Trackattacker has look of a good one

AUBURN, Wash. – Trackattacker is fast – he set an Emerald Downs track record in his career debut – but how fast is he, exactly? An answer should be forthcoming Sunday, when Trackattacker makes his second start against five rivals in the $50,000 Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings at six furlongs.

Frank Lucarelli, who trains Trackattacker for Roy and Ellie Schaefer’s REV Racing, has been high on Trackattacker since well before his June 1 debut, when he ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 49.98 seconds to break Sea Speaker’s 7-year-old track record. Trackattacker won by nine lengths, leaving the impression that he could have gone faster.

“He’s doing great, he’s worked good, he’s schooling good, he’s doing it all within himself,” Lucarelli said. “The biggest fight you have is, first, you have to get one who can run, and then you’ve got to keep them healthy. Knock on wood, he’s been pretty good. He looks like a good horse. We’re going to find out Sunday. With babies, you never know. One race doesn’t make a career.”

Lucarelli’s point is a good one. It has been a rite of summer to be wowed by fast 2-year-olds making a quick impression over 990 yards, only to see those same 2-year-olds fizzle as the distances get longer and the competition gets tougher. Forener and Knight Raider are recent examples of dazzling 2-year-olds at Emerald who quickly fell by the wayside.

Trackattacker is by Harbor the Gold, a son of Seeking the Gold. Trackattacker’s dam, Eclatante, was effective up to nine furlongs. The Schaefers ponied up $25,000 for Trackattacker at the annual Washington yearling and mixed sale last September. The horse was gelded last fall and has been on the fast track ever since.

“This guy actually has a lot of route breeding in him,” Lucarelli said. “He’s not a run-off type of horse at all. He’s easy to sit on. I think this horse will get a mile fine.”

Trackattacker is likely to be a short price in the Emerald Express. He was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 74 for his maiden victory, putting him lengths ahead of the competition. Private Boss earned a 47 for his recent maiden victory. The other four entrants are winless, though Lucarelli said he was impressed by both My Grandson and Bolshoi’s Bluff, who rallied from far back to narrowly miss in a maiden race June 29.

“With babies, so many of them can improve dramatically in their second start,” Lucarelli said. “A lot of babies can break in front and win by five. But when they have to face adversity ... those two had to weave through horses. They showed some grit and heart, and those horses will improve in their second start. The thing about my horse is it doesn’t worry me if someone wants to gun. I’ve worked him behind horses, and he can relax. I hope we get to sit, actually, because it will teach him another lesson.”

Leslie Mawing has the riding assignment on Trackattacker, who will break from post 4 in a six-horse field. Trackattacker should be in peak form, having worked four times since his debut, with Mawing doing his best to keep the speedy 2-year-old under wraps. A victory aboard Trackattacker could cap a big Sunday for Mawing, who also has the call on Stryker Phd, the likely favorite in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap for older horses.