Mary Walker with jockey Isaias Enriquez
MARY WALKER PREVAILS IN SATURDAY FEATURE RACE
AUBURN, Wash. (June 24, 2023) – Mary Walker held off Scatalicious in the stretch run and prevailed by two lengths in Saturday’s $14,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
With Isaias Enriquez riding, Mary Walker covered six furlongs in 1:09.20 and paid $16.80 as fifth choice in the wagering. Dan Markle saddled the winner for owner Len Strandley Jr. of Auburn.
The winner overtook Miss Accelerate into the stretch and quickly opened a two-length lead, and then had energy in reserve to hold off a late bid by Scatalicious.
A 3-year-old California-bred filly by Grazen, Mary Walker improved to 2-0-2 from six starts lifetime with earnings of $22,970. Her previous five starts were over the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields.
Scatalicious, ridden by Silvio Amador, angled out into the stretch and finished well to snatch second place. A 3-year-old Majestic Harbor filly, the consistent Scatalicious has two seconds and two third in four starts at the meeting.
Miss Accelerate, the 5 to2 second choice ridden by Kevin Radke, held third while Lassie cat, I Am Yours, Lucinda Rella and 2 to 1 favorite Signature Colors rounded out the order of finish.
NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $821,935 on an eight-race card. . .Congratulations to Faustino Coco Patino on his first career training victory with Mangia Pane ($11.80) in a $25,000 maiden claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Patino was chief assistant for Blaine Wright the last several years at Emerald Downs. . .Brannigan, runner-up to Mangia Pane, now has six seconds and five thirds in 11 starts the last two seasons at Emerald Downs. . .Three-time EmD riding champ Rocco Bowen booted home Royal Candy ($3.80) in the Saturday finale for trainer Jeff Metz and owners Steve and Letha Haahr. Bowen, making his first appearance here this season, also had a second aboard Pistol Power and ranks seventh all-time with 582 wins at Emerald Downs. . .Metz and the Haahr’s also clicked with Raajin Ribbon ($7.20) in race three. . .Alex Cruz and Isaias Enriquez rode two winners each while Metz and Jorge Rosales led the trainers with two wins apiece. . .A single winning ticket took down the $0.20 Jackpot Pick 6 for $7,628.30. . .Francisco Diaz-Lopez notched his first win of the meet aboard Goat Rocks ($27.40) in race six. . .Dana Robertson filled in as trumpeter for Dan Harrington on Saturday’s card. . .Live racing continues Sunday at 2p.m. featuring defending Longacres Mile champion Slew’s Tiz Whiz in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The nine-race program also features the $50,000 Hastings Stakes for older fillies and mares at six furlongs.
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