QUEENSBORO CAPTURES FRIDAY FEATURE WITH ROCCO
AUBURN, Wash. (July 14, 2023) – Queensboro took command mid-stretch and rolled to a 1 ¼-length victory in Friday’s $14,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Rocco Bowen for trainer Scott Freeman and Free Brook Racing, Queensboro covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.80 and paid $11.20 as third choice in the wagering.
Saving ground on the turn, Queensboro angled out into the lane, swept past Goat Rocks a furlong from home, and held Olivia’s Choice and a flying She Said My Way safe for the victory.
Olivia’s Choice, the 8 to 5 favorite, and She Said My Way, second longest price at 15 to 1, dead-heated for second while Goat Rocks, the early leader, finished fourth. Rounding out the order of finish were Princess Paton, Get My Point, and Lassie Cat.
One of two 3-year-olds in the race, Queensboro improved to 2-1-1 in five career starts with earnings of $24,855. A Kentucky-bred by Verrazano, she finished in the money all three starts last year at age 2.
NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $932,771 on a seven-race card. . .Friday’s card marked he half-way point of the season–day 26 of a 52-day meet. . .Candi Cryderman and John Parker were two for two with Our Girl Ashley ($10.40) taking the opener and Gold Rush Junior ($5.20) the third. Parker is tied for second in the 2023 owners’ standings with seven wins and third all-time with 182 wins, one back of Sue and Tim Spooner. . .Stand To ($4.60) became a triple winner in 2023, prevailing in race two for older $15,000 claimers. . .Jockey Jose G. Ruiz notched career win No. 1 aboard longshot Distinctive Deb ($38.60) for trainer Preston Boyd in race four. Ruiz had been 0 for 13 lifetime before the win, which was a pick-up mount replacing Louis Zacherle. . .Luis Negron doubled and leads Alex Cruz 39-33 in the jockeys’ race. . .Nominations for the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes and $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes close Saturday. At 6 ½ furlongs the July 23 Governor’s is the final local prep for the $150,000 Longacres Mile next month. . .Budweiser Stakes winner Bridleuptothebar breezed four furlongs in a bullet :45.80 Thursday in advance of the Governor’s. . .Live racing continues Saturday at 5 p.m.
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