Freightline with jockey Alex Cruz
FREIGHTLINE DOMINATES WTBOA LADS STAKES
AUBURN, Wash. (August 6, 2023) – Freightline took command into the lane and drew clear for a 3 ¼-length triumph over Bourbon Dancer in Sunday’s $65,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
With Alex Cruz aboard at 120 lbs., Freightline covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:18.11 and paid $8.60 as third betting choice in a compact field of five. Steve Bullock saddled the winner for Gold Coast Racing III, a Ron Hagen-headed syndicate that includes David Israel and Emerald Downs’ own Joe Withee.
Sandwiched between Bourbon Dancer and Whiskey Harbor through a half-mile in :45.94, Freightline shook off Bourbon Dancer into the lane, proving clearly best to notch his first stakes win.
A Washington-bred son of Coast Guard, Freightline improved to 2-1-1 form four starts with earnings of $64,940 including a healthy $36,140 for Sunday’s victory. Freightline marks the second stakes winner out of Knight Raider, a triple stakes winner at Emerald Downs in 2009.
Bourbon Dancer, 8 to 5 second choice ridden by Silvio Amador, held second by 2 ¼ lengths, while Whiskey Harbor, ridden by Kevin Radke at 120 lbs., finished third. The even-money choice following a 4 ¼-length victory in the WTBOA Lassies Stakes, Whiskey Harbor did well to finish third after stumbling at the break.
Mr. Executive and Beer Begone rounded out the order of finish.
Freightline now has a win and a second from two stakes starts.
“He’s a nice colt and I hope there’s better things to come from him,” said Bullock, winner of 29 career stakes at Emerald Downs.
Two options are immediately available for Freightline: the Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, Aug. 27, and the Gottstein Futurity on Sunday, Sept. 17. The former, restricted to Washington-breds, is 6 ½ furlongs, while the Gottstein is 1 1/16 miles.
Appeal Factor with jockey Silvio Amador
APPEAL FACTOR BRILLIANT IN WTBOA LASSIES STAKES
With an early burst of speed, Appeal Factor took control of the race and rolled home for an easy four-length triumph in the $50,000 WTBOA Lassies Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Silvio Amador at 120 lbs., Appeal factor ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:18.58, returning $3.80 as the odds-on choice in a field of seven. David Martinez is the winning trainer for owner/breeder Oak Crest Farm (Jack and Theresa Hodge, Enumclaw, Wash.)
Now unbeaten in two starts—both stakes—by a combined 6 1/2 lengths, Appeal Factor earned $27,500, boosting her two-race total to $55,000. A gray by The Factor, Appeal Factor is out of Karula, also bred and owned by Oak Crest, and a stakes winner here in her debut in 2016.
“It’s very humbling, and I’m proud of (Appeal Factor),” Hodge said.
Appeal Factor wanted to go early, and she overtook Neissa around the turn while running four furlongs in a brisk :44.34. She opened a commanding lead into the stretch and was never threatened while pretty much coasting to victory.
“She wanted to go a little early today,” Amador said. “She’s a nice filly with a big heart and a lot of class.”
A Kentucky-bred, Appeal Factor is ineligible for the restricted Washington Cup Juvenile Filly in three weeks, but many fillies have tried the colts in the Gottstein Futurity through the years, with this year’s Gottstein set for closing day, Sunday, Sept. 17.
Mocktails Anyone, ridden by Carlos Montalvo at 118 lbs., rallied gamely to snatch second, edging Neissa by a neck for place honors. Mocktails Anyone has finished second in all three career starts including runner-up in both the Angie C and WTBOA Lads Stakes.
Neissa, the early leader ridden by Rocco Bowen at 120 lbs., finished third, followed by Parker’s Fifteen, Bourbon Tiger, She’s a Kraken, and Special Diva.
Alex Cruz
NOTES: Sunday’s mutuel handle totaled $989,020 for a 10-race card. . .Alex Cruz rode five winners, the first rider to accomplish the feat this season, and has overhauled Alex Negron for top spot in the riders’ standings. Through 37 days, Cruz leads Negron 48-46. . .It’s the fourth career five-bagger here for Cruz, who is attempting to win a record fourth straight Emerald Downs’ riding title. . .The Factor is the track’s dominant sire this year with fillies—3-year-old filly Aloha Breeze and Appeal Factor are combined five for five with four stakes wins. . .Isaias Enriquez and Frank Lucarelli clicked with Mary Walker ($6.80) in race three and Cobra Jet ($6) in race six, the latter stretching out to a mile for his first win since the 2021 WA Cup. . .In a $29,500 allowance for older sprinters, Missed the Boat ($10.80) scored career victory No. 12, holding off Tax Code in 1:15.72 for 6 ½ furlongs. . .Entries for next Sunday’s 88th running of the $150,000 Longacres Mile are drawn Wednesday morning, along with the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $50,000 Washington Oaks. . .Live racing resumes Friday with first post 7 p.m.
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