Appeal Factor and jockey Silvio Amador take the Seattle Stakes
APPEAL FACTOR SHARP IN $50,000 SEATTLE STAKES
AUBURN, Wash. (June 15, 2024) – Appeal Factor returned in spectacular fashion Saturday at Emerald Downs, shaking clear on the turn and powering home for a 1 ½-length victory in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Now unbeaten in three career starts, Appeal Factor ran six furlongs in 1:09.16 and paid $9, $4.66, and $2.88 across the board. Silvio Amador rode the winner at 121 lbs. for trainer David Martinez and owners/breeders Jack and Theresa Hodge (Oak Crest Farm) of Enumclaw, Wash.
Breaking from the No. 5 post, Appeal Factor dueled between I’m Telling Mom and Special Diva as the trio set fractions of :21.60 and :44.01, spurted clear around the turn, kicked well clear into the lane, and had plenty left to hold Victoria’s Charge safe in the final furlong.
“I really like this filly,” said Amador, the rider for all three wins on Appeal factor. “She was strong in the mornings, and I was confident she would run a good race. David (Martinez) is a great trainer.”
A Kentucky-bred by The Factor out of stakes winner Karula, Appeal Factor earned $27,500 and is three for three with earnings of $82,500. All three wins are stakes, and she was voted the track’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2023.
Victoria’s Charge, ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 118 lbs., chased the winner home and finished second by a half-length, returning $9.38 and $4.84.
Paynt Ya Later, the 8 to 5 favorite ridden by Javier Matias at 120 lbs., rallied for third and paid $2.92. Martinez also trains Paynt Ya Later, who like her stablemate came into the race unbeaten in two starts.
Rocky Bay Rae finished fourth while Arctic Breeze, I’m Telling Mom, and Special Diva rounded out the order of finish. Grease missile and Signora Vittoria were scratched earlier in the day.
The $50,000 Kent Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs is next for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, July 14.
Chazz Racine and Carlson Relay
DAY TWO OF 2024 INDIAN RELAY RACING
In addition to seven live Thoroughbred races, Saturday action co-featured day two of the 2024 Muckleshoot Gold Cup Indian Relay Races. The ninth annual three-day competition features 21 teams from five states and two provinces competing in nine total races culminating with Sunday’s championship $10,000 Muckleshoot Gold Cup.
In Saturday’s races, Mountain Crow Relay, Carlson Relay, and Birdinground Relay each won heats and berths into Sunday’s Gold Cup.
Carlson Relay with Chazz Racine riding posted Saturday’s fastest time, 3:32.32, while edging Poitras Relay in Heat 2. Carlson took the inaugural Muckleshoot Gold Cup in 2016.
Weather was not an issue Saturday, although intermittent showers and a brief hailstorm swept through the area. Action continues with Championship Sunday featuring two consolation heats followed by the Muckleshoot Gold Cup at 4:45 p.m.
Results of Saturday’s qualifying heats
Heat 1: 1st Mountain Crow (Alvah Curlew rider), Crow Agency, MT, 3:32.86; 2nd Sp’q’n’I Relay (Riley Prescott), Wellpinit, WA, 3:34.35; 3rd Cedar Ridge (Jorge Galloway) Fort Hall, ID, 3:36.65; 4th Dancing Warrior (Kaden Brings Plenty), Pine Ridge, SD, 3:37.39; 5th Teton (Miaus Teton), Lincoln Creek, ID; River Road Relay-dnf; Strong Horse Relay-dnf.
Heat 2: 1st Carlson Relay (Chazz Racine), Browning, MT; 3:32.32; 2nd Poitras Relay (Jay Peeaychew), Meadowlake, Saskatchewan, 3:33.70; 3rd Two Medicine (Jesse Carlson), Browning, MT, 3:38.10; 4th Omak Express (Tyler Peasley), Omak, WA, 3:40.45; 5th Buffalo Jump Express (Chris Carlson), Browning, MT, 3:42.63; 6th Starr School (Tahj Little Plume), Browning, MT, 3:51.33; 7th Rock Relay (Ashton Old Elk), Hardin, MT, 4:04.50.
Heat 3: 1st Birdinground Relay (Tristan Birdinground), Crow Agency, MT, 3:32.69; 2nd Abrahamson Relay (Scott Abrahamson), Omak, WA, 3:33.19; 3rd Amskapi Pikunii (Ian Big Tobacco), Browning, MT, 3:35.69; 4th Grizzly Mountain (Francis Marchand), Omak, WA, 3:49.87; 5th Old Sun (Vincent Bertelson), Siksika, Alberta, 4:16.69; Arrow Lakes-dnf; Tissidimit-dnf.
Sunday’s Heat Schedule
First Consolation: 2:08 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 2)
Second Consolation: 3:26 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 4)
Muckleshoot Gold Cup: 4:45 p.m. (after Emerald Downs Race 6)
Muckleshoot Gold Cup Winners
2023: Two Medicine
2022: Omak Express
2021: Amskapi Pikunii
2019: River Road Relay
2018: Abrahamson
2017: Starr School
2016: Carlson
NOTES: The top two riders in the standings dominated action Saturday, winning five races on the eight-race card. Alex Cruz swept the first three races and is first with 20 wins while Karlo Lopez took the fifth and sixth races and is second with 15 wins. . .David Martinez has 14 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. . .Dynamic Secret ($8.50) ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.72, fastest of the meet, while breaking his maiden under Juan Gutierrez for Bonnie Jenne in race four. . .Howie Gibson posted a training double with Arthur Spooner ($5.02) and Uncle Juju ($9.04). . .Tim McCanna posted career win 972 at Emerald Downs with Torpedo Away ($7.02) in race five. . .Kevin Radke served as honorary steward for the Seattle Stakes. . .Saturday’s fourth at Santa Anita honored 2024 Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductee Jon White for his retirement, effective Sunday. The Spokane native has worked in the Thoroughbred industry since 1973, a 51-year run of excellence. . .Live racing continues Sunday with first post 1:30 p.m.
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