Pace helps Hollywood Mistress

Hollywood Mistress will attempt to make the best of an enviable pace scenario Sunday when she faces five fillies and mares who were in front at every call in their most recent wins in a $10,000 claiming race that serves as the co-feature at Emerald Downs.

Three-time defending Emerald Downs leading jockey Alex Cruz is named to ride Hollywood Mistress, who breaks from post 2 in the 5 1/2-furlong dash.

The distance of Sunday’s contest is probably not ideal for Hollywood Mistress, who is owned and trained by Jaymie Cruz, but the 5-year-old mare did manage a narrow victory at the same trip Jan. 11 at Turf Paradise. Hollywood Mistress chased a lively three-horse speed battle that left all three surrendering late to the closers.

Sunday’s race looks very competitive on paper, with six of the seven showing last-out Beyer Speed Figures in a small range between 56 and 62, assuring that the best trip will play a decisive role in the outcome.

Classic Leah, trained by Vince Gibson, seems an excellent win candidate in her first start as a 7-year-old. She compiled a 3-1-1 record from seven starts last year, including a ninth, beaten 26 lengths, when facing the best of her division in the Emerald Distaff on Aug. 14.

Classic Leah was the winner of her career debut at Emerald Downs in 2018, and she came right back to win off a long rest in her second career start the following April. More recently, she was second off an 8 1/2-month rest about a year ago, so she clearly can fire when fresh.

Kerralia is one of two entered Sunday who did not lead all the way in her last win. That triumph, albeit 51 weeks ago, happened in a similar firstoff-a-layoff scenario when in against softer company. Javier Matias rides Kerralia for trainer Anne Wisdom.

Others in the lineup include a pair saddled by trainer Jennifer Nunnally – Heart On the Run and Smiling Thunder. Each is unraced since mid-March.

Heart On the Run has been in front all the way in each of four career wins, while Smiling Thunder is coming off of a pair of wire-to-wire victories at Turf Paradise.

Kevin Radke, leading rider at Emerald Downs after the first two weekends of racing, has the call aboard Smiling Thunder. He is likely to have his charge in prime position as things unfold down the backstretch.

Sunday’s racing gets under way at 2 p.m. Pacific under anticipated cloudy skies and mild temperatures.