Triple G-Win No. 499 for Rocco Bowen at Emerald Downs
TRIPLE G PREVAILS IN FRIDAY NIGHT FEATURE
AUBURN, Wash. (June 8, 2018) – Triple G held off Seattle Smoke and Tuscan Warrior in a driving finish for a neck victory in the Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up Friday evening.
With Rocco Bowen aboard for his 499th win at Emerald Downs, Triple G ran six furlongs in 1:10.82 and paid $20.60, $11 and $7.20. Preston Boyd is the winning trainer for owner Carl Seymour.
It was a fitting result since Boyd and Seymour are both members of the Colville Tribe, and Friday was Day 1 of the 2018 Muckleshoot Gold Cup Indian Relay Races at Emerald Downs.
Racing for the first time since July, Triple G overtook Capital Expense into the stretch and held off late bids from a pair of gray geldings—Seattle Smoke and Tuscan Warrior—for the victory.
A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold-Slews Fancy, Triple G is 2-1-0 in three lifetime starts with earnings of $13,450.
Seattle Smoke, with Kevin Orozco riding, flew from the back of the pack to just miss the victory. The runner-up paid $9.80 and $6.60. Tuscan Warrior, ridden by Eswan Flores, rallied for third and $6.20.
Kota Copy, the 5-2 morning line favorite, was a late scratch.
Bowen and Boyd also combined with Omache Kid ($4.80) to win Friday’s second race.
MUCKLESHOOT GOLD CUP INDIAN RELAY RESULTS
Friday night also opened the three-day $65,000 Muckleshoot Gold Cup, featuring 21 of the nation’s finest Indian Relay Racing teams from Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota and Canada.
Carlson Relay, Abrahamson, and Little Badger all won qualifying heats Friday.
Three more qualifying heats are scheduled Saturday, with the championship heat and two consolation races Sunday.
Results form Friday’s qualifying heats:
Heat 1: 1st-Carlson Relay (Two Medicine, Mont.), 3:34.79; 2nd-River Road Relay (Crow Agency, Mont.), 3:36.50; 3rd-Omak Express (Omak, Wash.), 3:36.80.
Heat 2: 1st-Abrahamson (Omak, Wash.), 3:43.62; 2nd-Starr School (Starr School, Mont.), 3:44.19; 3rd-Lakota War Path (Pine Ridge, SD), 3:47.26.
Heat 3: 1st-Little Badger (Little Badger, Mont.), 3:44.30; 2nd-Ride A Pretty Horse (Billings, Mont.), 3:46.91; 3rd-Umatilla Express (Pendleton, Ore.), 3:48.62.
Saturday’s Indian Relay qualifying heats:
Relay Heat 1: 2:42 p.m.(after Emerald Downs Race 2)
Relay Heat 2: 4:25 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 4)
Relay Heat 3: 5:42 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 6)
Sunday’s Indian Relay Races:
1st Consolation: 3:07 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 3)
2nd Consolation: 4:54 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 6)
Muckleshoot Gold Cup: 6:45 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 9)
NOTES: Bowen has at least one win on all 17 cards he has ridden this season (he missed two days last week with illness) and owns a 33-21 lead over Orozco in the riders’ standings. . .Julien Couton also rode two winners Friday. . .Trainer Howard Belvoir and jockey Jennifer Whitaker teamed with Perfect Night ($7.40) in Friday’s third race, the 337th time Belvoir and Whitaker have combined to win at Emerald Downs. . .Trainer Terry Gillihan, No. 12 all-time with 329 wins at Emerald Downs, scored his first win of 2018 as Ask Not ($6.40) prevailed in the Friday opener. . .Racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m. In addition to Day 2 of Indian Relay Racing, the Belmont Stakes simulcast is at 3:46 p.m., between Emerald Downs’ races 3 and 4.
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