Top trainers tangle in wide-open sprint

Last year at Emerald Downs, trainers Blaine Wright, Jeff Metz, and Frank Lucarelli dueled the length of the meet until Wright pulled away with two wins on the final day to grab his first trainer’s title. A similar scenario is unfolding at the current meet, with Wright having won 13 races, Lucarelli 12, and Metz in hot pursuit with 10.

All three have a chance of winning Friday’s feature, a wide-open race for 3-year-olds running for a top claiming price of $10,000.

Raging Warrior, the best of two trained by Lucarelli, could end up favored in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, which drew eight horses. The Pennsylvania-bred Raging Warrior is coming off a six-length romp in a $7,500 claiming race for 3-year-old nonwinners of two on May 6. He should get a similar stalking trip Friday, when he breaks from post 7 with leading apprentice Kevin Orozco riding.

Lucarelli also is represented by Spikes High, who overcame a troubled trip to win an $8,000 maiden-claiming race May 7.

Wright has excellent stats with horses coming off lengthy layoffs, and he sends out Maurice Code, who makes his first start since he won an $8,000 maiden-claiming race Oct. 27 at Golden Gate Fields. Maurice Code may have been trying to tell us something when he worked a fast five furlongs in 58.80 seconds May 22.

The Metz-trained Bullet Express, fifth in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby in February, forced an honest pace before finishing third in a one-mile $7,500 claiming race for nonwinners of three at Emerald in his latest start. That May 6 race was for 3-year-olds and up.

:: Get PPs for Friday's card at Emerald Downs

KEY CONTENDERS

Raging Warrior, by Warrior’s Reward

Last 3 Beyers: 58-49-51

◗ After finishing fourth for $12,500 on April 29 in a race won by Marquee Marini, he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure for his easy win May 6. He could repeat with a similar performance.

Marquee Marini, by Marino Marini

Last 3 Beyers: 59-60-39

◗ He’s versatile and can set the pace or sit just off the speed like he did in the April 29 win.

◗ Trained by Candi Tollett, he is coming off a third-place finish May 19 in a $15,000 conditional claimer where the first three finishers never changed positions. The six-furlong sprint was for 3-year-olds and up.

Maurice Code, by Coil

Beyers: 52-33

◗ He improved dramatically in his second start, has picked it up in his last three works, and could be sitting on a big effort in his first race as a 3-year-old.

Gravel, by Grindstone

Last 3 Beyers: 53-55-52

◗ Trained by Debbie Van Horne, the Oregon-bred is reunited with leading rider Rocco Bowen after being overmatched in a $25,000 optional-claiming race May 6. Bowen was aboard for his win in a $25,000 conditional claimer April 9.