Sippin Fire prevails over Weekend Wizard in the Muckleshoot Derby
SIPPIN FIRE HEADS WEEK 1 OF XPRESSBET WASHINGTON CUP
Sippin Fire has already accomplished a sensational season at Emerald Downs; ranking first in stakes wins (3) and second in earnings ($81,200).
The bay gelding, however, is far from finished in 2018, and has a chance to finish off one of the greatest seasons in track history.
Sunday, Sippin Fire heads a field of six 3-year-olds in the $50,000 Washington Cup Sophomore Colts & Geldings Stakes presented by Elysian Brewing Company. The Sophomore Colts & Geldings is part of a stakes triple-header also featuring the $50,000 Washington Cup Sophomore Filly Stakes presented by Freight NW, and $30,000 Bank of America Championship Challenge for Quarter Horses.
Trainer Steve Bullock and owner How We Roll #4 have elected to forego a possible $100,000 (Cdn) bonus and remain home for the Washington Cup and the new $100,000 Getaway Stakes on September 23.
With a victory Sunday, Sippin Fire would become only the 14th horse to win four stakes in a season at Emerald Downs, and the first since Stryker Phd in 2015. A sweep of the WA Cup and Getaway Stakes and Sippin Fire would join Noosa Beach (2010) as the only horses with five stakes wins in a season at Emerald Downs.
A Washington-bred gelding by Harbor the Gold-Bahati, Sippin Fire is 5-1-0 in eight career starts with earnings of $129,088 in earnings. His 2018 ledger is 3-0-0 in four starts, including consecutive victories in the Coca-Cola Stakes, Seattle Slew Stakes and Muckleshoot Derby.
Sippin Fire is 2 for 2 routing, and scales back a furlong to one mile. In his lone work since the Muckleshoot Derby, Sippin Fire went five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5 on August 16.
Boundary Bay, third in Auburn, Coca-Cola and Seattle Slew, races with blinkers off Sunday, while Elliott Bay, coming off a third in the Muckleshoot Derby, adds blinkers for the WA Cup.
Bullet Drill carries a two-race winning streak while stepping up in class, and Hey Sequoia stretches out following an August 5 allowance win. Sherm a maiden, rounds out the field.
The WA Cup Sophomore Colts & Geldings Stakes presented by Elysian Brewing Company goes as Race 9 at 6:39 p.m.
The WA Cup Sophomore Filly Stakes presented by Freight NW drew a field of five, and goes as Race 3 at 3:05 p.m.
The field for Washington Cup Sophomore Colts & Geldings Stakes, presented by Elysian Brewing Company: Elliott Bay, Jennifer Whitaker, 119 lbs; Sippin Fire, Rocco Bowen, 124; Bullet Drill, Kevin Orozco, 119; Sherm, Javier Matias, 119; Boundary Bay, Aaron Gryder, 119; Hey Sequoia, Eswan Flores, 119.
The field for Washington Cup Sophomore Filly Stakes, presented by Freight NW: Jupiter S., Kevin Orozco, 118 lbs; Dontkissntell, Eswan Flores, 118; Spot On, Austin Solis, 118; Brilliant Bird, Javier Matias, 118; Angels o’ War, Gary Wales, 118.
2018 Xpressbet Washington Cup
$50,000 WA Cup Sophomore C&G Stakes presented by Elysian Brewing Company, 1M
Sunday, September 2
$50,000 WA Cup Juvenile Filly Stakes presented by Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation, 6 1/2 F
$50,000 WA Cup Juvenile C&G Stakes presented by Muckleshoot Casino, 6 1/2 F
Sunday, September 9
$50,000 WA Cup Filly & Mare Stakes presented by Xpressbet, 1 1/16 M
$50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, 1 1/16 M
Mr Pyc to You (No. 10) edges Heza Dasha Fire (No. 4) in the 2017 Champion of Champions
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS WINNER INVADES EMERALD DOWNS
Mr Pyc to You, who scored the biggest upset in the history of the $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1), heads a field of 10 Quarter Horses entered in Sunday’s $30,000 Bank of Emerald Championship Challenge.
At 440 yards, the Bank of America is Emerald Downs’ top Quarter Horse event goes as Race 10 at 6:39 p.m.
A 5-year-old Oklahoma-bred, Mr Pyc to You stunned the Quarter Horse world with a half-length victory last December in the famed Champion of Champions, at Los Alamitos, the marquee event for older Quarter Horses in America. Off at odds of 60 to 1, Mr Pyc to You ran 440 yards in :21.61, rallying past Heza Dasha Fire in the final strides for the victory. Incidentally, Heza Dasha fire is the richest racehorse—Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse—in Washington history with over $2.2 million in earnings.
Co-owned by trainer Jose Flores and Roy and Denise Van Amburgh of Valley Mills, Tex., Mr Pyc to You hasn’t raced since the Champion of Champions. The son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon didn’t get sufficient interest at stud and was put back in training with Flores at Los Alamitos two months ago and has logged three works for his comeback.
