Deputy’s Command and Gary Wales
DEPUTY’S COMMAND CAPTURES MARATHON FINAL
AUBURN, Wash. (September 21, 2019) – Rallying from nearly 20 lengths back, Deputy’s Command scored a three-length victory in Saturday’s final leg of the $26,440 WHBPA & WTBOA Horsemen Helping Horsemen marathon series for 3-year-olds and up.
Ridden by Gary Wales, Deputy’s Command ran 1-½ miles in 2:31.84 and paid $25.40, $11.60 and $7.20. A 10-year-old who was making his 100th career start, Deputy’s Command is owned and trained by Manny Ortiz.
As is his wont, Deputy’s Command dropped far back early, but inhaled the field on the final turn and powered home for a $14,080 first prize.
A British Columbia-bred by Second in Command, Deputy’s Command ran in all three legs of the series, finishing third, fourth and first. His overall record, including three wins this season, is 17-11-24 in 100 starts with earnings of $213,904. He broke his maiden at Hastings Racecourse way back on May 20, 2012.
Stay in Power, ridden by Ryan Barber, unleashed a rail rally for second and paid $12.60 and $8. A 4-year-old War Power gelding, Stay in Power also participated in all three legs of the series, finishing fourth, third and second.
Pass Due Payment, racing for the second time in six days, finished third and paid $8.20, while Thorn Legacy, Party for One, Uzta Have Money, Oldtimers Vision, Cook Up a Storm and Tiz Brilliant completed the order of finish. Awesome Return was scratched.
Constant Craving and Javier Matias
CONSTANT CRAVING TAKES EQUAL PAY FINALE
In the $22,400 Equal Pay Distance Series for older fillies and mares, Constant Craving rallied for a three-length victory over Tomorrow’s Mine, running 1-½ miles in 2:33.60.
Ridden by Javier Matias for trainer Frank Lucarelli and owner Chad Christensen, Constant Craving paid $8.60, $3.60 and $2.80. A 5-year-old Drosselmeyer mare, Constant Craving participated in all three races of the series, finishing third, fifth and first.
Winning his 34th race of the meeting for Lucarelli, Matias waited patiently, while Indian Power set fractions of :24.59, :48.52, 1:13.96, and 1:40.01. Turned loose on the final turn, Constant Craving looped the leaders into the lane, gained command in upper stretch and drew off to win convincingly.
The victory was worth $12,320, and improved Constant Craving to 4-1-4 from 19 starts and earnings of $52,456.
Tomorrow’s Mine, the 9 to 10 betting favorite, took the lead on the last turn but was unable to withstand Constant Craving in the stretch. Ridden by Gary Wales, the runner-up paid $2.80 and $2.10. A 4-year-old Harbor the Gold filly, Tomorrow’s Mine also participated in all three legs of the series, finishing fourth, first and second.
Raspberry Punch, ridden by Kevin Orozco, finished third and paid $3, and Staracrossthewater and Indian Power completed the order of finish. Choteau was scratched earlier in the day.
Javier Matias
NOTES: Javier Matias rode four winners Saturday, boosting his season total to 61 wins. He became the seventh rider with four wins on a card this season at Emerald Downs. Matias rode two winners for Frank Lucarelli, his 34th and 35th victories this season riding for the meet’s leading trainer. . . Lucarelli’s two wins upped his season total to 79, including 22 multiple win days. . .Gary Wales needs one win Sunday to reach the 100-win mark. . .Rally Cat ($3.80) held off Time ’n Time Again to prevail in the $18,200 allowance/optional claimer for 3-year-olds. Trained by Blaine Wright for owner/breeder Fleur De Lis Stables, Rally Cat ran six furlongs in 1:08.91 and became a triple winner at the meeting. . .Miss Prospector ($3) scored by 11 ¼ lengths in the $18,500 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies, running six furlongs in 1:08.99 under Matias for trainer Sandi Gann and owner North American Thoroughbred Horse Company. . .The 2019 live racing season wraps up with an 11-race card Sunday featuring the $100,000 Gottstein Futurity and two $25,000 overnight stakes. First post is 2 p.m.
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