Little Dancer and Eswan Flores
LITTLE DANCER ALL THE WAY IN SATURDAY FEATURE
AUBURN, Wash. (July 28, 2018) – Little Dancer was back on the beam Saturday evening at Emerald Downs.
The track’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2017, Little Dancer rolled to a front-running 3 ½ -length victory over Guardian One in the featured $20,500 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for older fillies and mares.
With Eswan Flores taking over the mount, Little Dancer ran one mile in 1:36.36 and paid $33.20, $15.40 and $5.20. Doris Harwood is the winning trainer for owner Ron Schmid of Seattle.
Changing tactics, Little Dancer sprinted to a short early lead inside of Guardian One, setting fractions of :22.63, :47.22, 1:11.12 and 1:23.27. She widened the lead to two lengths into the lane, and drew off through the stretch for her first victory in four starts this year.
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Successful Appeal-Jack’s Little Girl, Little Dancer is 4-1-0 in 11 lifetime starts with earnings of $88,550 including $11,275 for Saturday’s victory.
Guardian One, bidding to become the first four-time winner of the meet, held second and paid $5.60 and $3.80. A 5-year-old Coast Guard mare trained by Chris Stenslie, Guardian One is 3-2-1 in six starts this season with earnings of $29,500 for owners Tony and Brenna Loften.
Jerre to Carrie rallied from last to finish third and paid $3.20 to show, while Gazing, 3 to 2 favorite Grace Bay, and I Double Dare You completed the order of finish.
Little Dancer-2017 Washington Oaks
NOTES: Little Dancer has made a habit of springing surprises. Her four career victories have come at odds of 19-1, 11-1, 12-1 and 15-1, including her $27.40 upset in the 2017 Washington Oaks. . .Trainer Pablo De Jesus swept the early double with Wild Wilko ($22.60) and Brookdale ($10.60) for his first two-win day at Emerald Downs. . .Trainer Blaine Wright also enjoyed a two-win night, scoring with Thirty Pepperonis ($8.60) in race three and Retreat Yourself ($4.20) in race six. Wright, bidding for a third straight training title, is within four wins of Jeff Metz (31-27) in the trainers’ race. . .Rocco Bowen was the only jockey to ride two winners, his 69th and 70th of the season. . .One winning ticket in the $0.50 Pick 5 returned $14,025. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 mile. Sippin Fire is the 9/5 morning line choice with Canadian invader Weekend Wizard second choice at 5/2. First post is 2 p.m.
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