Guardian One and Gary Wales

GUARDIAN ONE PREVAILS IN SATURDAY FEATURE RACE

AUBURN, Wash. (July 7, 2018) – Guardian One shook off Winninginfashion into the stretch and held off Exit Sixty Slew through the lane for a four-length victory Saturday in the $11,200 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for older fillies and mares.

With Gary Wales riding his third straight winner on the card, Guardian One ran a mile in 1:35.45 and paid $7.60, $3.40 and $2.40. Chris Stenslie is the winning trainer for owners Tony and Brenna Loften.

With the victory, Guardian One joined Rojo Bou Peep, Daytona Beach, Will Not, and Curious Rumor as three-time winners at the meet. The versatile mare has won twice at six furlongs and once at a mile.

Hustled to the lead from the No. 3 post, Guardian One set fractions of :23.17, :45.98, 1:09.93 and 1:22.47, and then held Exit Sixty Slew safe in the final furlong. A 5-year-old Washington-bred by Coast Guard-In Suzanne’s Honor, Guardian One is 5-7-2 in 20 lifetime starts with earnings of $51,528.

Exit Sixty Slew, the even-money favorite ridden by Julien Couton, slipped through inside in the last turn and made a steady bid through the lane. A 5-year-old Abraaj mare, Exit Sixty Slew is 5-3-1 in 11 career starts at Emerald Downs.

McDove, with Kevin Orozco riding, also finished well for third and paid $2.40 to show, while Dreamer S., Winninginfashion and Excess R E completed the order of finish.

For Winninginfashion, the loss snapped a seven-race win streak that began here last September and included six stakes wins at Portland Meadows.

Gary Wales

NOTES: Wales, fourth in the standings with 25 wins, was the riding star Saturday with his first three-win day at Emerald Downs, including a natural hat trick in races five, six and seven. A $0.50 Pick 3 on Wales’ three winners—Meet At Jakes ($48.60), Informant ($41.40) and Guardian One—paid $620.05. . .The $0.50 Pick 5 on races 3 through 8 paid a season-high $24,361. . .There were no unique winners in the $0.20 Jackpot Pick 7, and the carryover is $31,245 to Sunday. . .Rocco Bowen and Kevin Orozco rode two winners each Saturday. . .Trainer Heath Lawrence notched his first career Emerald Downs’ victory as 2-year-old filly Go Martha Go ($5.40) debuted with a 4 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s third race. . .Trainer Manny Ortiz is on a 5 for 7 roll, including a gate-to-wire victory by Ozark Daredevil ($3) in race two. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes for 3-year-old colts & geldings, along with Wiener Dog and Wiener Wannabe races. First post is 2 p.m., and includes the $31,245 carryover in the $0.20 Jackpot Pick 7 (races 3 through 9).

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