Wine At Nine should get to wire in time

Hunch players will be all over Wine At Nine when he runs in the featured sixth race at Emerald Downs Friday evening. The scheduled post time for the $15,000 conditional claiming race is 8:55 p.m. Pacific. A glance at last Friday’s post times shows the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up will more likely start at just about 9 p.m., however.

If Wine At Nine runs as well Friday as he has earlier at the meet, nobody will fault his principal owner, Dean Mazzuca, for having a small toast to celebrate what should be a win.

Trained by Vince Gibson, Wine At Nine has won three of his five starts at Emerald this year, and the eight-time winner is coming off a third-place finish in a $25,000 conditional claimer June 30.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding, he can either force the pace, like he did in back-to-back wins in $2,500 starter races in his first two starts this year, or he can come from a stalking position, like he did when he beat next-out winner Kenai King in a $3,500 starter race June 11. Kenai King’s win on July 7 came at the same level and distance as Friday’s feature.

Adding to Wine At Nine’s appeal is that leading apprentice rider Kevin Otrozco is picking up the mount. With the apprentice allowance, Wine At Nine will be shedding six pounds from his last start, and 10 less than he carried in his win on June 11.

He will break from post 3.

KEY CONTENDERS

Wine At Nine, by Divine Park

Last 3 Beyers: 75-76-82

◗ He has improved dramatically this year, and any of his last three races would likely be good enough to win this.

Prince of Silver, by Even the Score

Last 3 Beyers: 78-66-60

◗ The lightly raced 7-year-old closed out his 2016 campaign with an impressive win, and his five-furlong move in 57.60 seconds July 7 suggests he could be ready for a big effort coming off the bench. ◗ He will also be making his first start for trainer Jeff Metz, who the past five years has a 20 percent strike rate with new shooters. Horses trained by Metz usually improve in their second start following this kind of layoff.

Pick by the Box, by Limehouse

Last 3 Beyers: 68-66-67

◗ Trained by Robert Baze, the six-time winner is coming off a third-place finish in an open $15,000 claimer won by the stakes winner Party Pooper. He should appreciate the easier company, and he could be sitting on a big effort in just his third start this year.

Rallying Market, by Rallying Cry

Last 3 Beyers: 68-63-45

◗ Also trained by Gibson, he was the runner-up in his last two starts at this level, the latest to Kanai King, and he should get a nice trip from a forward position.