SUGARSEEKER GETS THE CANDY IN EMERALD FEATURE
Sugarseeker pounced to the lead past mid-stretch and held off a resilient Ila View for a neck victory Friday in the $13,600 BetAmerica Purse for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Isaias Enriquez, Sugarseeker ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.74 and paid $5.60, $3.40 and $2.80. Frank Lucarelli—saddling his second of three winners Friday—is the winning trainer for owner/breeder Darrin Paul of Bothell, Wash.
Ila View, the 5-2 second choice ridden by Eswan Flores, gained the lead from Allaboutthatbass into the lane but was unable to withstand Sugarseeker. The runner-up paid $4 and $3. Cat Camille, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, rallied late for third and paid $4.40 to show.
Allaboutthatbass weakened to finish fourth and was followed by Our Clementine, Briana Jean and Dreamer S.
A Washington-bred by Ready’s Image-Pinseeker, Sugarseeker is 2-0-2 in seven lifetime starts with earnings of $25,690 including $7,480 for Friday’s victory.
Lucarelli also won race two with Rana Bear ($13.80) and the seventh with Affluent Asset ($8) and joins Candi Tollett as trainers with three wins in a day this season at Emerald Downs.
NOTES: Rana Bear and Affluent Asset are both owned by the partnership of Andy Evans and Scott Centers (Center Point Racing Stables or Sabers Drawn Racing) who have a phenomenal 8-for-16 record at the meet. . .The $0.20 Pick 7 paid $2,917 to one winning. . .Rocco Bowen notched his meet-leading 49th winner aboard first-time starter My Way Or Elway ($5) in Friday’s third race, but was off his final three mounts after an accident while riding Corporal Agarn in race four. . .In addition to his training triple at Emerald Downs, Lucarelli bagged a fourth win Friday as Speed Saver ($22.20) prevailed in a $17,000 starter allowance at Pleasanton for owner Remmah Racing. . .Javier Matias book-ended the cards with wins aboard Chrissy’s Wedding ($10.60) in the opener and Affluent Asset in the seventh. . .Don’t Hold Me Back rallied for a 29-1 upset over Highway Boss in the $75,000 Lieutenant Governors Handicap at Hastings Racecourse. Modern, the 7-5 betting favorite bidding for a fourth straight stakes win at the meet, finished a close third. . .Washington-bred My Palmilla ($6) defeated older horses in the $61,000 feature race Friday at Santa Anita. A 3-year-old filly by Tribal Rule-Bella Campana, My Palmilla sold for $57,000 at the 2014 Washington Yearling Sale. . .Live racing continues Saturday with a nine-race program at 2 p.m.
–##–
