Wheel Rally will try new tactics

Trainer Bob Meeking is expecting Wheel Rally to move forward following a narrow loss in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option on June 9 at Emerald Downs. If the veteran trainer is right, Wheel Rally could win a similar race that will serve as Saturday’s feature. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds drew 10 horses appears wide open.

Post time for the first of eight races is 5 p.m. Pacific.

Prior to his one-length loss to Trump Itz in his last start, Wheel Rally was an easy 7 1/2-length winner of a $7,500 claimer for nonwinners of two May 13. It was his first race since he finished sixth in the Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings race last Aug. 17. Meeking, who celebrated his 90th birthday June 6, acknowledged he may have been taking a bit of an edge when he brought Wheel Rally back for the low tag.

“I knew he was a pretty good horse, but he ran so bad in his last race as a 2-year-old that I didn’t think anyone would claim him,” he said. “He won so easily, so I don’t think he got anything out of the race. He should improve after running his guts out last time.”

With Rocco Bowen aboard, Wheel Rally dueled the whole way before giving way late in the six-furlong sprint. Don’t expect to see him running the same kind of race Saturday.

“We’ve been training him to rate, and I will be telling the rider to try and ease him off the pace,” Meeking said. “Whether he does it or not remains to be seen.”

Bowen will be aboard when Wheel Rally breaks from post 6.

Meeking also has Check and Raise entered, but isn’t expecting him to be a serious threat.

“He wants to go at least a mile,” he said. “I entered him in a one-mile race the other day but he was the only horse that entered. There is a lot of speed in the field, and he might be able to pick up something. I was really impressed with Tumac Mountain. He got off to a bad start, but it didn’t take him long to make the lead.”

Tumac Mountain, trained by Jose Navarro, will break from the outside post with Eswan Flores aboard. Despite the poor start in a $15,000 maiden claimer June 3, Tumac Mountain romped by 5 1/2 lengths in the six-furlong sprint.

The shape of the race should work for the Tom Wenzel-trained Hey Sequoia, who rallied to finish a head behind Wheel Rally on June 9.

Winter Knight, trained by Bonnie Jenne, is the speed of the speed and will appreciate the class relief running in a non-stakes race for the first time since he won his debut in an $8,000 maiden-claiming race last year.