EL CHAVO DEL OCHO PREVAILS ON MEMORIAL DAY
AUBURN, Wash. (May 29, 2023) – El Chavo Del Ocho collared New Every Morning in deep stretch and scored a 1 ¼-length victory in Monday’s featured Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
With Javier Matias riding his second winner on the card, El Chavo Del Ocho covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.52 and paid $9.80 as the second choice in the wagering. Vince Gibson saddled the winner for owner Lusk Racing.
In eighth place on the backstretch, the winner gathered momentum on the turn, angled out for racing room past mid-stretch and swept past New Every Morning for the victory.
El Chavo Del Ocho now has 12 wins from 56 career starts with earnings of $375,933. The 8-year-old California-bred gelding scored stakes victories at Sunland Park and Arizona Downs.
New Every Morning, a 25 to 1 outsider ridden by Alex Cruz, gained command from Whatwasithinking past mid-stretch but was unable to withstand El Chavo Del Ocho from over the top. Whatwasithinking held third while Heredia Boxer, the 4 to 5 favorite, broke slowly and rallied for fourth. Rounding out the order of finish were Mileys Bluecat, Mojave, Our Empire, Whos Dallins Daddy, and Mount Olympic.
NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $1,196,221 on a nine-race Memorial Day card. . .In the $0.50 Pick 5, which included a $17,456 carryover, winning tickets paid $224.30. Monday’s pool was $105,159. . . Kevin Radke, Javier Matias, and Alex Cruz rode two winners each while trainers Shelly Crowe and Justin Evans also had two wins each. . .Luis Negron tops the riders’ standings with 14 wins while Evans leads trainers with 10 wins. . .Alexis Silva-Martinez scored his first career training victory with D K’s Crown ($8) in Monday’s second race. . .2022 Muckleshoot Derby winner You’re the Cause ($8.40) is back on the beam with a last to first victory in a $16,000 starter allowance under Javier Matias for trainer Debbie Van Horne and WilWin Stable. . .Live racing resumes Saturday with first post 2 p.m.
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