Top Executive must answer distance question in Muckleshoot Derby
Top Executive will try to win his third straight stakes and prove he is not just a sprinter in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs on Sunday. The mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-olds drew 10 horses and goes as the eighth race on a nine-race program that gets underway at 2:30 p.m. Pacific.
The co-featured Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies also drew 10 horses and goes as race 6. The mile and a sixteenth race is worth $50,000.
Trained by Blaine Wright, Top Executive has won three of his four starts this year, with his last two victories coming in sprints, the $50,000 Auburn and $50,000 Irish Day at Emerald. The Kentucky-bred son of Street Boss also won going 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta in his first start of the year, which came at Golden Gate Fields in a $50,000 optional race April 8. He paid $73.20 for his 1 1/4-length victory over Top Harbor.
His only loss this year came in the $77,250 Alcatraz at Golden Gate, a one-mile turf race. He was in the mix early but faded to finish eighth.
“I think he will be fine on turf and we will find out if he can go long Sunday,” said Wright. “Not sure what got into him, but he lost the Alcatraz before he got to the paddock. He is doing great now and we have been training him to route, but you never know until they actually try it.”
Top Executive drew post 8 with Kevin Orozco in the saddle. He figures to stalk what should be an honest and contested pace.
Bobby Brinkley looks like the main threat. Trained by Frank Lucarelli, the Texas-bred son of Shanghai Bobby was making his first start at Emerald when he finished second to Top Executive in the 6 1/2-furlong Irish Day.
He is proven at a route, with a front-running victory in a one-mile first-level allowance race at Lone Star Park on April 25.
Bobby Brinkley came from a stalking position in the Irish Day, and he could get a similar trip on Sunday.
Washington Oaks
Blazingbellablu will be going for her fourth straight win in the Oaks. Trained by Charlie Essex, she will be going around two turns for the first time.
The Washington-bred daughter of Grazen came from a stalking position to win the $50,000 Kent in her first try with stakes horses on July 25. Her breeding suggests she will be fine going a middle distance.
Blazingbellablu will break from post 7 with Alex Cruz riding.
Hastings invader Bayakoas Image is also on a roll, with back-to-back wins in Vancouver, the latest going a mile and a sixteenth in an open allowance race for 3-year-old fillies on July 12. Alex Marti was aboard for the 1 1/4-length win over Broad Approval, and he rides again on Sunday from post 5.
Kay Cooper will saddle the daughter of Lent. She is based at Hastings with trainer Brian O’Connell.
“She is a big, strong filly, so I think she will love running on a mile track,” said O’Connell. “I wasn’t sure she could rate, but Alex thought she could and he did a great job of taking her off the pace in her last race.”
Broad Approval finished second to Bayokas Image in her last start at Hastings, and was the runner-up behind Blazinbellablu in the Kent last out in her first start at Emerald.
The Sandi Gann-trained daughter of Carpe Diem drew the rail and figures to be in the mix early with Leslie Mawing riding.