Pistol Power in the winner’s circle Friday night

PISTOL POWER PREVAILS VIA DISQUALIFICATION

AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 26, 2022) – Pistol Power was declared the official winner when first-place finisher Missed the Boat was disqualified for interference in Friday’s $16,500 Gold Rush Dancer Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Jake Samuels, Pistol Power—the longest price in a five-horse field— paid $17.40 to win. Rigoberto Velasquez is the trainer for owners Lisa Baze, Kyrie Patino, and S and M Stable.

Missed the Boat and jockey Juan Gutierrez finished first by 3 ¾ lengths but following a stewards’ inquiry the 6-year-old gelding was disqualified and placed last, the stewards deeming that Missed the Boat and Gutierrez had crossed over and impeded both Pistol Power and Mixo into the first turn.

Bidding for his third win of the season at Emerald Downs and fifth overall in 2022, Missed the Boat set fractions of :23.80, :45.72, 1:09.97, and 1:22.45, shook off Mixo into the stretch, and increased his advantage to the wire.

Pistol Power, in third place most of the way, rallied wide into the stretch and held off Hydrogen by a neck for second, and then was promoted to first by the stewards.

An 8-year-old Washington-bred gelding by War Front, Pistol Power has won two straight and owns a life mark of 12-6-12 in 44 starts with earnings of $102,024.

Hydrogen, the 9 to 5 favorite ridden by Alex Cruz, finished third and was promoted to second. Rocky Tough finished fourth and was moved up to third and Mixo finished fifth and was placed fourth.

Missed the Boat, the 2 to 1 second choice, has finished first, second, third, first, and first in five starts this season at Emerald Downs.

NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $1,097,208 on a seven-race card. . . Owner/trainer Eddie Cornier scored his first win of the meet with Loose Ball ($10.20) rallying from last for the victory under Javier Matias in race six. . .Jake Samuels rode two big-priced winners—Pistol Power ($17.40) and Marque It Up ($14.20). . .The victory by Marque It Up finished off a $3,465.35 payoff in the $0.50 Pick 5. . Matias also rode two winners . .J T’s A.T.M. ($10) prevailed in race five to give the Alex Cruz/Jorge Rosales combination their 28th victory of the meeting. . .Live racing continues Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

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