Opportunistic (No. 3) prevails in the 2016 Emerald Downs Derby
$75,000 EMERALD DOWNS DERBY
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2017
80th RUNNING, 3-YEAR OLDS, 1 1/8 MILES
Track & Stakes Record: 1:45 2/5, Flying Notes (3), September 2, 2002
Most Wins
(including Longacres Derby)
Trainer: 3-tie, Frank Brewster, Bud Klokstad, Bill McMeans, Bob Meeking, Jim Penney, Mike Puhich, Glen Williams
Jockey: 3-tie, Lennie Knowles, Joe Baze, Pedro Alvarado & Ricky Frazier
Owner: 2-tie, Dorothy Brewster & Dino Lozzi
Statistics (1996-2016 @ EmD)
Track Condition: fast 20, wet-fast 1
Favorites: 3-for-21 Odds-on: 1-for-5
Largest $2 Win: $55, My Constant Star, 1998
Smallest $2 Win: $3.60, Prime Engine, 2015
Average Field Size: 8.2 (largest 12, 2005, 2006; smallest 6, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2016)
Gate-to-wire winners: You’ve Got Action, 1997; Flying Notes, 2002; Saratoga Boot, 2010; Makors Finale, 2012
Largest Win Margin: 11 ¼ lengths, Flying Notes, 2002
Smallest Win Margin: head-tie, Winning Machine, 2009, Opportunistic, 2016
Winner bred: Kentucky 9, Washington 6, British Columbia 2, Arkansas 1, Florida 1, Maryland 1, Texas 1
OWNERS HOMETOWNS
1: Monydontspenitself (9/2) Where We At (Paul Heist, Auburn, WA; Jack Fabulich, Edgewood)
2: Riser (9/5) Chappell Alpine Farms LLC (Jared Chappell, Sugar City, ID)
3: Sharkzilla (10) John Parker (Lake Bay, WA)
4: Aqua Frio (2) Peter Redekop, Vancouver, BC
5: More Power to Him (7/2) Brett Mason, Vacaville, CA
6: Distortedatthebar (15) Charles Essex, Granite Falls, WA
EmD DERBY SERIES
May 14: $50,000 Auburn Stakes, 6 Furlongs—Sharkzilla ($37) 6F 1:07.92 76 Beyer
June 4: $50,000 Coca-Cola Stakes, 6 ½ Furlongs—Riser ($3.80) 6 ½ F 1:15.26 80 Beyer
July 2: $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes, 1 Mile—Aqua Frio ($14.40) 1M 1:34.82 84 Beyer
July 30: $75,000* Emerald Downs Derby, 1 1/8 Mile
*$25,000 bonus (US) for sweeping Emerald Downs Derby and BC Derby Sept. 9
NOTES: Betting favorites are only 3-for-21 in the Emerald Downs Derby and have lost nine of the last 10 runnings. . . Prime Engine (2015), Gallon (2008) and Alexandersrun (2005) are the only favorites to win the Derby. . .And favorites are only 3-for-15 in stakes this season at Emerald Downs, and 0-for-9 since Riser’s victory June 4 in the Coca-Cola Stakes. . .Four horses won the Derby gate-to-wire: Makors Finale (2012), Saratoga Boot (2010), Flying Notes (2002) and You’ve Got Action (1997). . . Rocco Bowen, the meet’s leading rider with 80 wins, also is the top route rider with a 17-for-60 mark (28.3%) in two-turn races. . .Trainer Blaine Wright has won four of the seven sophomore stakes this season: 3-year-old fillies Alliford Bay (Seattle) and Top Quality (Irish Day) and 3-year-old Riser (Coca-Cola) and Aqua Frio (Seattle Slew). . .A victory by Riser, Aqua Frio or Sharkzilla would likely clinch honors as Emerald Downs’ Top 3-Year-old Colt or Gelding. . .Flying Notes in 2002 turned in the most impressive victory in an Emerald Downs Derby—setting a track and stakes record of 1:45 2/5 while winning by a stakes record 11 ¼ lengths. He also earned a 106 Beyer, largest in Emerald Downs Derby history. . . Little Dancer won last week’s Washington Oaks in 1:50.05 (79 Beyer). . .Trainer Kay Cooper, who nearly won the Oaks with Daddyalwayssays on a stretch-out, attempts the same feat in the Derby with Monydontspenitself, a son of Street Boss who has never raced beyond 6 ½ furlongs. Half-sister Zipessa (City Zip-Precious Princess) is a Grade 3 winner routing and multiple Grade 1-placed going long, including a second to Avenge in the 2016 Rodeo Drive at 1 ¼ miles on turf.
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