Tig and jockey Juan Gutierrez
TIG ALL THE WAY IN SUNDAY FEATURE RACE
AUBURN, Wash. (Sept. 11, 2022) – Tig sprinted clear early and romped to a 1 ¾-length victory over Napoletano in the $19,500 Elysian Brewing Purse for 3-year-olds and up on First Responders Day at Emerald Downs.
With Juan Gutierrez aboard for his third win Sunday, Tig ran six furlongs in 1:09.82 and paid $6.80, $3.80, and $3. Rosie Simkins is the winning trainer for owners/breeders Candice Lumley and Mike Baldoz of Algona, Wash.
Sent to the lead at once, Tig set fractions of :22.23, :44.83, and :56.87, and had plenty in the tank to withstand a late bid by Napoletano for the victory.
A 5-year-old Washington-bred son of Lutes Gift, Tig won for the first time in five starts this year and improved to 2-3-0 in nine starts overall with earnings of $35,345, including $10,725 for Sunday’s triumph.
Napoletano, the 7 to 5 favorite ridden by Jake Samuels, unleashed a late rally to finish second, returning $2.80 and $2.20.e Ears to Us, ridden by Kevin Radke, broke a tad slow, rushed into contention and tired late to finish third, returning $3.20.
Danny Zuko, Executive Action, and Crystal Bandit rounded out the order of finish. Book Smart was scratched earlier in the day.
Mike Man’s Gold retirement ceremony
NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $1,267,733 on a 10-race card. . .Sunday’s sixth race was the Mike Man’s Gold Retirement Purse honoring the track’s all-time leader with 26 wins. Bred by Keith and Jan Swagerty, Mike Man’s Gold was 26-6-6 in 67 starts at Emerald Downs with earnings of $354,026, including wins in a track record 10 consecutive seasons. A Washington-bred by Liberty Gold-Chedoodle, Mike Man’s Gold won at seven different distances and ranks No. 7 in all-time track earnings. Coincidentally, sixth race winner Zatter ($4.20) is owned by Greg Conley’s Paddock Partners and trained by Joe Toye, who campaigned Mike Man’s Gold for many of the gelding’s victories at Emerald Downs. Mike Man’s Gold will spend retirement at the Swagertys farm in Auburn. . .Prospera ($2.80) extended her winning streak to four, including three in a row since being claimed by owner John Parker and trainer Candi Cryderman, with an easy gate to wire victory in the Sunday opener. . .Juan Gutierrez rode three winners Sunday and Jose Zunino had two wins. . .With two days remaining in the 2022 season, Alex Cruz leads Kevin Radke 88-72 in the jockeys’ standings. . .On the trainers’ side, Jorge Rosales owns a 36-29 lead over Blaine Wright. . .Live racing resumes Saturday with first post 2:15 p.m., including a $9,078.56 carryover in the $0.50 Pick 5.
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