RASPBERRY ROAD RALLIES TO VICTORY IN FRIDAY FEATURE
AUBURN, Wash. (July 15, 2016) – Raspberry Road finally had his consistency rewarded Friday with a neck victory over Wando Cat in the $18,500 BetAmerica Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Leslie Mawing, Raspberry Road (No. 3 inside) ran one mile in 1:35.73 and paid $6, $3.60 and $2.20. Dan Markle is the winning trainer for owners Sue and Tim Spooner of Olympia, Wash.
Raspberry Road had enjoyed a consistent meet with two seconds and two thirds in five starts, but had been winless until Friday’s breakthrough victory.
In sixth place early, Raspberry Road rallied five wide on the last turn, gained the advantage past mid-stretch and held Wando Cat safe in the closing yards.
Wando Cat, a 3-year-old facing older horses, rallied from the clouds to finish second and paid $5.80 and $2.40 for place and show. Party Pooper, the 8-5 betting favorite, held third and paid $2.10, while The Press, Bet the Harbor, Ketchum and Honored Citizen completed the order of finish. Westley was scratched and reentered in Sunday’s ninth race.
A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Bellamy Road-Marva Jean, Raspberry Road is 3-3-2 in 13 starts with earnings of $50,332 including $10,175 for Friday’s triumph.
Markle has won with his last three starters—Golden Dynamo winning race five last Saturday, Winninginfashion taking race eight on Sunday, and Raspberry Road.
NOTES: Leslie Mawing, Eswan Flores and Leonel Camacho-Flores rode two winners each Friday. . .Frank Lucarelli and Jeff Metz each had a win Friday and remain tied atop the trainers’ standings at 24-all. . .For the second straight week, Race 2 on Friday resulted in a dead heat as Knight Club ($3.20) and Lizzy Lass ($6.40) both hit the wire in 1:44.82 for 1 1/16 miles. A 5-year-old Matty G mare, Knight Club is a triple winner at the meet and 5-for-8 overall in 2016. An 8-year-old Outing mare, Lizzy Lass has two wins at the meet and is 13-for-46 lifetime at Emerald Downs. . .Live racing continues Saturday with the second of four mid-summer twilight cards. First post is 6:30 p.m.
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