Bullseye on Blackjack Bob in Emancipation Day races

Can Eire's Run, Groomsman or Expect Smoke knock off a surging old-timer who will be looking for his fifth straight victory? That question and many more will be answered Sunday at Randall "Doc" James Racetrack on St. Croix.

Post time is 1 p.m. and track officials are expecting a big crowd for the Emancipation Day Races. Admission is $11 for adults and $5 for children.

An 8-year-old Blackjack Bob has quietly won four races in a row and seven of his last eight. The former V.I. champion topped Green Sand and Finish In Style on June 19 on St. Croix in a 7½-furlong race and he will be looking to extend his win streak Sunday at an increased 1⅛-mile distance.

"He's the hottest horse around and he can run all day, so he will love this distance," said TRAXCO general manager Dennis Brow. "For Expect Smoke, no one gives him credit and this distance may be out of his reach."

Expect Smoke was scheduled to meet another veteran winner, Cherokee Law, last time out but was a late scratch. Sunday's featured "Independence Day Classic" has a $6,000 purse and will also include Puertorican Emblem, Temo's Dream and Green Sand.

Eire's Run pushed Cherokee Law on June 19 but finished second, while Green Sand topped Temo's Dream last time out and was runner-up to Blackjack Bob. Groomsman is coming off a third-place finish and may struggle with Sunday's distance.

"Eire's Run finally has folks calling his name, and if he wins, it's party time," Brow said. "Green Sand will lead as far as he can go, and if Temo's Dream pulls it out, it will be because he loves the distance."

The V.I. Bred event, the sixth of eight races, has been dubbed the "Emancipation Day Classic" and the 1-1/16-mile race will carry with it a $4,200 purse. Irie Ites, one of the top mares in the territory, enters as the favorite after beating the native boys June 19.

"Can she repeat?" Brow asked. "Before the last race, they said she could not go the distance, but she beat the best boys in the native field. Creation Rebel vowed that the mare got lucky last time."

Express To Cali took second to Irie Ites last time out, while rivals Emerald Star and Creation Rebel took third and fourth, respectively. Express To Cali is idle this weekend, while Emerald Star and Creation Rebel will get another shot at Irie Ites.

The mares and fillies make up a loaded field for the fifth race, which will be 1-1/16 miles long and will include a $4,300 purse. After two setbacks, Finish In Style will look to get back in the winner's circle.

"The champ returns to face her own sex, but will have to carry 123 pounds against them," Brow said. "Flanker's Lady has the speed and will be the one to catch."

Flanker's Lady will be making her first appearance since her Carnival victory on St. Thomas on May 6. Wonderifiamspecial, upset-minded Leggy Blonde and newcomer Whoshotthesheriff, out of Puerto Rico, round out the field.

"Whoshotthesheriff is a bad chick out of Puerto Rico and dominated her last two races there," Brow said. "She will make things interesting."

After this weekend's races, Tortola will host the Pre-Festival Races on July 17 and then the action shifts back to St. Croix for another rounds of races July 24.

- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 774-8772 ext. 352 or email agray@dailynews.vi.

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