Emerald Downs News & Notes-Thursday, July 12

$50,000 MT. RAINIER HEADLINES MILE PREVIEW DAY

Emerald Downs’ offers four stakes races Sunday, including the final local tune-up for the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) next month.

A compact field of five older runners square off in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, while older fillies and mares meet in the $50,000 Boeing Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The 10-race card also features the first 2-year-old stakes of the season, colts & geldings racing 5 1/2 furlongs in the King County Express and fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Angie C Stakes.

A special $0.50 Pick 4 will be offered on the stakes quadruple-header, encompassing races 5 through 8, beginning with the Mt. Rainier, followed by the Angie C, King County Express and Boeing.

In the Mt. Rainier, Riser (left) drew the outside post and attempts to cross the wire first for the third consecutive time at the meet. The gray 4-year-old has the two biggest Beyers this season, recording a 92 while winning the six-furlong Governor’s in 1:08.23 and a 91 while running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.65 in the Budweiser. Riser was disqualified for interference in the Budweiser, with Dedicated to You (right) promoted from second to first.

Riser is the controlling speed again Sunday, and has fared well around two turns in the past, most notably a gate-to-wire victory in last year’s nine-furlong Emerald Downs Derby.

Dedicated to You, Barkley and defending Mt. Rainier champion Mach One Rules will be waiting in the wings Sunday, ready to pounce if Riser tires in the stretch. Opportunistic appears outclassed, but the 5-year-old gelding has a good two-turn history including a victory over Barkley in the 2016 Emerald Downs Derby.

The field for Sunday’s 23rd running of the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes, 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/16 miles, Race 5, 4:11 p.m.: 1-Dedicated to You, Rocco Bowen, 124 lbs; 2-Barkley, Javier Matias, 120; 3-Opportunistic, Kevin Orozco, 120; 4-Mach One Rules, Isaias Enriquez, 120; 5-Riser, Juan Hernandez, 124.

The field for Sunday’s 23rd running of the $50,000 Angie C Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 5 ½ furlongs, Race 6, 4:41 p.m.: 1-Lucy’s Eclipse, Gary Wales, 117; 2-Aikman Juliet (s), Anne Sanguinetti, 119; 3-Senordiablo (s), Rocco Bowen, 119; 4-Twirling Devon, Kevin Orozco, 119; 5-Sunshine Emily, Austin Solis, 119; 6-Lady Campbell, Eswan Flores, 117; 7-Northwest Factor, Julien Couton, 117; 8-Money Inthe Starrs, Javier Matias, 119. (s) = $5,000 supplemental nomination

The field for Sunday’s 23rd running of the $50,000 King County Express, 2-year-old colts & geldings, 5 ½ furlongs, Race 7, 5:11 p.m.: 1-Baja Sur, Erick Lopez, 120; 2-Jackwain, Rocco Bowen, 120; 3-Verynsky, Gary Wales, 118; 4-AZ Dreamer, Julien Couton, 118; 5-This Great Nation, Anne Sanguinetti, 118; 6-Sky Confidential, Kevin Orozco, 118; 7-Jack Van Berg, Javier Matias, 118.

The field for Sunday’s 23rd running of the $50,000 Boeing Stakes, 3-year-olds & up, fillies & mares, 1 1/16 miles, Race 8, 5:37 p.m.: 1-Blazinbeauty, Isaias Enriquez, 119; 2-Reginella, Juan Hernandez, 119; 3-No Talking Back, Anne Sanguinetti, 117; 4-Sheeza Sassy Girl, Julien Couton, 121; 5-My Heart Goes On, Gary Wales, 120; 6-Top Quality, Kevin Orozco, 121; 7-Jerre to Carrie, Javier Matias, 117; 8-Racy Rascal, Rocco Bowen, 117.

Isaias Enriquez

  • Isaias Enriquez returns to ride Mach One Rules in the Mt. Rainier Stakes. The 2013 Emerald Downs’ riding champ scored three stakes wins last year on Mach One Rules, including the Mt. Rainier Stakes, but currently rides in New Mexico.
  • Washington-breds have won five of the first 10 stakes this season: Sippin Fire (2), Invested Prospect (1), Bella Mia (1) and Dedicated to You (1).
  • Average field size is 7.4 runners in stakes races, and average win payoff is $11. Betting favorites are 4 for 10 in stakes.

Julie Krone

JULIE KRONE APPEARANCE SUNDAY

Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Colonial Affair’s victory in the 1993 Belmont Stakes, will make an appearance Sunday at Emerald Downs.

Krone, who rode 3,704 winners, will sign autographs and also serve as honorary steward for the $50,000 Mt. Rainier. Krone remains the only woman rider to win a Triple Crown race, and was the first woman jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race, capturing the 2003 Juvenile Fillies on Halfbridled.

