Clovisconnection (No. 6) edges Lloyds Logic

CLOVISCONNECTION CAPTURES $50,000 IRISH DAY STAKES

AUBURN, Wash. (July 16, 2023) – Clovisconnection held off Lloyds Logic in a driving finish and scored a neck victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Irish Day Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Kevin Radke at high weight of 123 lbs., Clovisconnection covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.73, returning $3.40 as the betting favorite. Blaine Wright, No. 3 all-time with 54 stakes wins at Emerald Downs, trains the winner for owner/breeder William Hedrick of Clovis, Calif.

The victory gives Clovisconnection a sweep of the first two stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings, but unlike the Auburn Stakes last month, a 4 ½-length victory, the Irish Day was a much closer contest.

After yielding the early lead to Lloyds Logic, Clovisconnection circled up for a short lead three-eighths from home, the half-mile run in :43.83. But Lloyds Logic counter-punched inside and the 3-year-olds hooked up in a rousing stretch drive, with Clovisconnection proving narrowly best.

A California-bred son of Vronsky, Clovisconnection is 5-1-0 in eight career starts with earnings of $161,380. In addition to his Emerald Downs’ stakes wins, the chestnut gelding captured the Golden Nugget Stakes last year at Golden Gate.

Lloyds Logic, the 2 to 1 second choice ridden by Jose Zunino, ran gallantly in defeat. Last year’s Gottstein Futurity winner earned $10,000 for second and is 2-3-1 in seven career starts with earnings of $80,600. The 3-year-old son of The Factor is owned by Dr. George Todaro and trained by Tom Wenzel, who scored with 3-year-old filly Aloha Breeze, also sired by The Factor, in the $50,000 Kent Stakes earlier on the card.

Jin Tong, ridden by Alex Anaya, rallied from last to finish third while Royal Halo, Langston Road, and Stealing Hearts completed the order of finish. Company’s Dream was a late scratch at the starting gate.

Next for 3-year-old is the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at 1 1/16 miles on Sunday, Aug. 13.

Aloha Breeze powers home in the $50,000 Kent Stakes

ALOHA BREEZE DOMINATES $50,000 KENT STAKES

One of the fastest fillies in track history continued her winning ways as Aloha Breeze blazed to her third straight victory this year with a dominating front-running performance in the $50,000 Kent Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

With Carlos Montalvo aboard at high weight of 122 lbs., Aloha Breeze cruised home unchallenged by 6 ¼ lengths, setting a stakes record of 1:14.77 for 6 ½ furlongs and returning $2.40 as a prohibitive favorite in a field of six.

Tom Wenzel, saddling his 51st stakes winner at Emerald Downs, is the winning trainer for Dr. George Todaro of Seattle.

Breaking sharply from the No. 2 post, Aloha Breeze set splits of :21.82, :43.87, and 1:08.09 en route to her second stakes win this year and third overall at Emerald Downs. A Kentucky-bred by The Factor, Aloha Breeze is 5-2-0 from seven starts lifetime with earnings of $136,710, including a first prize of $27,500 for Sunday’s win. In her five victories, the winning margins are 4 ¾, 4 ¼, 8 ¼, 4 ½ and 6 ¼ lengths.

Stepup, second longest price at 19 to 1, held second place, earning $10,000 for owners Jimmy Hammonds and Cleveland Hammonds. Jamies Inheritance rallied from last to finish third while Dads Estrella, Driveway, and Miss Dynamic rounded out the complete order of finish.

Next for 3-year-old fillies is the $50,000 Washington Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on Sunday, Aug. 13.

NOTES: Mutuel handle totaled $1,574,795 on a nine-race card. . .Aloha Breeze accounted for $31,002 of a $44,476 show pool and $43,155 of $64,719 in the win pool. . .Kevin Radke rode three winners Sunday while Blaine Wright led trainers with two wins. . .Radke leads riders with three stakes wins this season and is No. 6 all-time with 33 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. . .Blazingbellablu breezed four furlongs in :48.60 and heads a list of 11 nominees to the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes next Sunday. . .Slew’s Tiz Whiz and Bridleuptothebar top 18 older horses nominated to the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes, also next Sunday. . .2021 Longacres Mile winner Background prevailed at Ellis Park in an $80,000 purse for 3-year-olds and up at nine furlongs. . .Live racing resume Friday at 7 p.m.
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