Riser and Little Dancer can earn $25,000 bonuses Saturday with victories in the $150,000 B.C. Derby and $100,000 B.C. Oaks at Hastings Racecourse.
The bonuses – which would be paid in U.S. dollars – are for any 3-year-old that sweeps the Emerald Downs Derby and B.C. Derby, and any 3-year-old filly that sweeps the Washington Oaks and B.C. Oaks.
Riser is the 5-2 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Derby, with Aaron Gryder aboard at 126 lbs for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Jared Chappell.
Little Dancer is the 7-2 second choice in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Oaks, with Rocco Bowen shipping in to ride at 121 lbs for trainer Doris Harwood and owner Ron Schmid. Daz Lin Dawn, six-for-six this year with six stakes wins, is the 6-5 morning line favorite.
The B.C. Oaks is scheduled for 3:46 p.m. and the B.C. Derby 5:25 p.m. Emerald Downs plans to show both races on the giant TV screen.
Gold Rush Dancer in action Saturday
While the Emerald Downs Derby winner returns to action Saturday in Canada, the Longacres Mile winner resurfaces Saturday in Cypress, Calif.
Gold Rush Dancer is the 2-to-1 morning line favorite in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course.
The E.B. Johnston, one mile on dirt, drew a field of six including defending champion and 5-2 second choice Soi Phet, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained He Will (3-1), El Huerfano (4-1), Lucky J Lane (8-1) and Start a Runnin (15-1).
Gold Rush Dancer drew the No. 3 post with Evin Roman up at 124 lbs for trainer Vann Belvoir and owner John Parker. Post time is 2:58 p.m. (between races 3 and 4 at Emerald Downs.
Finish lines
Rocco Bowen will donate $20 for each victory through the end of the season to hurricane relief efforts, and Paul Beattie said Eli Sports would donate an additional $10 for each Bowen victory through closing day on Sept. 24. … Bowen has clinched his second straight Emerald Downs riding title with a career-high 114 wins. He is averaging 1.72 wins per day. … Washington-bred Percy’s Bluff continued his winning ways in California, scoring by a length in a 5-furlong turf race Monday at Golden Gate Fields. A 5-year-old Raise the Bluff gelding, Percy’s Bluff is 6-0-2 in eight starts this year for owner/trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, and 16-8-7 in 36 lifetime starts with earnings of $196,508. … Mike Man’s Gold goes for his fifth win of the meet in Sunday’s $20,500 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs. Mike Man’s Gold is the 8-5 choice with Emmett Park (3-for-3 at the meet) second choice at 9-5. … Mr. Takahashi shoots for his fifth straight win in Saturday’s fifth race for older $5,000 claimers at 5½ furlongs.
