Ima Happy Cat

$50,000 WA STATE LEGISLATORS DRAWS A DOZEN

AUBURN, Wash. (June 16) – Ima Happy Cat, gate to wire winner of the Hastings Stakes, tops a list of 12 older fillies and mares nominated to the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes on Sunday, June 23.

At 6 ½ furlongs, the Washington State Legislators is the second of four older stakes for older fillies and mares and the final sprint. The series continues with the 1 1/16-mile Boeing Stakes on July 14, and concludes with the 1 1/8-mile Emerald Distaff on August 11.

Ima Happy Cat is enjoying a big 2019 campaign for Dan Markle and Sue and Tim Spooner, compiling a 3-2-0 record in six starts and over $100,000 in earnings. Breaking from the gate like a rocket, the 4-year-old Smiling Tiger filly led the Hastings gate to wire in 1:08.73 for six furlongs.

Trainer Blaine Wright holds another strong hand with Always Enuff, Bella Mia and Best of Me. A quadruple stakes winner, Bella Mia finished second in the Hastings but was placed fifth for interference in deep stretch. Best of Me scored a sharp allowance win before finishing fifth as the 9 to 5 favorite in the Hastings.

Trainer Tom Wenzel, who won this race three straight years from 2013-15, nominated stakes winners Diamonds R and Dontkissntell. The latter is sharp, scoring a decisive allowance win before finishing third (placed second) in the Hastings.

No Talking Back

$50,000 WA State Legislators, 6 ½ F, Sunday, June 23
Horse. . . . . . .Owner. . . . . . . .Trainer
Always Enuff (5/WA) Ten Broeck Farm Blaine Wright
Bella Mia (4/WA) John & Janene Maryanski Blaine Wright
Best of Me (4/KY) Todd & Shawn Hansen Blaine Wright
Boomerang Miss (6/NJ) Ed Zenker or Terra Firma Farm Joe Toye
Diamonds R (4/KY) George Todaro or David Cordova Tom Wenzel
Dontkissntell (4/BC) Darlyne or Karl Krieg Tom Wenzel
Ima Happy Cat (4/CA) Sue & Tim Spooner Dan Markle
Jerre to Carrie (6/KY) Casa Loma Stable Kay Cooper
Northwest Factor (3/KY) How We Roll #4 Steve Bullock
No Talking Back (5/WA) One Horse Will Do and Steve Shimizu Chris Stenslie
Paddy’s Secret (5/KY) Donnybrook Stable Frank Lucarelli
Summer Storm ( 4/KY) Mark Dedomenico LLC Mike Puhich