Precise Timing with jockey Kevin Orozco

PRECISE TIMING PREVAILS IN WTBOA LASSIES STAKES

AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Precise Timing, heavily favored, held off Sapello La Fina and scored by a three quarters of a length in Saturday’s $50,000 WTBOA Lassies Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Kevin Orozco at 120 lbs., Precise Timing covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:19.15 and paid $3.60 as the odds-on betting choice. Kay Cooper saddled the winner for Blue Ribbon Racing #23, headed by Debbie Pabst of Buckley, Wash.

A Washington-bred by Dialed In out of Peaceful Nation, Precise Timing is now two for two with two stakes wins, having debuted with a 2 ¾-length victory in the July 6 Angie C Stakes. Saturday’s victory wasn’t as flashy perhaps, but Orozco noted a win is a win.

“We were a little concerned about the (No. 1 post-position) and we had some unwanted competition from the inside, but she got it done,” Orozco said.

Pressured from the inside by Sapello La Fina, Precise Timing set fractions of :22.47 and :45.75, kicked clear into the stretch and held sway to the wire.

Precise Timing earned precisely $33,000 upping her two-race total to $63,250.

Sapello La Fina, ridden by Allyssa Morales at 120 lbs., chased the winner gate to wire, holding second by 2 ¾ lengths and earning $10,000 for finishing runner-up. A $5,000 supplemental nomination, owner Miguel Gallegos and trainer Miguel Hernandez doubled their investment with the strong showing.

Morales claimed foul against the winner, alleging interference on the turn, but the stewards made no change to the order of finish.

A Thousand Miles, ridden by Kevin Krigger, finished third with Coconut Dreams. Violet Kitten and Summer Reign rounding out the order of finish.

Orozco upped his Emerald Downs stakes count to 25, good for No. 10 on the all-time list.

Next for 2-year-old fillies is the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes, restricted to Washington-breds at 6 ½ furlongs.

PARTY FOUL WINS $25,000 HOLLYWOOD HARBOR NO. 2

In Saturday’s second leg of the three-event Hollywood Harbor Sprint Series, Party Foul led gate to wire for a half-length victory over Uncle Leon, covering 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.08 and returning $18.26 to win.

Ridden by Karlo Lopez for trainer Justin Evans and Rakoczy Racing, the winner set fractions of :21.77, :44.26, and :56.39, leaving enough in reserve to hold off Uncle Leon late. It’s the sixth win in 15 career starts for the 6-year-old Acclamation gelding, claimed for $8,000 out of a fifth-place effort in the opening event two weeks ago.

Party Foul earned $14,250 for the win, over twice the normal winner’s share for an $8,000 claiming race.

Uncle Leon finished second, scoring his second consecutive runner-up effort of the series, while Mirror Image finished third. Rounding out the order of finish were Roll Dem Bones, 4 to 5 favorite Mr. Fireball, Quiet Charm, Summanus, Taino House and Third Wheel.

Four horses were claimed from Saturday’s race including a four-way shake on Mr. Fireball. Third Wheel, Mirror Image and Uncle Leon all had single claims.

The final leg of the series is Saturday, Aug. 24, at six furlongs. To run in the final, a horse must have competed in the first two legs of the series. Unlike the first two events, in which horses raced for

claiming prices of $8,000 and $10,000, the final event is a starter allowance.

The Hollywood Harbor Sprint Series is the brainchild of Jody Peetz, series organizer and longtime owner whose racing stars have included O B Harbor, No Talking Back and of course Hollywood Harbor.

NOTES: Five Star General completed his major work for the Aug. 11 Longacres Mile, breezing a half in :49 flat Saturday at Churchill Downs. The defending Mile champ arrives at Sea-Tac tomorrow evening via a Fed Ex flight from Memphis. . .In Saturday’s fourth race, Quagmire Magic finished first but was disqualified for interference against runner-up Ain’t No Sissy ($16.58) in deep stretch. . .Even with the DQ, trainer Justin Evans had two more wins for his 15th multiple win day of the season. . .Carlos Montalvo and Luis Reyes led jockeys with two wins each. . .Mary Walker ($3.42) notched another gate to wire victory under Montalvo to join Surprsinglyperfect as the meet’s only four-time winners. . .Congratulations owner/trainer Scott Freeman on a comeback win by River Dance ($10.14) in race three. Freeman has a win and two seconds in six starts at the meet. . . At Del Mar, Top Harbor delivered an $87.20 knockout in a $78,000 allowance sprint on turf, the ninth career win for the 6-year-old gelding out of 2009 Washington Horse of the Year Reba Is Tops. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at 6 ½ furlongs. First post 1:30 p.m.

–##–