Many signs point to Whiskeyjack being worthy of a long look from handicappers in a six-furlong, first-level allowance for 3-year-olds with a $30,000 claiming option on Wednesday evening at Emerald Downs. Whiskeyjack, trained by Ryland Harwood, has started just once, in the $20,000 OTOBA Juvenile Stakes at Grants Pass last October. The son of Rise Up was a comfortable 2 3/4-length winner that day, and the fifth-place finisher, Pass the Crown, won his next start at Emerald Downs less than three weeks ago, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 60. The same connections came to Emerald in June 2023 with first-time starter Whiskey Harbor, also by Rise Up. Whiskey Harbor won first out and then returned to capture the King County Express Stakes in July. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. According to Harwood, as a juvenile Whiskeyjack “trained up through works and gate training but seemed immature and not aggressive enough. [We] sent [him] back to the owner and after a couple of months she saw a change in him.” The gelding “has been training forwardly, and [we are] anxious to see how he fits with other 3-year-olds here at Emerald Downs,” Harwood said. The opposition in the field of eight includes last-out maiden winner Dynamic Secret, trained by Bonnie Jenne. The son of Dynamic Impact earned a Beyer of 70 for his four-length maiden score June 15, stopping the timer in 1:14.72 for 6 1/2 furlongs. Most of the others in the field have last-out Beyers in the low to mid 50s. That may keep the field in a cluster and make it easier for a sudden improver to leap over them all on Wednesday. Fruit Lutes is a candidate for vast improvement after winning a maiden race May 11 in his first start of the year. The Rosie Simkins trainee has been off nearly two months and has been working forwardly toward his return. A pair dropping out of the local stakes ranks are Steve Bullock-trained Freightline and Conrad Meadows, who is trained by Jose Navarro. The pair finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Auburn Stakes won by Miner League on June 16. Spinnin Pistols and Where You Gonna Go finished first and second, respectively, in a recent $25,000 claiming event. Spinnin Pistols is trained by Blaine Wright, while Where You Gonna Go is trained by Debbie Van Horne. The Frank Lucarelli-trained K R Rules won a maiden race June 15, has been steadily improving, and could take another step forward. ◗ Emerald’s annual fireworks display will be held after Wednesday’s card. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.