Yes Bay out for five wins in a row

AUBURN, Wash. - Yes Bay will try to run his winning streak to five Friday in the feature race at Emerald Downs, a $20,000 claimer for older horses at 6 1/2 furlongs. The feature is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 6 p.m.

A 5-year-old gelding trained by Howard Belvoir for owner Al Benton, Yes Bay is undefeated in 2009. He captured a $7,500 claimer on the third day of the meeting, prevailed by a neck for $10,000 in his next start, dead-heated for the win with Fort Yates for $10,000 on May 28, and captured a $12,500 claimer in his most recent start June 19.

If he wins Friday, Yes Bay, Belvoir, and jockey Jennifer Whitaker can get serious about giving chase to the track record for victories in a season.

Three horses won five races at Emerald last summer, including Belvoir's stable star Wasserman. Yes Bay can equal that total with more than half the season remaining. But he will have to hurry to catch the all-time record-holder, Halonator, who won eight races in 2005 and was named claimer of the meet.

In the long history of Washington racing, only three horses have won nine races in a single racing season, all at Longacres: Express Success in 1982, Maui Wowie in 1983, and Solda Holme in 1991.

Yes Bay likely would have to run his best race to date Friday to prevail against a talented group that includes $100,000 earners Chickasaw Park, Devilish Fact, and Coastal King.

Chickasaw Park finished second in the $50,000 Chinook Pass Sprint in his final start of 2008. He has yet to win in four starts at the current meeting, but was a sharp third for $25,000 when last seen sprinting May 28. Trainer Pat Mullens has named Seth Martinez to ride Chickasaw Park, who figures to set a rapid pace, with Yes Bay and his stablemate Coastal King closing ground late.

Devilish Fact, who was disqualified and placed fourth after winning a $7,500 starter allowance in his most recent start, also figures in the mix. He has two wins at the meeting for trainer Rigoberto Velasquez. Gallyn Mitchell is schedule to ride.

Coastal King is turning back in distance after an even fourth-place effort at a mile in his last start. He has been first or second in each of his three sprints at the meeting. Juan Gutierrez has the call.

One Quick Brew, Morgan's Money, and Follows None complete the seven-horse field.