Mister Mafioso (No. 1) edges Peter Flies in Saturday feature
MISTER MAFIOSO SPRINGS UPSET IN SATURDAY FEATURE
AUBURN, Wash. (May 11, 2024) – Mister Mafioso held off Peter Flies in a driving finish for a slight upset in Saturday’s $24,500 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Silvio Amador, Mister Mafioso covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.74 and paid $15.38 as the fourth choice in a field of six 3-year-olds and up allowance runners. Fausto Coco Patino is the trainer for owners Luigi DiPietro and Diana Di Pietro.
Mister Mafioso and Peter Flies dueled virtually gate to wire, setting fractions of :21.63, :44.20, and :56.26, with Mister Mafioso finally prevailing by a neck in a stiff drive. It was another neck back to It’s Turbo, the 6 to 5 betting favorite, who finished a fast-closing third.
Mangia Pane, also trained by Patino, finished fourth while Mister Midas and Rimrock Lake completed the order of finish. Beer Begone was scratched earlier in the day.
A 4-year-old Washington-bred colt by The Factor, Mister Mafioso finished 2023 with a victory and now begins 2024 with another victory. His overall record is 3-1-2 in 16 starts with earnings of $46,467 which includes Saturday’s $13,965 payday.
NOTES: Three jockeys dominated the eight-race card with Alex Cruz, Javier Matias and Karlo Lopez each riding two winners. . .Saturday’s total handle was $1,176,615. . .Paynt Ya Later ($5.76) improved to two for two lifetime with a gate to wire win in a $25,500 allowance for 3-year-old fillies, running 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.42 under Matias for David Martinez and owners Russell Hulk, Coleton Langdon, and Nolan Leifer. A Washington-bred by Paynter, she debuted vs. maiden special weights at Golden Gate in February. . .El Bromista ($5) edged stable mate Elder Mack to give trainer Blaine Wright a one-two finish in Saturday’s $24,000 maiden special weight for 3-and-ups, covering 5 ½ panels in 1:03.78 under Turf Paradise riding champion Lopez. Owned by John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider, the winner is a 4-year-old by Practical Joke bred in Florida. . .Apricot Brandy ($38.60) and first-time starter Valley Echo ($31.22) produced an early $1 daily double return of $396.94. . .Washington-bred Lonesome Boy finished fourth in the $100,000 Long Branch for 3-year-olds on opening day at Monmouth Park. Owned by John Parker, Lonesome Boy earned $5,000 to move his career ledger to 12-3-2-2-$181,444. . .Jockey Carlos Montalvo is serving a three-day suspension and eligible to resume riding Sunday, May 19. . .Racing continues Sunday with first post 1:30 p.m. for Mother’s Day.
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