“We shipped him up there to (trainer) Hector Magallanes about 10 days ago, and everything seems to be going well,” Flores said. “I wish he had a race under him, but he’s a good horse and should run well.”
Flores, who also trains Heza Dasha Fire for Don and Kathy Meneely of Kennewick, is currently tied for third in the Los Alamitos standings with 27 wins.
Carlos Huerta, who was aboard Mr Pyc to You in the Champion of Champions, has the mount at Emerald Downs. Huerta has ridden here once before, finishing eighth on Simons Wonder Choice in the inaugural Bank of America Emerald Challenge in 2011.
The field for the 8th running of the $30,000 Bank of America Emerald Downs Challenge: Poutn On the Wagon, Eswan Flores, 124 lbs; L Bar D Genuine Red, Javier Matias, 124; For Sweet Jess, Luis Gonzalez, 124; Mals First Down, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 124; Tickle Ur Fancy, Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa, 124; Mr Pyc to You, Carlos Huerta, 124; Corona B Gone, Lorenzo Lopez, 121; L Bar D Bonnie Lee, Alex Anaya, 124; Kool Odds, Nikeela Black, 121; Favorite Bling, Kevin Orozco, 121.
RACING THIS WEEK
Friday, August 24
6:30 p.m. (7 races)
Fab Friday
Saturday, August 25
5 p.m. (8 races)
Twilight Saturday (thru Sept. 22)
Breakfast at the Wire (2018 finale)
Dollar Night
UW & WSU Alumni Bands
Sunday, August 19
2 p.m. (10 races)
Xpressbet Washington Cup (Week 1)
$50,000 WA Cup Sophomore Colt & Gelding
$50,000 WA Cup Sophomore Filly
$30,000 Bank of America Challenge
BEYERS & FAST TIMES
Friday, August 17
Race 1: Alaskan Cruise-61
Race 2: True Ranger-59
Race 3: Royal Privacy-81
Race 4: Bernette-45
Race 5: Curious Rumor-68*
Race 6: Archie Graham-69
Race 7: Atta Boy Bear-49
Saturday, August 18
Race 1: Bonita Rapids-54*
Race 2: Bluegrass Lily-35+*
Race 3: Sleet Afleet-27+
Race 4: Zanab-57
Race 5: Barasso-66
Race 6: Minersingstheblues-35
Race 7: Bear Minimum-69*
Race 8: Sisu-40
Sunday, August 19
Race 1: Milady’s Secret-30
Race 2: Discreet Situation-35
Race 3: Bella Colomba-50
Race 4: Perfect Holiday-53
Race 5: Emily’s Gold-53+#
Race 6: So Figure It Out-42+#
Race 7: Flower Heart Deer-53
Race 8: The Press-77
Race 9: McDove-72*
Race 10: Rox Star Archie-48*
* Career-high
**Ties career-high
# First-time starter
+2YO
Barkley-May 13, 2018
Fastest Times
4 ½ Furlongs :51.87 Sunshine Emily (2yof) June 16
5 Furlongs :56.52 Das Bear (3yog) May 5
5 ½ Furlongs 1:02.94 Barkley (5yoh) May 13
6 Furlongs 1:08.09 Daytona Beach (6yog) June 17
6 ½ Furlongs 1:14.31 Kaabraaj (6yog) July 8
1 Mile 1:34.60 Huya (5yog) June 16
1 1/16 Mile 1:40.08 Riser (4yoc) July 15
1 1/8 Mile 1:48.54 Sippin Fire (3yogf) July 29
Betting Favorites
Last Week: 7-25 (28%)
Season: 142-432 (32.8%)
Largest $2 Win: $98.80 This Great Nation (Aug 12)
$2 Place: $48.20 This Great Nation (Aug 12)
$2 Show: $16.40 This Great Nation (Aug 12)
Largest Payout: $57,865 ($0.20 Jackpot 7, July 14)
Jockeys Wins
85-Rocco Bowen
57-Kevin Orozco
51-Julien Couton
45-Gary Wales
37-Eswan Flores
20-Javier Matias
19-Anne Sanguinetti
18-Jose Zunino
17-Erick Lopez
17-Austin Solis
16-Leonel Camacho-Flores
Jockeys Earnings
$832,409-Rocco Bowen
$664,492-Julien Couton
$643,467-Kevin Orozco
$452,621-Gary Wales
$405,930-Eswan Flores
$364,042-Javier Matias
$264,275-Austin Solis
$255,534-Jose Zunino
$244,193-Leonel Camacho-Flores
$235,533-Erick Lopez
Trainers Wins
37-Jeff Metz
32-Frank Lucarelli
30-Blaine Wright
20-Joe Toye
17-Vince Gibson
16-Manny Ortiz
14-Candi Tollett
14-Howard Belvoir
13-Tom Wenzel
11-Robbie Baze
11-Larry Ross
Trainers Earnings
$659,823-Blaine Wright
$395,632-Frank Lucarelli
$301,407-Howard Belvoir
$293,758-Jeff Metz
$200,234-Tom Wenzel
$175,141-Vince Gibson
$162,538-Steve Bullock
$161,454-Manny Ortiz
$152,146-Chris Stenslie
$147,106-Joe Toye
Owners Wins
13-Saratoga West
11-John E. Parker
10-Rick Kessler or Terra Firma Farm
8-Tim Bankers
7-Tawnja Elison
7-Kenneth Elison or Vicky Jo Elison
6-Luigi DiPietro or Diana DiPietro
6-Randall and Rossi or Lucarelli Racing
5-Todd & Shawn Hansen
5-Aaron Bresko
Dr. George Todaro
Owners Earnings
$152,313-Rising Star Stable III
$129,725-How We Roll #4
$101,724-John E. Parker
$100,555-Todd & Shawn Hansen
$92,689-Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd.
