Bridleuptothbar
BRIDLEUPTOEBAR PREVAILS IN $50,000 BUDWEISER STAKES
AUBURN, Wash. (June 25, 2023) – Bridleuptothebar used his dazzling speed for a one-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
In winning the first stop on the road to Longacres Mile, Bridleuptothebar sizzled six furlongs in a stakes record 1:07.57—besting a 1:07.71 clocking by Papa’s Golden Boy last year—and paid $9.40 as second choice in a full field of 12 older horses. Niccolo Troiani, saddling his first Emerald Downs stakes winner, is the trainer for owner/breeder Holly Rydman of Olympia, Wash.
Ridden by Isaias Enriquez at 122 lbs., Bridleuptothebar controlled the pace while setting fractions of :21.40 and :43.61 for the quarter and half-mile, repelled a strong bid from Canadian invader Aquitania Arrival in the stretch, and proved best to the wire.
A 4-year-old gray by Fullbridled bred in California, Bridleuptothebar improved to 5-1-0 in nine career starts with earnings of $91,189—including $27,500 for the Budweiser triumph. Bridleuptothebar had encountered traffic problems in his Emerald Downs four weeks ago, finishing second to Smiling Goodbye in a fast 1:02.45 for 5 ½ furlongs.
In his 2023 debut, Slew’s Tiz Whiz rallied from the clouds to snatch second by a nose over Aquitania Arrival. The 2022 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting and Washington Horse of the Year earned $10,000 and is now 6-3-2 in 16 career starts with earnings of $195,357. Ridden by Jose Zunino at 120 lbs., the defending Longacres Mile champion was a slight favorite in the wagering at odds of 7 to 2.
Aquitania Arrival, a 21 to 1 long shot ridden by Amadeo Perez, ran a smasher in his Emerald Downs debut to finish third. An allowance winner last month at Hastings Racecourse, Aquitania Arrival reached even terms with the winner past mid-stretch and just missed holding off Slew’s Tiz Whiz for second place.
Zestful, the leading earner in the field with $697,780, rallied belatedly to finish fourth and was followed by Coastal Kid, Itsallabouttheride, Smiing Goodbye, Miussed the Boat, A Man’s Man, Prayer of Jabez, You’re the Cause, and Coastal Jazz.
The $50,000 Governor’s Stakes is next for 3-year-olds and up on Sunday, July 23, followed by the $150,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday, August 13.
Blazingbellablu (left) edges Slack Tide
BLAZINGBELLABLU ASSERTS CLASS IN HASTINGS
In the $50,000 Hastings Stakes for older fillies and mares, Blazingbellablu held off Slack Tide for a half-length victory in a stakes record-tying 1:08.27 for six furlongs.
Ridden by Alex Cruz at 119 lbs. and trained by Charles Essex, Blazingbellablu earned $27,500 for co-owners Essex and Petra Lewin, boosting her career total to $238,211. Washington’s Horse of the Year in 2021, Blazingbellablu now has three Emerald Downs stakes wins and is 5-2-0 in nine career starts here.
Third choice in the wagering, Blazingbellablu paid $8.80 to win.
In last place early, Blazingbellablu circled three wide into the lane and hooked into Slack Tide, with the two classy distaffers battling head and head to the wire with Blazingbellablu proving slightly best.
A 5-year-old Washington-bred by Grazen, Blazingbellablu has an overall record of 7-5-2 from 18 starts including two stakes wins at Turf Paradise. Sunday’s race was her first of 2023 and improved her record to 4-1-1 in six career starts at six furlongs.
Slack Tide, with Luis Negron aboard at 119 lbs., gained command after a half-mile in :44.17, and battled bravely when challenged by Blazingbellablu into the stretch.
Slack Tide, also a triple stakes winner at Emerald Downs, has a 3-3-0 record in seven starts at Emerald Downs for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Ten Broeck Farm.
It was 4 ½ length back to Cause She’s a Lady in third place while Zazen, Silvery Orb, You Go Girl, and Daffodil Sweet rounded out the order of finish. Lets Declare Peace was scratched earlier in the day.
Older fillies and mares reconvene in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, July 23.
NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $1,683,054 on a nine-race card. . .Trainer Blaine Wright saddled career winners 997 and 998 with Langston Road ($9.20) in race two and Beau Mischief ($14.80) in race four. . .Isaias Enriquez was the lone jockey with two wins including his ninth career stakes victory at Emerald Downs. . .Oregon-bred Whiskey Harbor, the first ever starter by the sire Rise Up, prevailed in Sunday’s opener for $25,000 maiden claiming 2-year-olds. Ridden by Carlos Montalvo, trained by Ryland Harwood, and owned by Lee and Connie Erickson, the winner ran 4 ½ furlongs in :51.88 and paid $10. . .Beau Mischief prevailed in the $25,000 Rainy Rose Society Purse for 3-year-olds, running six furlongs in 1:09.11. . .Hastings Racecourse racing secretary Scott Henson served as honorary steward for the Hastings Stakes and John West of Olynpic Eagle was honorary steward for the Budweiser Stakes. . .Al McEachern sung the national anthem prior to Sunday’s races. . .The stewards suspended jockey Rigo Sarmiento two days (July 7 & 8) for careless riding in Friday’s seventh race. . .Live racing resumes Saturday with first post 5 p.m.
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