$65,000 Emerald Distaff-Nominations

$65,000 EMERALD DISTAFF DRAWS 10 NOMS

AUBURN, Wash. (August 1, 2016) – Ten fillies and mares, including a pair of 3-year-olds, have been nominated to the $65,000 Emerald Distaff on Sunday, August 14.

At 1 1/8 miles, the Emerald Distaff is the track’s premier event for older fillies and mares and shares billing with the 81^st renewal of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3).

The older filly and mare division has been topsy-turvy to date with three different winners in as many races: Estellara prevailing in the six-furlong Hastings Stakes, B C Z Middleton scoring a 15-1 surprise in the 6 ½-furlong Washington State Legislators Stakes, and Guinevere’s Finale registering a 23-1 upset in the one-mile Boeing Stakes. Of those, only Guinevere’s Finale (pictured) is nominated to the Emerald Distaff and a victory would clinch division honors for the 5-year-old Tale of the Cat mare.

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer—winner of a record three Emerald Distaffs—nominated All Star Bub, a 4-year-old Midshipman filly whose best race was third to Beholder in the Adoration Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.

Another California-based runner, Chronologic’sghost, had a troubled trip finishing third to Guinevere’s Finale in the Boeing, and worked five furlongs Saturday at the Pegasus Training Center in Redmond.

Princess Kennedy and Find Joy would be the first 3-year-olds to win the Emerald Distaff. The track’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, Princess Kennedy earned an 85 Beyer while winning the 1 1/8 mile Washington Oaks in 1:47.79, and Find Joy scored a 14-1 surprise in the 1 1/16-mile Kent Stakes before finishing third in the Oaks.

Emerald Distaff weights will be announced Saturday, August 6, and entries will be announced Wednesday, August 10, at the Longacres Mile draw breakfast.