Estiqaa and Gary Wales

ESTIQAA SCORES UPSET IN FRIDAY FEATURE RACE

AUBURN, Wash. (August 3, 2018) – Estiqaa blew past the leaders in the final yards and scored a 12 to 1 upset in Friday’s $11,200 feature race for 3-year-olds and up.

With Gary Wales riding, Estiqaa covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.67 and paid $27.60, $8.60 and $3.80. Roddina Barrett is the winning owner and trainer.

Winless in six previous starts at the meet, Estiqaa used a favorable pace setup Friday, as Daytona Beach and Kota Copy dueled through a half-mile in :44.22, and rallied for a one-length victory. A 6-year-old Kentucky-bred by Tapit, Estiqaa is 5-1-8 in 36 career starts with earnings of $77,813.

Kota Copy won a heated pace duel with Daytona Beach, forged to the lead past mid-stretch, and just failed to last for the victory. Ridden by Patrick Henry Jr., Kota Copy paid $4.40 and $2.60.

Daytona Beach, bidding for his fourth win of the season, weakened late to finish third, two lengths back of Kota Copt. Ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, the 3 to 5 favorite paid $2.10 to show.

Rallying Market, Wood Machine and Conquest Nitro completed the order of finish.

Roddina Barrett

NOTES: Friday was the 85th anniversary of the opening of Longacres, August 3, 1933, and Emerald Downs’ celebrated the event with $1.10 admission (same as in 1933), a commemorative program cover, and music from 1933 throughout the seven-race card. . .Wales, fourth in the standings with 37 wins, has ridden the Friday feature race winner six times this season. . .Rocco Bowen and Julien Couton each rode two winners Friday. For Bowen, they were his meet-leading 75th and 76th victories and his 23rd multiple win day this season. . .Barrett was the only trainer with two wins Friday–Estiqaa and Bella Colomba ($5.80) in race four. . .Estiqaa’s dam, Emtyazat, is the older sister of multiple Grade 1 winner Corinthian. . .Conquest Windycity, a 5-year-old Tiznow gelding based at Churchill Downs, is a confirmed starter for the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, August 12. Although off the board in his four most recent starts, Conquest Windy City earned a 100 Beyer while defeating $3.9 million earner Mind Your Biscuits in a seven-furlong allowance February 9 at Gulfstream Park. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 5 p.m., and includes a $13,352 carrryover in the $0.20 Jackpot Pick Seven.

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