Democrat (No. 5) edges Ice Needs Whiskey

DEMOCRAT POSTS UPSET IN SATURDAY FEATURE RACE

AUBURN, Wash. (June 4, 2022) – Democrat outfinished Ice Needs Whiskey and scored a half-length victory Saturday in the $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

With Kassie Guglielmino riding at 121 lbs, Democrat ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.81 and paid $19.80 as the second longest shot in a field of seven. Debbie Peery is the winning trainer for owners Ken and Vicky Jo Elison of Boise, Idaho.

Democrat from the inside and Ice Needs Whiskey from the outside dueled virtually gate to wire, setting fractions of :21.81 and :44.39 seconds for the quarter and half-mile. Ice Needs Whiskey gained a short lead past mid-stretch but Democrat was resilient and rallied back inside for the victory.

A Florida-bred by Candy Ride that originally sold for $200,000 as a yearling, Democrat’s lone previous victory came in a 1,000-yard mixed-breed race at Los Alamitos last November. But the 4-year-old gelding finished fourth in a promising Emerald Downs’ debut three weeks ago and put it all together Saturday.

Ice Needs Whiskey, the 6 to 5 favorite ridden by Kevin Orozco, finished a strong second in his 2022 debut and is 1-2-0 in three career starts for trainer Kay Cooper and owner Homestretch Farms.

March On Linch, ridden by Jose Zunino, overcame a poor start to finish third, while Ethan’s Animal, Ididntseethatcomin, Naval Escort and Harbor Outlaw rounded out the order of finish. Nationheart was scratched.

Total mutuel handle was $1,055,346 on an eight-race card.

NOTES: Kevin Radke, Alex Cruz, and Juan Gutierrez rode two winners apiece Saturday and hold the top three spots in the riders’ standings with 16, 13 and 11 wins. . .Trainer Candi Cryderman and owner John Parker combined for two wins and lead the trainer and owner standings with seven wins apiece. . .Trainer Shannon Simpson scored her first Emerald Downs victory with Warfront Fighter ($5.80) in Saturday’s second race. Simpson saddled 15 winners this winter/spring at Turf Paradise and Rillito Park. . .Itsallabouttheride ($7) ran five furlongs in a meet-best :56.82 to prevail in the $24,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up. The top four finishers—Itsallabouttheride, the filly Miss Bella, Tme to Meddle, and Hermiston—were all sired by Harbor the Gold. . .Willing to Burn ($4.40), Crooked Finger Ray ($4.20), Big Fashion ($4), and Collecting Stars ($4.80) all became double winners at the meet with victories Saturday. . .At Hastings Racecourse, Solarity registered a $15 upset in the $50,000 Emerald Downs Stakes for fillies and mares while even-money favorite Bayakoas Image finished fifth and last. . .Also at Hastings, Uncharacteristic posted a $56.90 stunner in the $50,000 George Royals Stakes for 3-year-olds and up. Anyportinastorm, the 8 to 5 favorite, finished seventh. . .The $0.20 Jackpot Pick 6 carryover is $7,836 . . .Live racing continues Sunday with an eight-race card at 2:15 p.m.
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