Itsallabouttheride (No. 4)
ITSALLABOUTTHERIDE PREVAILS IN IRISH DAY THRILLER
AUBURN, Wash. (July 17, 2022) – Itsallabouttheride would not be denied in Sunday’s $50,000 Irish Day Stakes for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.
Battling for the lead throughout, Itsallabouttheride held off 6 to 5 favorite Executive Chef in the final strides for a head victory in the 26th running of the Irish Day, running 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.37 and returning $10.60, $4.40, and $3.20.
Juan Gutierrez rode the winner at 120 lbs. for trainer Bonnie Jenne and owners Friendship Stable, Q Stable, and Craig Fredrickson.
Itsallabouttheride dueled between A View From Above and Little Casino, with the trio of sophomores clicking off splits of :22.03, and :44.03 for the quarter and half-mile. Straightening into the lane, Itsallabouttheride took a short lead over A View from Above and braced for the oncoming Executive Chef in a three-horse drive to the wire.
“I was a little worried about (Executive Chef), but my horse responded when I asked him,” said Gutierrez, No. 2 all-time with 74 stakes wins at Emerald Downs.
Runner-up to Executive Chef in the Auburn Stakes last month, Itsallabouttheride turned the tables in a burgeoning rivalry. A Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold that sold for $13,000 in 2020, Itsallabouttheride is 2-1-2 in five career starts with earnings of $55,569, including $27,500 for the Irish Day.
Executive Chef, ridden by Kevin Orozco at high weight of 123 lbs., rallied four deep into the lane and closed well to just miss the victory, returning $3 and $2.60 for place and show. A Virginia-bred by Cairo Prince, Executive Chef is 2-3-1 in six starts with earnings of $71,300.
A View From Above, with Leslie Mawing aboard at 121 lbs, held on gamely through the stretch, finishing a half-length behind Executive Chef, and paid $3.80.
Little Casino finished fourth, followed by Mr. Mischief, Midnight Mojo, Crystal Bandit, and Smoken Shadow.
David Jacobsen of the Irish Heritage Club served as honorary steward for the Irish Day Stakes.
The $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby at 1 1/16 miles is next for 3-year-olds on Sunday, Aug. 14.
Slack Tide
SLACK TIDE IMPRESSIVE IN KENT STAKES VICTORY
In the $50,000 Kent Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Slack Tide shook off Unsolved Mystery past mid-stretch and rolled to a 2 ¼-length victory in 1:15.50 for 6 ½ furlongs.
Ridden by Kevin Radke at 122 lbs, Slack Tide paid $3.80, $3, and $2.20 as the prohibitive betting favorite. Blaine Wright is the winning trainer for owner David Mowat (Ten Broeck Farm) of Woodinville, Wash.
The race was a virtual repeat of the Seattle Stakes four weeks ago, as Slack Tide withstood early pace pressure before drawing off late for the victory. Slack Tide from the inside and Unsolved Mystery raced head and head nearly the entire way, dueling through fractions of :22.11, :44.35, and 1:08.78, with Slack Tide finally kicking clear in the final furlong for the victory.
“Blaine told me to do whatever I want, and do it confidently, and we’d probably be in front,” Radke said.
A Kentucky-bred by Shaman Ghost, Slack Tide now has three stakes wins at Emerald Downs—Angie C Stakes in 2021, Seattle Stakes and Kent Stakes in 2022—and is 4-2-0 from seven starts overall with earnings of $112,850. Sunday’s win was worth $27,500.
Unsolved Mystery, ridden by Alex Cruz at 122 lbs, ran a solid race in defeat, holding second after the elongated duel with Slack Tide. Off at odds of 7 to 1, Unsolved Mystery paid $5.40 and $2.80.
Gold N Glitter, 3 to 1 second choice ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 120 lbs., finished with a late rally to grab third and paid $2.40. It was 8 ¾ lengths back to Roper N Wranglers in fourth place while Tiz a Macho Girl, Koron, and Zazen rounded out the order of finish.
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph served as honorary steward for the Kent Stakes.
The $75,000 Washington Oaks at 1 1/16 miles is next for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, Aug. 14.
NOTES: Sunday’s mutuel handle—$2,695,457—is a record for a nine-race card at Emerald Downs. . .Blaine Wright now ranks No. 3 all-time with 51 Emerald Downs’ stakes victories. . .Kevin Orozco, Frank Lucarelli, and Chad and Josh swept Sunday’s $24,000 maiden special weights for 2-year-olds, Ask Alice ($5) prevailing in the fillies race by 3 ½ lengths in :58.24 for five furlongs and Wirewyre ($9.20) scoring in the colts and geldings race by 1 ½ lengths in :58.06 for five furlongs. . .Orozco and Alex Cruz each rode three winners. . .Through 26 days of racing, Cruz owns a 50-41 lead on Kevin Radke in the riders’ standings. . .Lucarelli and Jorge Rosales led trainers with two wins apiece. . .Rosales leads Wright 18-16 in the trainers’ standings. . .The $0.20 Jackpot Pick 6 carryover is $17,746. . .Live racing resumes Friday with first post 7 p.m.
–##–
