GAZING PREVAILS IN SATURDAY FEATURE RACE
AUBURN, Wash. (September 16, 2017) – Gazing held off My Heart Goes On and notched a neck victory Saturday in the $21,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Julien Couton, Gazing ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.35 and paid $7.60 as second choice in the wagering. Terry Gillihan is the winning trainer for owner William Sandeman of Seattle.
Claimed for $15,000 out of her career debut in April, Gazing has been a picture of consistency this season. A 3-year-old Washington-bred filly by Harbor the Gold-Light My Ducks, Gazing is 3-2-0 in five lifetime starts with earnings of $35,175.
ROCCO BOWN ENJOYS ANOTHER BIG DAY
Rocco Bowen, who has already locked up a second straight riding title, enjoyed his first five-win day at Emerald Downs Saturday.
It’s the 33rd time a jockey has ridden five winners at Emerald Downs, but the first since Couton recorded a five-bagger September 19, 2015.
Bowen rode all nine races, compiling a 5-1-1 record and upped his season total to 120 wins in 69 days.
Bowen’s fifth win was especially dramatic, as Wine At Nine ($4.40) held off Remembertobreathe by a nose in race seven for 3-year-olds and up at one mile. It was victory No. 6 this season for Wine At Nine, tying the 5-year-old gelding with Rockport Birdie for most wins at the meet.
Bowen’s winning rides: Race1-Kodianne ($4.80); Race 3-Carr Creek ($5.20); Race 4-Dynamo Dixie ($6.20); Race 5-My Endless Love ($17.60); Race 7-Wine At Nine ($4.60). Bowen also finished second on Rio Hondo in race six, third aboard Magarita Man in race nine, fourth on Sadie’s Snowflake in race two, and sixth on Risque’s Legacy in race eight.
Bowen previously had eight four-win days at Emerald Downs, including four this season.
NOTES: Bowen and Couton swept the first eight races Saturday before Nathan Haar guided Galeforce Nine to a $14.20 upset in the ninth race finale. . .Rockport Birdie goes for her seventh win of the meet as the 3-1 morning line favorite in Sunday’s ninth race for $5,000 claiming fillies and mares. . . Wine At Nine improved to 6-1-1 in nine starts at the meet with earnings of $35,765 for Two Putts for the Win #19. . .Wine At Nine also has a win in every month this season: April 16, May 6, June 11, July 21, August 25 and September 16. . .With a victory in race three, Carr Creek ($5.20) gave trainer Joe Toye career victory No. 998. Toye, currently second with 34 wins at the meet, has four horses entered Sunday. . .Rio Hondo is having an interesting season at Emerald Downs. The 7-year-old gelding has three straight seconds, including a runner-up to Unbridled Candy ($8.20) in Saturday’s sixth race. Prior to that, Rio Hondo reeled off six straight third-place finishes. . .Live racing continues Sunday with first post 2 p.m.
–##–