RACING THIS WEEK

Friday, July 13
6:30 p.m. (7 races)
Fab Friday
Equine Art Show

Saturday, July 14
5 p.m. (8 races)
Twilight Saturday (thru Sept. 22)
Breakfast at the Wire (thru Aug. 25)
Equine Art Show
Food Truck Festival

Sunday, July 15
2 p.m. (10 races)
$50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes
$50,000 Boeing Stakes
$50,000 Angie C Stakes
$50,000 King County Express
Equine Art Show
Food Truck Festival
Julie Krone Appearance

BEYERS & FAST TIMES

Friday, July 6
Race 1: Flatter Cat-60*
Race 2: Italian Warrior-64
Race 3: Ever Special-53
Race 4: A Filly Can Dream-54*
Race 5: Botch-81
Race 6: Fly Far Away-63
Race 7: Wings of Wisdom-37

Saturday, July 7
Race 1: Jake’s a Poppin-60
Race 2: Ozark Daredevil-69
Race 3: Go Martha Go-37+#
Race 4: Kid Trickey-51
Race 5: Meet At Jakes-57
Race 6: Informant-45
Race 7: Guardian One-75*
Race 8: Madamoo-35*

Sunday, July 8
Race 1: Party for One-45
Race 2: Que Chistoso-71
Race 3: Bear Minimum-42#
Race 4: Come On Cozzene-33
Race 5: Bell of Rainier-51
Race 6: Mixo-78
Race 7: Kaabraaj-82
Race 8: Sippin Fire-76*
Race 9: Hustle and Bustle-61*
* Career-high
# First-time starter
+2YO

Fastest Times
4 ½ Furlongs :51.87 Sunshine Emily (2yof) June 16
5 Furlongs :56.52 Das Bear (3yog) May 5
5 ½ Furlongs 1:02.94 Barkley (5yoh) May 13
6 Furlongs 1:08.09 Daytona Beach (6yog) June 17
6 ½ Furlongs 1:14.31 Kaabraaj (6yog) July 8
1 Mile 1:34.60 Huya (5yog) June 16
1 1/16 Mile 1:41.78 Sippin Fire (3yog) July 8

Betting Favorites
Last Week: 9-24 (37.5%)
Season: 96-282 (34.0%)
Largest $2 Win: $66 Pretty Miss Vanna (May 26)
$2 Place: $31 Colour of Money (May 11)
$2 Show: $16.20 Vintastic (May 13)

Leading Jockeys
59-Rocco Bowen
37-Kevin Orozco
35-Julien Couton
25-Gary Wales
24-Eswan Flores
15-Anne Sanguinetti
13-Austin Solis
12-Jose Zunino
11-Erick Lopez
11-Javier Matias
10-Leonel Camacho-Flores

Leading Trainers
28-Jeff Metz
22-Frank Lucarelli
21-Blaine Wright
13-Joe Toye
11-Vince Gibson
11-Manny Ortiz
9-Howard Belvoir
8-Robbie Baze
8-Chris Stenslie
8-Candi Tollett
8-Mike Puhich
7-Larry Ross
7-David Martinez
7-Bob Meeking

Leading Owners
11-Saratoga West
6-Rick Kessler or Terra Firma Farm
6-Kenneth Elison or Vicky Jo Elison
6-Tawnja Elison
6-Tim Bankers
5-John E. Parker
5-Randall and Rossi or Lucarelli Racing
5-Luigi DiPietro or Diana DiPietro
4-Allaire Farms
4-Brett Brophy

Guardian One

Horses Wins
3-Daytona Beach
3-Rojo Bou Peep
3-Curious Rumor
3-Will Not
3-Guardian One
2-Sippin Fire
2-Hill Croome
2-Golden Cowboy
2-Wine At Nine
2-Zanab
2-Dudley Studley
2-Ryan Walt
2-Mintenized
2-Mitch and John E
2-No Talking Back
2-Bet the Harbor
2-Grand Palais
2-Fernet Me Not
2-Please Be Me
2-Awesome Return
2-She Got Away
2-Briana Jean
2-Outdidya
2-Regazze Cat
2-Iron Rob
2-Double A. Prospect
2-Blame It On Royce
2-Cold Hard Luck
2-Ask Not
2-Endangered
2-Choreography
2-Tesla
2-Calex
2-Outa Here
2-Bye Bye Sal
2-Mister Breeze
2-Oldtimers Vision
2-Diamonds R
2-Tizzy Dean
2-Serbian Syclone
2-Papa Mambo
2-Josie Treasure
2-Meet At Jakes
2-Que Chistoso
2-Party for One
2-Bell of Rainier
2-Ever Special
2-Jake’s a Poppin
2-Fly Far Away

Kaabraaj

WEEKLY HONORS #11 (July 6-8): Valpak Jockey-Rocco Bowen; Las Margaritas Trainer-Bill Tollett; EmD Owner-Warlock Stables, Horseplayers Racing Club 240 & Saratoga West; Quarter Chute Café Groom-Pedro Hernandez (Bob Meeking); WTBOA Washington-Bred-Kaabraaj (Clemans View Farm breeder); Exercise Rider-Manny Gonzalez.

NOTES: Patrick Henry Jr., who went down hard in a dramatic spill Sunday, will resume riding with three mounts Friday, according to agent Keith Drebin. . .First-time starter Jack Van Berg, entered in Sunday’s $50,000 King County Express, is named in honor of the Hall of Fame trainer who passed away earlier this year. The 2-year-old To Honor and Serve colt is owned by Mike Waters, for whom Van Berg trained the last several years in Arkansas and Kentucky. . .Los Alamitos wraps up its brief three-week Thoroughbred meet Sunday, with Del Mar opening its 79th season Wednesday. . .Washington State Legislators Stakes winner Alliford Bay has shipped to Golden Gate Fields, but trainer Blaine Wright still has three older fillies and mares in the Boeing Stakes–ReginellaSheeza Sassy Girl and Top Quality.
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