$87,160-Luigi DiPietro & Diana DiPietro
$86,187-Tim Bankers
$83,263-John & Janene Maryanski & Riverbend Farm
$76,423-George Todaro
$76,000-Muddy Waters Stables LLC
Horses Wins
4-Curious Rumor
3-Bella Colomba
3-Copy Begone
3-Daytona Beach
3-Guardian One
3-Papa Mambo
3-Party for One
3-Que Chistoso
3-Rojo Bou Peep
3-Ryan Walt
3-Sippin Fire***
3-Will Not
3-Zanab
2-Hill Croome
2-Golden Cowboy
2-Wine At Nine
2-Dudley Studley
2-Mintenized
2-Mitch and John E
2-No Talking Back
2-Bet the Harbor
2-Grand Palais
2-Fernet Me Not
2-Please Be Me
2-Awesome Return
2-She Got Away
2-Briana Jean
2-Outdidya
2-Regazze Cat
2-Iron Rob
2-McDove
2-Double A. Prospect
2-Blame It On Royce
2-Cold Hard Luck
2-Ask Not
2-Riser**
2-Endangered
2-Choreography
2-Tesla
2-Calex
2-Outa Here
2-Bye Bye Sal
2-Mister Breeze
2-Oldtimers Vision
2-Diamonds R*
2-Tizzy Dean
2-Serbian Syclone
2-Josie Treasure
2-Meet At Jakes
2-Party for One
2-Bell of Rainier
2-Ever Special
2-Jake’s a Poppin
2-Fly Far Away
2-Cats Gulch
2-Cody’s Choice
2-Bullet Drill
2-Sea Basket
2-Cruzin in Style
2-Baja Sur*
2-Buckley Bay
2-Marymoor Park
2-Kenzie Blake
2-Our Silver Lining
2-Rough and Ready
2-Mike Man’s Gold
2-Levitation
2-Long Game
2-Instinctual Kash
2-Crushin Candy
2-Thirty Pepperonis
2-Hart Mountain
2-Iknowyourface
2-Private Boss
2-Huggy Bear
2-Lucky Cleric
2-Jupiter S.
2-Seattle Sea Gal
2-Charming Ruler
2-Bernie
2-Better in Leather
2-Atta Girl Misty
2-Wasatch Wonder
2-Candorosa
2-The Gold Monkey
2-Hit the Beach
2-Bullet Express
2-He’s Not Grey
2-Pulmarack
2-Aikman Juliet*
2-Barkley*
2-True Ranger
2-Archie Graham
2-Royal Privacy
2-Bonita Rapids
2-Barasso
2-Bear Minimum
*Stakes Win
Aikman Juliet
Horses Earnings
$144,475-Barkley
$81,200-Sippin Fire
$56,250-Riser
$54,688-Diamonds R
$54,350-Bella Mia
$52,750-Oh Marvelous Me
$51,125-Aikman Juliet
$47,850-Northwest Factor
$44,600-No Talking Back
$44,150-Mach One Rules
Francisco Orduna-Rojas
WEEKLY HONORS #18 (August 17-19): Valpak Jockey-Francisco Orduna-Rojas; Las Margaritas Trainer-Larry & Sharon Ross; EmD Owner-Two Putts For The Win; Quarter Chute Café Groom-Joey Prentice (Pablo DeJesus); WTBOA WA-Bred-Sleet Afleet (Mr. & Mrs. W.R. Wulff); Exercise Rider-Luis Ruiz.
NOTES: Trainer Howard Belvoir said Barkley remains in training, and that no decision has been made regarding another race this year. Barkley is eligible for a $25,000 bonus for sweeping the Longacres Mile and $100,000 British Columbia Premiers at Hastings Racecourse. The latter event at 1 3/8 miles is Monday, October 8. . .Saturday’s 4th race is named in honor of Mike “Spanky” LeClair, longtime groom for Neil Knapp who died of diabetes last November. . .Saturday simulcasts include the $1,250,000 Travers from Saratoga at 2:44 p.m. (pacific).
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