Emerald Downs Wrap-Sunday, July 18

Cobra Jet and Juan Gutierrez roll by 13 1/2 lengths in the King County Express

COBRA JET ROMPS IN KING COUNTY EXPRESS

AUBURN, Wash. (July 18, 2021) – Heavily favored Cobra Jet remained unbeaten Sunday with a dominating 13 ½-length victory in the $50,000 King County Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Emerald Downs.

With Juan Gutierrez aboard at 121 lbs., Cobra Jet ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.13 and paid $2.20 as the overwhelming choice in the field of five. Frank Lucarelli is the winning trainer and co-owner with REV Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Gutierrez wore the black and light blue silks of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in Sunday’s race. Headed by Aron Wellman of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Eclipse bought a share of the dark bay gelding following his 6 ¾-length maiden score on June 30.

Breaking from the No. 4 post-position, Cobra Jet dueled with Firewalker through fractions of :21.59 and :45.47, gained command into the stretch and drew off to win with complete authority.

Purchased for $5,500 as a yearling, Cobra Jet earned $27,522 to boost his bankroll to $38,715 from two starts. The winner is a Washington-bred gelding by Curlin to Mischief.

Chumly, the 4 to 1 second choice ridden by Kyle Frey at 119 lbs, overhauled Firewalker in the stretch to finish second, while Firewalker, ridded by Jennifer Whitaker, held third. Bat Man’s Bull and Firing Pin rounded out the order of finish.

For Gutierrez, it was his second stakes win of the season and 70th career stakes victory at Emerald Downs. Gallyn Mitchell with 80 stakes wins and Ricky Frazier with 72 rank first and second all-time.

Lucarelli has 54 career stakes wins at Emerald Downs, second only to Doris Harwood (67) on the all-time list.

King County Councilman Pete Von Reichbauer made the trophy presentation to Roy Schaefer (REV Racing) in the winner’s circle.

Slack Tide and jockey Eddie Martinez

SLACK TIDE PREVAILS IN ANGIE C STAKES

In the $50,000 Angie C Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Slack Tide pulled clear in the stretch for a three-length victory over Akasi in 1:04.94 for 5 ½ furlongs.

With Eddie Martinez riding at 121 lbs, Slack Tide paid $17.20 as the second longest price in the field of six. Blaine Wright saddled the winner for owner David Mowat (Ten Broeck Farm) of Woodinville, Wash.

Prominent gate to wire, Slack Tide relinquished command briefly to stable mate Smiling Salsa into the lane, but regained command past mid-stretch and proved clearly best.

A Kentucky-bred by Shaman Ghost-Impeached, Slack Tide sold for $25,000 at the 2020 Washington Summer Yearling Sale and gave Terry and Mary Lou Griffin a Sunday sweep of stakes at Emerald Downs.

Runner-up to Cadillac Margarita in her debut on June 30, Slack Tide is 1-1-0 from two starts with earnings of $26,276.

Akasi, ridden by Alex Cruz at 118 lbs, dropped back on the turn but kicked in strongly late to place second. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Run Away and Hide-Karula was attempting to duplicate her mother’s feat of winning the Angie C Stakes in her career debut.

Smiling Salsa, also trained by Wright, made a wide move to gain command on the turn but weakened slightly late and finished third.

Cadillac Margarita, even money favorite after a 3 ¾-length maiden victory, finished an even fourth while Tyche Awaits you and Golden Gate shipper Pontiffany rounded out the order of finish.

Wright has two stakes wins this season and 44 lifetime at Emerald Downs, sixth on the all-time list.

Ropers N Wranglers was a late scratch.

Total mutuel handle was $1,626,460 on the nine-race program.

Alex Cruz

NOTES: After 46 straight days of riding at least one winner, jockey Alex Cruz was blanked Sunday, finishing the day with four seconds and three thirds from eight mounts. Cruz, the meet’s leading rider with 39 wins, began his streak August 6, 2020. . .Meanwhile, Juan Gutierrez and Julien Couton rode three winners each Sunday and rank second and third with 37 and 34 wins. . .Frank Lucarelli remained red hot with two more wins—his third double in four days—and tied Vince Gibson for seond place in the trainers’ standings with 12 wins apiece. . .Next for 2- year-old colts and geldings is the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, Aug 22. . .2 year-old fillies return for the $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, August 22. . .Kyle Frey notched his first career Emerald Downs victory on Sassy Edie ($10.20) in the sixth race. Frey, grandson of Washington Racing Hall of Fame jockey Paul Frey, was leading rider at the 2020-2021 Golden Gate winter/spring meeting. . .Live racing resumes Thursday with first post 6:30 p.m.
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