Muncey and jockey Javier Matias
MUNCEY PREVAILS IN SUNDAY EMERALD FEATURE RACE
AUBURN, Wash. (June 30, 2024) – Rallying from last, Muncey collared Executive Chef in the final strides for a half-length victory in Sunday’s $25,500 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-oldsa and up at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Javier Matias, Muncey covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.52 and paid $22.70, $9.10 and $4.42. Howard Belvoir is the winning trainer for Rising Star Stable VII of Auburn, Wash.
A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred by Munnings, Muncey has enjoyed some big days at Emerald Downs, winning the WTBOA Lads Stakes as a 2-year-old in 2019 and scoring at 25 to 1 in a $25,000 claimer on closing day of the 2023 season. He had been 0 for 3 in 2024 but was cutting back to one turn after finishing third to razor-sharp Arma d’Oro at a mile two weeks ago.
Although he missed the break Sunday, Muncey was able to save ground while gaining momentum on the turn, angled out into the lane, and closed strongly for the victory. His overall mark is 4-6-12 form 38 starts with $142,937 in earnings, including $14,535 for Sunday’s score.
Executive Chef, the 2 to 1 betting favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez, took the lead into the stretch and held gamely to the wire, returning $3.74 and $3.22 for place and show. A 5-year-old Cairo Prince gelding, Executive Chef has been rock-solid at Emerald Downs, compiling a 4-3-0 record from 10 starts in Auburn.
Smiling Goodbye, ridden by Karlo Lopez, finished two lengths farther back in third while Lloyds Logic, El Alto Hombre, Our Boy Roy, Langston Rode, Golden Ale and Peter Flies completed the order of finish. Godsend, 5 to 2 morning line favorite, was scratched earlier in the day.
NOTES: Sunday’s mutuel handle totaled $945,080 on an eight-race program. . . Matias, Belvoir, and Rising Star Stable won the 2018 Longacres Mile with Barkley, also sired by Munnings. . .With 655 wins, Matias ranks sixth all-time at Emerald Downs while Belvoir ranks third in trainer wins with 824. . .Cajun Treasure ($8.20) sprinted gate-to-wire in race six, the 22nd victory of the meet for trainer Justin Evans. Through 22 days, Evans owns a seven-win lead on Blaine Wright atop the standings. . .Isaias Enriquez and Frank Lucarelli swept races two and three with Escapefromparadise ($20.26) and My Quiet Place ($4.34)—the latter sired by 2008 Emerald Downs champion 2-year-old Gallant Son out of 2013 Claimer of the Meet Kind of Naughty. . .Karlo Lopez also rode two winners. . .Live racing resumes Wednesday with a special eight-race card and the 2024 Fireworks Spectacular.
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