Rafanelli (red cap) prevails over Don’t Tell Hydee
RAFANELLI PREVAILS IN SATURDAY FEATURE RACE
AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 10, 2024) – Rafanelli held off stablemate Don’t Tell Hydee for a nose victory in Saturday’s featured Tacoma Corvette Club Purse at Emerald Downs.
With apprentice Manuel Americano riding, Rafanelli ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.72 and paid $13.80 as fifth choice in a field f six older fillies and mares. Scott Tubbs is the winning trainer for owners Alex Ortega Jr. and Vincent Ortega of Tucson, Ariz.
In addition to the winner, Tubbs saddled runner-up Don’t Tell Hydee, who finished second for the fifth consecutive time at the 2024 meeting. She crossed the wire first on June 28 but disqualified and placed second for interference.
Gunned to the lead from the inside post, Rafanelli vied for command with Scatalicious and Don’t Tell Hydee through fractions of :22.69 and :45.70, shook off Scatalicious into the stretch and held off Don’t Tell Hydee in a driving finish. For Rafanelli, the victory was her first in five Emerald Downs starts and fifth in 16 starts overall with earnings of $62,931.
Lemon Drop Lady, longest shot on the board at 9 to 1, rallied to finish third with Dansmetothendoflov, Scatalicious and Gold Coast Girl rounding out the order of finish.
Congratulations Jon White!
FOUR INDUCTED INTO WASHINGTON HALL OF FAME
Before the races, the Washington Racing Hall of Fame Class held its 2024 induction ceremony with a ceremony adjacent to the winner’s circle. The new inductees are Basil Frazier (Jockey), Flag de Lune (Filly or Mare), Jon White (Media), and Junior Coffey (Lifetime Achievement).
Frazier and Coffey were honored posthumously while White traveled from Los Angeles with wife Tracy Gantz as the first winner of the new Media category.
Videos highlighting career achievements were played with narration by longtime University of Washington football and basketball announcer Bob Rondeau, and plaques for each winner will be added to the Washington Hall of Fame area at track level. In addition, Saturday’s fourth race was the Washington Racing Hall of Fame Purse.
NOTES: Saturday’s mutuel handle totaled $814,253 on a seven-race card. . . First-time starter Beauty Bark ($12.34) became the first winning progeny of 2018 Longacres Mile winner Barkley, scoring in a $24,000 maiden special weight for Parrot Head Racing and trainer Kay Cooper. A 2-year-old filly by out of Arlington Lady, Beauty Bark ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.11. . .Serjio Garcia scored his first Emerald Downs win as a trainer Saturday, saddling Nomi Lackee ($7.80) to a gate to wire victory in the opener. A 4-year-old California-bred filly, Nomi Lackee became a triple winner at the meet. . .Owner/trainer Doug Carlson also got his first of the meet with Pocket Knife ($6.80) romping to her maiden victory in race two. . .Seven different jockeys and trainers won races including Kevin Krigger and Justin Evans combining for their 29th win of the meet with Kaline ($6) in the nightcap. . .Through 39 days of the 55-day meet, Alex Cruz leads jockeys with 48 wins and Evans tops the trainers with 46 wins. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the 89th running of the $150,000 Longacres Mile, along with the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby and $50,000 Washington Oaks. First post 1:30 p.m.
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