Ailish’s Buttercup and Gary Wales
AILISH’S BUTTERCUP ALL THE WAY IN SATURDAY FEATURE
AUBURN, Wash. (June 22, 2019) – Ailish’s Buttercup held off a wall of closers and posted a 1 ½-length victory Saturday in the $11,200 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
With Gary Wales riding, Ailish’s Buttercup ran one mile in 1:38.79 and paid $14.20, $5.40 and $3.40. Manny Ortiz is the winning trainer for owner Tim Bankers of Rancho Mirage, Calif.
With the victory, Wales extended his consecutive winning days streak to 15 and upped his season total to a meet-high 37 victories.
Ailish’s Buttercup improved to 4-0-0 in eights stars this year, although she had been winless in nine previous tries on dirt. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Haynesfield, her overall mark is 7 for 25 with earnings of $60,381.
Breaking from the No. 2 post, Ailish’s Buttercup led through fractions of :22.94, :45.88, 1:11.17 and 1:24.73.
Goldie’s Darlin’s, the even-money favorite, rallied inside to finish second and paid $2.60 and $2.20, while Afleet Hope finished third and returned $2.80.
Candorosa, Sugarseeker and Lovethisbar rounded out the order of finish.
NOTES: Eddie Martinez recorded his first three-win day at Emerald Downs and moved into a fourth-place tie with Juan Gutierrez at 20 wins apiece. . .Lorenzo Lopez also enjoyed a multiple win night, riding a pair of double-digit winners. . .Lady Campbell ($13.80) added blinkers and won easily in the $18,500 maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies, running 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.07 under Lopez for trainer Tom Wenzel and owner/breeder David Thorner of Yakima. A Kentucky-bred by Dialed In-Pat Hand, Lady Campbell is the younger sister of both 2016 Washington Oaks winner Princess Kennedy and Afleet Hope, third in Saturday’s feature race. . .In the same condition for 3-year-old colts and geldings, rapidly improving Makah Lane ($4.60) led gate to wire in 1:15.78 under Martinez for trainer Bonnie Jenne and owners Q Stable and Friendship Stable. The winner, a Washington-bred gelding by Atta Boy Roy-Dark Diva, cost $6,000 at the 2017 Washington Summer Yearling Sale. . .Gold Supply ($5.40) took the Saturday, to give trainer Larry Pierce and owner Penny Jensen their first wins of the meet. The Pierce/Jensen combination added a second with Madamoo at 10-1 in race five. . .Trainer Blaine Wright took the nightcap with Awesome Ain’t Easy ($2.60) and has wins on six straight cards. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $50,000 Washington Sate Legislators Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs. First post 2 p.m.
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