Whatwasithinking comes off romping win
Whatwasithinking is the obvious horse to beat in Saturday’s $3,500 starter-allowance feature over six furlongs at Emerald Downs.
The eve of the Longacres Mile features a seven-race card with a feature that brings together a field of six geldings.
The group is headed by 13-time winner Whatwasithinking, trained by Justin Evans. Whatwasithinking has banked $187,888 during his 34-race career and is coming off a romping win at the $2,500 claiming level.
“He was very impressive in his last race,” Evans said of the 8-year-old. “The time was very fast, and I think he will move forward off that.”
Whatwasithinking has not raced as far as six furlongs in more than two years and hasn’t won at six furlongs or beyond since 2019. But Whatwasithinking won the six-furlong Auburn Stakes at Emerald Downs back in 2018 when under the care of trainer Frank Lucarelli. The son of Violence later won three straight at six panels at the end of 2019 and boasts an 8-for-17 career mark at the distance.
While it seems probable that Whatwasithinking will get the early lead and then select which gear to use from there, he doesn’t need the lead for success and there are a couple of others who may show early speed. Upon conclusion of just his fifth career start, Whatwasithinking had already accumulated four come-from-behind wins.
Franks Fix It owns solid pace figures and has recently been forcing the pace and landing in the superfecta as a routine, though perhaps he wouldn’t mind the early lead. The 5-year-old son of Gold Aly drew just outside of the probable favorite and would seem best served by a close stalking trip on Saturday. Franks Fix It was a beaten favorite going off at 4-5 at the same level on July 30.
Another possible pace participant is Wear the Crown, trained by Joe Toye, who most recently set the early pace and then backed up to finish fourth, beaten 7 1/4 lengths over one mile. The 4-year-old raced head-to-head all the way at Saturday’s distance and level back on June 18, losing by a nose.
Others in the small field are Marksman On Target, Stephen James, and Attorney Louis.
Marksman On Target and Attorney Louis each have the same official 2-for-30 career mark, with both having last won at the nonwinners-of-two level.
Expected favorite Whatwasithinking has a pronounced edge in the way of Beyer Speed Figures, with a 69 for his most recent race. Only a couple of the others have topped 58 this year.
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