Winninginfashion tries to keep streak alive off layoff

Winninginfashion will try to extend her seven-race winning streak when she runs in a $10,000 starter allowance race at Emerald Downs Saturday evening. But Winninginfashion is making her first start since she won the $15,000 Donna Jensen Memorial at Portland Meadows on Jan. 28, and she has never won coming off a layoff in her 53-race career.

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

Trained by Rigoberto Velasquez, Winninginfashion began living up to her name with a 1 1/4-length victory in a $5,000 claiming race at Emerald Sept. 17. Her next six wins were in stakes races at Portland Meadows. The first came on Oct. 9 in the $11,250 Multnomah Falls, where she edged Mary Lois by a 1 3/4 lengths in the 5 1/2-furlong dash. She has gone on to win five more in a row, including a five-length romp over Mary Lois in the Donna Jensen Memorial in her last start. That race was at a mile – the distance of Saturday’s race.

An 8-year-old California-bred, Winninginfashion has speed, but is versatile and can stalk.

Isaias Enriquez was aboard for the win at Emerald. Jose Zunino, who rode her at Portland Meadows, will be riding on Saturday when she breaks from post 4.

With other potential speed signed on, the race could set up nicely for the Blaine Wright-trained Exit Sixty Slew. She finished second to McDove when favored at the same level going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 1.

KEY CONTENDERS

Winninginfashion, by In Excess

Last 3 Beyers: 66-67-60

◗ She won her last three races by a combined 15 lengths and she has been working as if she is ready to fire a big shot coming off the bench.

◗ It would help her cause if it came up wet, but the forecast is for dry weather.

Exit Sixty Slew, by Abraaj

Last 3 Beyers: 62-63-63

◗ The last time she went around two turns at Emerald Downs she upset Citizen Kitty, the top older female at Emerald last year, in the $50,000 Washington Cup race for fillies and mares.

McDove, by Proud Citizen

Last 3 Beyers: 67-63-27

◗ Trained by Larry Ross, she looked good beating Exit Sixty Slew, and has won at the one-mile distance.

Dreamer S., by Songandaprayer

Last 3 Beyers: 51-57-50

◗ She is a bit of a longshot, but the Frank Lucarelli trainee should be rolling late and she won’t mind stretching out to a middle-distance in her third start this year.

◗ Going into Friday’s card, Lucarelli has 927 wins at Emerald and is just one shy of tying Tim McCanna for all-time wins at the Auburn oval. With $10,131,382 in earnings, Lucarelli is the all-time leader in money won at Emerald. His total from all tracks is 21,067,182.