McDove Race This Saturday

McDove is back in action Saturday at Emerald Downs. We finally got a race to fill and she runs in Race 4, post time 3:36 p.m.

The race is a $20,000 claiming race for fillies and mares 3-year-old and up at one mile, with a $15,600 purse. We drew post-position No. 5 with Javier Matias our jockey.

Needless to say, we’re very excited to watch McDove race again. Her first outing was pretty good, a third-place finish at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 22, and this time she stretches out to one mile in distance. McDove, the feeling has been, would be better around two turns. Her sire (Proud Citizen) was runner-up in the 2002 Kentucky Derby (1 1/4 miles) and her dam (Dove Cry) is by a sire (Dove Hunt) whose 11 career victories were all in races one mile or longer. McDove’s most recent victory on February 2 was in a one-mile race.

Here is the field for McDove’s race: 1-Diamond Cup, Juan Gutierrez, 119 lbs; 2-Cup of Soup, Eswan Flores, 119; 3-Exit Sixty Slew, Rocco Bowen, 119; 4-First Heritage, Kevin Orozco, 114; 5-McDove, Javier Matias, 119.

As you see, there are only five horses in the race but some good ones. Exit Sixty Slew already has two wins this season, albeit against slightly softer competition, and she appears to possess the most early speed in the race. Diamond Cut has raced mainly on turf in Arizona and California, but has earned $143,568. Cup of Soup was a tough competitor at this level here last year and has four wins in 12 starts at Emerald Downs. First Heritage has five career wins and was just claimed for $15,000 by Blaine Wright, currently the leading trainer at Emerald Downs.

I’ll have some more handicapping notes and post the morning line Friday.

After the race, we can meet behind the winner’s circle (below) and Sharon Ross can analyze the replay. She also can tell us what Javer Matias had to say and answer any questions.

Saturday’s first race is 2 p.m.

Distinguishable continues to gallop well at Pegasus Training Center and will have a four-furlong workout Friday morning.