Emerald Downs Wrap-Saturday, Sept. 10

Pearl River Delta and jockey Alex Cruz.

PEARL RIVER DELTA ALL THE WAY IN SATURDAY FEATURE

AUBURN, Wash. (Sept. 10, 2022) – Pearl River Delta sprinted clear early and powered to a 5 ½-length victory over Nana’s Angels in Saturday’s $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by a red-hot Alex Cruz, Pearl River Delta covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.50 over a fast track and paid $6.20, $2.80, and $2.60. Alan Bozell is the winning owner and trainer.

With Cruz riding his third winner Saturday, Pearl River Delta set fractions of :22.33, :45.12, and 1:09.79, romping to her third win of the 2022 meeting. A 4-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Abraaj, Pearl River Delta has been a picture of consistency with a 3-2-3 record in eight starts at the meet with $48,925 in purses including $13,750 for Saturday’s score. Her stablemate, 4-year-old Zippin Sevenz, raced to a $49 upset in last month’s $75,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares.

Nana’s Angels, the 3 to 2 betting favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez, chased the winner gate to wire but settled for second, returning $2.80 and $2.40.

Suddenly Winning, ridden by Kevin Orozco, was a neck back in third and paid $6 to show, whole Opal Creek, Gold Coast Girl, Princess Payton, and Lassie Cat completed the order of finish.

NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $815,569 on an eight-race card. . . John Parker bagged his 24th win of the meeting with Mischief Road ($3) in race three, tying the third highest win total by an owner in track history. Chad Christensen with 32 wins in 2019 holds the track record, followed by Swag Stables with 27 wins in 2009, and Saratoga West and Chad and Josh with 24 wins each in 2015 and 2020. Parker ranks fourth all-time with 174 wins at Emerald Downs. . .Congratulations to trainer Candi Cryderman on her first three-win day of the meeting, scoring with Mischief Road, Mister Midas ($8.40), and Dontforgethesugar ($8.60). . .With three wins Saturday, Cruz opened an 88-71 lead on Kevin Radke in the jockeys’ standings. It was Cruz’ ninth three-win day of the meet. . .Juan Gutierrez rode two winners and is third with 66 wins. . .Jorge Rosales leads trainers with 36 wins, followed by Blaine Wright with 29, Frank Lucarelli with 27, and Cryderman with 26. . .Trainer Joe Toye has won with three of his last four starters including a gate to wire performance by Wear the Crown ($7.40) in Saturday’s fourth race. A 3-year-old Shackleford gelding, Wear the Crown is three for three lifetime at one mile. . .Live racing continues Sunday with first post 2:15 p.m. on First Responders Day.
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