Emerald Downs handicaps for Thursday, July 26

First three horses listed in each

race in order of predicted finish.

July 26

First race: 6 p.m.



1 5 ½ furlongs, purse $4,725, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, claiming $2,500
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

2	Wedge of Gold	Antongeorgi	3	123
1	Fly Away	D Hoonan	2	123
3	Hurry Home Honey	L Mawing	8-5	123
4	We Got You Babe	J Zunino	9-2	123
5	Just Smile 'n Wave	E Kubinova	12	114

Wedge of Gold drops a level in class after finishing fourth against a strong group of $3,500 claimers. Fly Away is consistent and has won twice in six tries at this distance. Hurry Home Honey has been in the money in 15 of 26 career starts.



2 6 furlongs, purse $4,725, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $2,500
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

1	Im Pure Brass	J Gutierrez	5-2	120
2	Seventeenmiledrive	L Mawing	3	124
6	Guzzlingin	Antongeorgi	2	124
3	Mattallie	J Whitaker	10	118
4	Glitterville	J Zunino	12	120
5	Reggiano	D Hoonan	9-2	120

Im Pure Brass scratched out of a race last weekend in favor of this one, and seems overdue for a win. Seventeenmiledrive cuts back in distance and has two wins and four seconds in 10 starts at 5 ½ furlongs. Guzzlingin has won twice in four starts at this distance and returns to Emerald after running a dud 10 days ago in Sacramento.



3 6 ½ furlongs, purse $5,975, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $4,000
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

2	Olympic Lights	Antongeorgi	5-2	121
5	One Lucky Hoss	E Kubinova	9-2	119
6	Buddy Dave	J Rosales	7-2	124
1	Big Daddy's Vision	J Matias	6	124
3	Carry On John	L Mawing	3	124
4	Warrior Jon	J Gutierrez	9-2	124

Olympic Lights has lost a step at age 8, going winless in six starts here after winning 12 of 28 at Emerald entering the year. He drops in class and gets a slight nod in a tough race for this level. One Lucky Hoss is another of many with a chance. He lost by a head in his last start, and was 3 lengths clear of the third-place horse. Buddy Dave has won nine times at Emerald (as has Carry On John) and beat $10,000 claimers earlier in the meet.



4 6 furlongs, purse $7,775, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $7,500
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

5	Ontheshadyside	L Mawing	8-5	121
4	Snow On the River	J Whitaker	5-2	121
2	Kinzie's King	J Matias	9-2	118
1	Wild Hoss	J Zunino	8	118
3	Rockmystar	Antongeorgi	3	124

Ontheshadyside takes a big drop in class and should lead gate to wire against this group. Snow On The River is consistent and fits well at this level. Kinzie's King has a win and three thirds in his past four starts.



5 1 mile, purse $12,700, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $15,000
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

3	National	Antongeorgi	2	122
5	Wasserman	J Whitaker	7-2	120
1	Mr. Mad Max	D Hoonan	5-2	120
2	Hunter Kane	J Zunino	9-2	122
4	Free Beer	R Bowen	4	124

National faces an easier group than he has been in recent races, and he should be near the lead early in a race void of early speed. Wasserman won the 2008 Longacres Mile, his only win in 19 career starts at this distance. The 10-year-old gelding is the sentimental pick. Mr. Mad Max will be flying late, but the lack of early speed in the race doesn't help him.



6 1 mile, purse $12,700, 3-year-old, fillies, claiming $15,000
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

3	All the Way In	G Mitchell	4	117
2	Whiskey Miner	L Mawing	3	117
4	Quinnette	E Kubinova	5-2	112
1	Bartab	J Whitaker	6	117
5	Evie Jo	Antongeorgi	9-2	117
6	Stephiano	J Gutierrez	7-2	117

All the Way In could improve in her second start at Emerald Downs after finishing third July 7 at this distance, and gets the slightest of nods in an even race. Whiskey Miner has two wins and a second in three starts at this distance and beat the top pick in his last race. She will be tough again. Quinnette won by 6 lengths in her last start and has won two straight, but she is unproven at this distance.



7 6 ½ furlongs, purse $4,400, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $2,500
PP	Horse	Jockey	Line	Wt.

6	Sarbonne	Antongeorgi	6-5	124
4	Camp Pendleton	J Zunino	5	121
7	Cavanagh Bay	L Mawing	7-2	124
1	Curvitude	J Gutierrez	12	121
2	Kasino Man	J Rosales	6	121
3	Hillbilly Cadillac	J Matias	10	121
5	Hooked On Gold	R Bowen	20	115
8	Proud Cozzene	C Doll	20	121

Sarbonne stays at the same level after being claimed out of his last race. He has a huge edge in speed figures and should win as a huge favorite. Camp Pendleton had a troubled trip in his last race and seems to be improving. Cavanaugh Bay gets a soft spot for his first try against winners.

Best bet: Sarbonne

By Scott Hanson Seattle Times handicapper

By Scott Hanson
Seattle Times handicapper