Brilliant Bird and Javier Matias

BRILLIANT BIRD PREVAILS IN FRIDAY FEATURE RACE

AUBURN, Wash. (June 28, 2019) – Brilliant Bird held off Spot On and scored a 1 ¼-length victory Friday in the $11,300 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Javier Matias, Brilliant Bird covered six furlongs in 1:10.23 and paid $7, $3.40 and $2.10 as third choice in the wagering. Terry Gillihan is the winning trainer for owner Ron Crockett Inc.

Breaking from the No. 5 post, Brilliant Bird set fractions of :21.87, :44.12 and :56.82, finally edging clear in the final sixteenth for the victory.

Spot On, ridden by Eddie Martinez, dueled with the winner from start to finish and battled gamely through the lane to finish second and paid $4 and $2.20.

Crazy for Gold, the 3 to 2 favorite ridden by Kevin Orozco, was 1-¼ lengths back in third and paid $2.10 to show. Three Forks Gold and Sassy Debs Firefly dead-heated for fourth and Classic Leah finished sixth.

A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Einstein, Brilliant Bird improved to 3-3-2 in 12 starts with earnings of $57,927. She was stakes-placed as a 3-year-old, finishing third in the $50,000 Washington Cup Sophomore Filly Stakes.

NOTES: Both Terry Gillihan runners were claimed for $15,000 from the feature–trainer Pablo De Jesus claimed Brilliant Bird while Paul Roggenkamp reclaimed Sassy Debs Firefly. . .Das Bear ($5.80) became the meet’s fifth triple winner with a gate to wire score under Eddie Martinez in race five. . . Following the suspension of racing last week at Arizona Downs, four-time Emerald Downs’ training champion Jeff Metz said he plans to operate a 12 to 15-horse stable here the remainder of the meeting. Metz claimed three horses Friday—Dark Morning ($5,000), Eighty Three ($5,000) and Feldy ($2,500). . .Gary Wales extended his consecutive days winning streak to 17 with a victory on Dizzy Diva ($3.60) in race three. . .Trainer Blaine Wright made it eight straight winning days as Sadie Sue ($7.40) prevailed in Friday’s fourth race. . .Kevin Orozco and Javier Matias rode two winners each Friday. . .Wales leads the standings with 41 wins, but there is a heated battle for second between Orozco (24), Martinez (23), Matias (22) and Juan Gutierrez (22). . .Snowball’s Chance ($9) was up in the final strides of race two, giving trainer Brad Taylor his first win of the meet. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 5 p.m.
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