Wenzel runners could sweep Hastings, Governor's stakes
Trainer Tom Wenzel has a good chance of winning both stakes races at Emerald Downs on Sunday.
First up is the $50,000 Hastings for fillies and mares, where Wenzel’s horse, Kikisoblu, will be making her seasonal debut in the six-furlong dash that drew eight horses and goes as race 7. Kikisoblu was coming off a three-month layoff when she won the Hastings by 4 1/2 lengths last year.
Directly following the Hastings is the $50,000 Governor’s, which drew 11 horses. There is plenty of potential speed in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, and it could set up nicely for Absolutely Cool, who is coming off a sharp win for Wenzel in an allowance race at Turf Paradise on April 2.
Absolutely Cool won three straight stakes in Phoenix and finished third in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup prior to his latest win. He won’t mind being back at Emerald, where he has won twice, but like many horses over the past couple of years, he hasn’t been able to keep up with Stryker Phd while running in stakes. Last year, he did finish second to Stryker Phd in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier and was third behind Stryker Phd in the Budweiser.
Jeff Barton, who rode Absolutely Cool in all of his races at Turf Paradise, retains the mount.
Trainer Jeff Metz is looking for a good effort from Kaabraaj, who is coming off a front-running win in an allowance race April 23. Metz won the Governor’s in 2014 with longshot Why Not Be Perfect, who paid $59.80.
“He couldn’t be training any better,” Metz said of Kaabraaj. “I don’t know if he’ll bring the same kind of performance that he did last time, but I’m confident in him.”
Kaabraaj figures to be among the favorites in what appears to be a wide-open event.
Governor’s, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Absolutely Cool, by Absolute Harmony
Last 3 Beyers: 93-89-90
◗ He couldn’t be any sharper right now, and the shape of the race should work for him.
Kaabraaj, by Abraaj
Last 3 Beyers: 93-86-85
◗ He set quick fractions and kept rolling in his win over O B Harbor in his latest. He is versatile, however, and can stalk what should be a fast and contested pace.
O B Harbor, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 91-78-67
◗ Trained by Chris Stenslie, he easily handled Kaabraaj in an optional $50,000 claimer in his first start as a 4-year-old on April 10 and came back with three extremely sharp works.
Prime Engine, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-60
◗ Trained by Mike Puhich, the 2015 Emerald Derby winner figures to move forward following a runner-up finish behind Kaabraaj in his first start this year.
Hastings, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Kikisoblu, by Kodiak
Last 3 Beyers: 81-71-83
◗ Last year’s winner can fire fresh, and she has been working like she’s ready for a big effort coming off the bench.
FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Wenzel has a 28 percent strike rate with horses coming off a layoff of 180 days or more.
Estellara, by Henrythenavigator
Last 3 Beyers:78-73-73
◗ Trained by a red-hot Len Kasmerski, she will get tested for class following a sharp win in her first start at Emerald in a second-level allowance April 24.