Get handicapping tips on the Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge and John Deere Emerald Juvenile Challenge.

© Scott Martinez

Q-RACING—AUGUST 19, 2021—Utilizing video replays while also relying on class and distance capabilities, I look for CM Boom Shakalaka to capture Sunday's Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. And I am selecting Leaving Angelz as the winner of the John Deere Emerald Juvenile Championship also held at the track on Sunday.

The winners of both races qualify for berths to their respective finals on Bank of America Challenge Championship night October 23 at the Downs at Albuquerque.

Held as the third race on Sunday at Emerald Downs with the heading of the Barbara Shinpoch, CM Boom Shakalaka has class, distance and home court advantage in his favor. He breaks from Post 2 in a nine-horse field. He scored a 1-¼ length victory seven weeks ago in the Bank of America Regional Challenge finals at Grants Pass in Oregon.

In four prior Emerald Downs starts, CM Boom Shakalaka has three wins and one third and was victorious in this same Challenge race last year. He also excels at 440 yards, where he has won three of his four attempts.

Sables Dashin, Dr Tool and DF Storm Tales are the horses I suggest to use with CM Boom Shakalaka in exactas, trifectas and superfectas. Sables Dashin dropped a nose decision to FDD Swingin Dynasty in the Bank of America Pocatello Challenge final six weeks ago. Last year, FDD Swingin Dynasty displayed ability when capturing a derby at Wyoming Downs.

Dr Tool looms a top contender based on a fourth-place finish last March at Los Alamitos in the strong First Day of Spring Stakes won by Mental Effort, runner-up in last year's Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1). First Day of Spring Stakes runner-up Runforyourlife was victorious in the 2019 Golden State Million Futurity (G1).

DF Storm Tales was second three weeks ago in a Wyoming stakes captured by Staubuach, who won a 2020 overnight handicap at Los Alamitos while defeating CM Boom Shakalaka. DF Storm Tales is the only entrant other than CM Boom Shakalaka with a victory at 440 yards.

Thus, my selections in order are No. 2 CM Boom Shakalaka, No. 5 DF Storm Tales, No. 4 Dr Tool and No. 1 Sables Dashin.

Sunday's first race at Emerald Downs is named the WTBOA Lad's which is the regional qualifying finals for the John Deere Juvenile Championship.

Leaving Angelz looked terrific in a 1-½ length trial victory and breaks from Post 8 in the nine-horse final. In the second of two trials, he easily defeated runner-up Eagle Assault, who had previously dropped a head setback in a Bitterroot Futurity trial won by Zoomin For Trix, victorious in four of five 2021 starts.

Apolinaria Prize, Empowered To Prosper and Eagle Assault are horses I like in exotics wagering with Leaving Angelz.

Apolinaria Prize surged nicely after the first 50 yards of a solid neck trial win while running 8/100ths faster than Leaving Angelz, but may not have as much room to improve as Leaving Angelz, who scored a much easier 1-½ length trial win.

Empowerd To Prosper and Eagle Assault break from Posts 1 and 2 respectively in Sunday's finals. Both have never run worse than third, but neither were as sharp in their runner-up trial efforts as winners Leaving Angelz and Apolinaria Prize.

So, I like, in order, No. 8 Leaving Angelz, No. 5 Apolinaria Prize, No. 2 Eagle Assault and No. 1 Empowered To Prosper.

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