Gunnin for Gold and jockey Alex Cruz

GUNNIN FOR GOLD PREVAILS IN SATURDAY FEATURE

AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 17, 2024) – Gunnin for Gold put his exceptional speed on display Saturday at Emerald Downs, rolling to a front-running 5 ¾-length victory in the $24,500 Kim Cross Memorial Purse at Emerald Downs.

With Alex Cruz riding, Gunnin for Gold blazed six furlongs in 1:08.34 and paid $12.48 as the third betting choice in a field of six older horses. Vince Gibson saddled the winner for owner Lusk Racing, who also clicked with Lady Cruiser in Friday’s feature race.

Breaking from the No. 1 post-position, Gunnin for Gold sprinted clear, setting fractions of :22.07, :44.23, and :55.77, was four lengths clear into the stretch and dominated to the wire.

A 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Harbor the Gold-Clever Bird, Gunnin for Gold notched his second win of the meet and is 2-1-1 in seven starts overall with earnings of $30,876. A $25,000 purchase at the 2021 WTBOA Sale, Gunnin for Gold is by the track’s all-time leading sire and out of the same dam that produced $206,000 earner Brilliant Bird.

El Bromista, the 5 to 2 second choice ridden by Karlo Lopez, raced closest to the winner throughout and held on for second and is 1-1-2 in four starts at the meet.

It’s Turbo, the 4 to 5 favorite ridden by Isaias Enriquez, finished third while A Skip in the Park, Knightline, and Louie the First completed the full order of finish.

NOTES: Neiman owns the fastest six furlongs of the meet, 1:07.98 in the June 23 Budweiser Stakes. . .Blaine Wright saddled the third race exacta with Spinnin Pistols ($13.32) edging Bluegrass Go Go for the victory in a $25,00 claimer for non-winners of three races lifetime. . .Wright also won the fifth with hard-hitting 5-year-old Executive Chef ($13.42) scoring his third win of the meet and sixth in 12 starts overall at Emerald Downs, holding off Jin Tong in a fast 1:15.26 for 6 ½ furlongs. Owned by John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider, the 5-year-old Virginia-bred upped his career earnings to $158,558. . .With two wins Saturday, Wright is two wins away from becoming the sixth trainer to win 500 races at Emerald Downs. . .Frisco Frills ($6.76) also bagged her third win of the meet, running 6 ½ panels in 1:15.62 under Allyssa Morales for trainer Miguel Hernandez. . .Hernandez also won the opener with Dennard ($4.76) and his 16 wins rank fourth in the standings. . .Owner/trainer Jaymie Pearman Cruz scored her first win of the season with Khaiky’s Command ($15.14), ridden by husband Alex Cruz. . .Cruz doubled and upped his lead to 52-37 on Kevin Krigger atop the standings. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $40,000 AQHA Racing Championship Challenge for older quarter horses at 440 yards and $30,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge for 2-year-olds at 350 yards.

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