BIG HAT CHARLIE ALL THE WAY IN BETAMERICA PURSE,
ROCCO BOWEN BAGS FOUR MORE WINS

AUBURN, Wash. (Sept. 9, 2016) – Big Hat Charlie opened a long early lead and turned back My Chief late for a 3 ¾-length victory Friday in the $13,600 BetAmerica Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Rocco Bowen, Big Hat Charlie ran one mile in 1:35.87 and paid $6.80, $3.20 and $2.40. Charles Essex trains the winner for Dave and The Little Lady Stable (Dave and Linda Olson of Maple Valley).

Big Hat Charlie has enjoyed an excellent season at Emerald Downs, compiling a 3-1-3 record in seven starts and earnings of $31,925. Friday, he set fractions of :23.58, :46.23, 1:10.46 and 1:22.85, and had plenty left to hold off My Chief in the lane.

My Chief, the 9-5 betting favorite ridden by Javier Matias, paid $3 and $2.40, while Ontheshadyside finished third and paid $3.20.

Hoody and Life Is a Joy rounded out the order of finish, and Man of Stature and Shared Life were scratched earlier in the day.

Bowen rode four winners Friday to boost his meet-leading total to 106 wins, 36 ahead of his closest pursuer. And his mother, Nancy, is visiting from Barbados and watched her first Emerald Downs races Friday.

At the meet, Bowen has 34 multiple-win days, including three four-win days.

NOTES: Kiss My Lulu ($7.60) continued a late season resurgence with her third straight victory Friday, leading gate-to-wire under Juan Gutierrez in race four for owner Pegasus Too and trainer Howard Belvoir. . .Belvoir had two wins Friday and is fourth overall with 33 wins. Jeff Metz clings to a 37-36 lead over Blaine Wright, with Frank Lucarelli third with 34 wins. . .Also in race four, seventh-place finisher Copy Begone—one of only two five time winners at the meet—was claimed for $10,000 by owner John Parker and trainer Candi Tollett. . .Live racing continues Saturday with the penultimate day of the 2016 meeting. First post is 2 p.m.

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