You Go Girl brings solid form back to home track

You Go Girl, who is in career-best form at age 7, is the one to beat in Sunday’s six-furlong allowance feature at Emerald Downs.

The mare, owned by Ron and Nina Hagen and trainer Steve Bullock, raced exclusively at Emerald through the end of her 6-year-old season. Earlier this year, she raced four times on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields, winning twice and earning career-best Beyer Speed Figures in all but her most recent start on April 13.

Among Sunday’s opposition is the Justin Evans-trained Ruby Ray, who shipped in from Turf Paradise where she managed to win twice from a trio 2024 starts.

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Ruby Ray was the winner of a maiden race Jan. 31, which later turned into one of the more productive key races you’re likely to find.

A key race is a race from which two or more next-out winners are produced. In the case of Ruby Ray’s Jan. 31 win, the eight-horse field not only produced four next-out winners, but the other four starters finished second or third behind two of the winners.

In her latest start on April 3, the 5-year-old daughter of Klimt finished a close second over six furlongs run in 1:08.14. One runner exiting that race has already returned to boost her April 3 Beyer by eight points in a race run at Emerald.

“She’s a very talented mare,” Evans said of Ruby Ray. “She got here and trained well.

“Patience has been key with her and I have a great team that works hard, schooling her a lot.”

Evans gave the mare more than a year off after a dull effort in November 2022 over the Del Mar turf.

Another worth a strong look Sunday is Silvery Orb, trained by Tom Wenzel, who is making her 5-year-old bow. The daughter of Orb will need to improve but has been working well in the mornings and figures to serve up a solid effort.

Others in the gate include Stein’s Girl, trained by Jorge Rosales. The mare has won three of her past four against easier company at Golden Gate and Turf Paradise.

Young Life Laura, trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez, has not raced since late in her sophomore season last year. Natural improvement is expected and the filly has won her last three non-stakes outings at Emerald.

Stepup will break from the outside post in the field of six while making her 4-year-old debut for trainer Jose Navarro. The daughter of Upstart is certainly another for which added physical maturity may result in improvement.

Stepup was a romping winner of her career debut in 2022 and she ran a strong second to the top filly on the grounds, Aloha Breeze, in her first out of 2023.

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