Zatter looks poised for a big meet

With seven wins from 15 starters heading into this week, trainer Joe Toye is off to a strong start at Emerald Downs this year. If the trend continues, the Toye-trained Zatter will be very tough to beat in a $10,000 starter race that headlines the nine-race card at the Auburn, Wash., oval Thursday.

The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as the eighth race. There is a $15,000 claiming option with Mixo the only horse in the field in for the price.

Zatter is coming off an impressive four-length win going 5 1/2 furlongs in a $10,000 claimer in his first start for Toye on May 19 at Emerald. The 6-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute was an easy winner, despite getting bumped hard from horses on both sides leaving the starting gate.

Acting on behalf of Greg and Chuck Conley and Terra Firma Farm, Toye claimed Zatter for $10,000 on April 7 at Turf Paradise. If he can stay sound, Zatter could be the dominant horse in starter races at this level at Emerald this year. After all, he won his debut in a maiden-special race at Del Mar and followed it up with a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity for trainer Bob Baffert in 2017. After not racing in 2018, he won a first-level allowance race in his second start back but went on the shelf again after finishing last in the Grade 2 Kona Gold in 2019. He did not return until January of this year, when he romped in a second-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option at Turf Paradise for trainer Justin Evans.

Zatter will break from post 2 with leading rider Julien Couton retaining the mount.

Wine At Nine, trained by Vince Gibson, will try to make amends for finishing third as the favorite going 5 1/2 furlongs at the same level on May 26. It is easy to forgive the 20-time winner for his flop as the chalk as he had to steady approaching the nine-sixteenths pole, and after dropping back was stuck behind horses while seemingly full of run.

Wine At Nine, a 9-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding, went into the race following back-to-back wins at Turf Paradise going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in a $15,000 conditioned claimer on March 24 and in a one-mile first-level allowance race on the main track that carried a top claiming price of $12,500 on April 30. With a clean trip, he could be dangerous from a stalking position with Javier Matias riding.

Adens Dream looks like the one they will have to run down, and he could take them a long way if he breaks alertly leaving from the inside post with Alex Cruz riding for trainer Ari Herbertson.

Mixo, trained by Sharon Ross, should be rolling late and could get up in time to pick up a slice in his first start of the year.