won his first two starts last year, so we know he can fire fresh, and his bullet five-furlong work in 58.60 seconds on May 16 tells us all we need to know regarding how he is coming into the race.
He will break from post 4 with leading rider Julien Couton riding. Catch him if you can.
This will be Oh Marvelous Me’s first race since his win over Windribbon on Oct. 29, and it will be his first start for trainer Sharon Ross. All nine of his wins at Emerald were for trainer Blaine Wright.
Oh Marvelous Me came from a stalking position in his win over Windribbon, and the pair finished in the same order in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option going 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 7.
Alex Cruz was aboard for both wins and he will be aboard the 9-year-old gelding by Bluegrass Cat when he breaks from post 3 on Wednesday.
Cruz, last year’s leading rider at Emerald, could tie the track record for most consecutive winning days by a rider. Beginning with wins aboard Guardingthemoney and Dr. Bruce S on Aug. 6, Cruz has won at least one race for 29 straight racing days. He is chasing Kevin Radke, who set the record with 30 consecutive winning days in 2003.
With mounts in all 18 races on Wednesday and Thursday, the 28-year-old native of Puerto Rico has an excellent chance of overtaking Radke.
The Wright-trained Windribbon won a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two by over 12 lengths in his initial start in 2020, and could be dangerous in his first outing since he finished second to Oh Marvelous Me on Oct. 29. He will break from the rail with Juan Gutierrez riding.
The 5-year-old California-bred has been training forwardly and signaled his readiness with a strong six-furlong move in 1:10.60 on May 26.