Peter Flies with jockey Alex Cruz

PETER FLIES ZIPS TO VICTORY AT EMERALD DOWNS

AUBURN, Wash. (June 8, 2024) – Runner-up in his four previous races at Emerald Downs, Peter Flies overpowered his foes and collected an overdue victory Saturday in the $24,500 Riverbend Men’s Golf Club Purse at Emerald Downs.

With Alex Cruz aboard for his third of four wins Saturday, Peter Flies ran the fastest six furlongs of the meet—1:08—and crossed the wire two lengths clear of second place It’s Turbo. Charles Essex saddled the winner for owner Dave Milburn of Vancouver, B.C.

A Washington-bred by Private Gold, Peter Flies has a win and two seconds from three starts at the meet and an overall record of 3-5-0 in 11 starts with earnings of $49,111.The 4-year-old gelding’s first two victories were at Golden Gate Fields on the synthetic Tapeta surface.

Peter Flies set fractions of :21.81, :43.79, and :55.55, shook off El Bromista past mid-stretch and held It’s Turbo safe to the finish.

It’s Turbo, the 2 to 1 betting favorite, caught El Bromista in the final strides for second place while Our Boy Roy, Son of Thunder, and Fast Times finished fourth, fifth and sixth.

NOTES: Saturday’s mutuel handle totaled $687,287 on a seven-race card. . .Alex Cruz is the first rider with four wins on a card this season and now leads Karlo Lopez 15-11 atop the standings. . .Vince Gibson and Frank Lucarelli led the trainers with two wins apiece. . .Feather Inthe Wind ($12.94) gave owner/trainer Heath Lawrence his first win of the meet, leading coast to coast under Javier Matias in race five. The speedy 5-year-old mare has won first off the bench the last two seasons. . .Golden Gate Fields presents the final race day of its 84-year history Sunday. . .Live racing continues Sunday with first post 1:30 p.m., featuring eight Thoroughbred events and the annual Bulldog Races.

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