Guardingthemoney (No. 5) and Juan Gutierrez up in the final stride.
GUARDINGTHEMONEY GETS UP IN FEATURE
AUBURN, Wash. (July 15, 2017) – Guardingthemoney nailed Face Valued in the final stride in a thrilling finish of Saturday’s $11,200 John Parker Racing Purse at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, Guardingthemoney covered one mile in 1:37.65 and paid $13, $6 and $4 as third choice in the wagering. Jose Navarro is the winning trainer for the partnership of Clemans View Racing and Bill Nicklos.
Guardingthemoney has fired in all six starts this season, compiling a 2-1-1 record, including a runner-up finish to stable mate Viewingthegold for a $25,000 tag two starts ago. A 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Coast Guard-Kaaaching, Guardingthemoney is 2-2-4 in 13 lifetime starts with earnings of $27,977.
Face Valued, the 8-5 favorite, lost a heartbreaker but was easily second best, and paid $3.40 and $2.80. Ridden by apprentice Kevin Orozco, Face Valued led through fractions of :23.89, :47.17, 1:11.88 and 1:24.80, dug in when challenged by Guardingthemoneyhoney, and just failed to last.
Thorn Legacy, a 31-1 long shot ridden by apprentice David Martin, rallied from last to finish third and paid $10 to show. Blackford, Blue Law, Dustin’s Passion, Ontheshadyside and Cats Champ completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Julien Couton swept the early double on Lucky Tiger ($6.60) and It’s My Knight ($15.40), but was excused from his final four mounts after a paddock mishap before the fourth race. . .Eswan Flores recorded his first three-win day of the meet and has moved up to third in the standings with 36 wins, while Juan Gutierrez rode two winners and is fourth with 35 wins. . .Congratulations to trainer Cliff Balcom on his first win of the meet as 5-year-old gelding Caddy Shack Cat ($7.60) romped in Saturday’s third race. . .Daz Lin Dawn ($2.80) won her fourth stakes of the meet with a 1 ¾-length victory in the $50,000 Supernaturel Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Hastings Racecourse. A British Columbia-bred by Popular, Daz Lin Dawn ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.57. . .Gone Fast ($17.20) captured the $17,020 Jack Rhoden Memorial Bonus Challenge at Prineville, running 250 yards in :13.23. Sorelli dead-heated for third . .Live racing continues Sunday with four stakes races, including the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes in the final steppingstone to the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3). First post is 2 p.m.
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