Papa Mambo and jockey Rocco Bowen

PAPA MAMBO MAKES CASE FOR 2018 TOP CLAIMER

AUBURN, Wash. (September 16, 2018) – Papa Mambo continued his winning ways Sunday with a romping 6 ¼-length victory Sunday in the $11,200 Bud Light Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

With Rocco Bowen riding his fourth winner on the card, Papa Mambo splashed six furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:09.31 and paid $6.60, $4 and $3. Joe Toye is the winning trainer and co-owner with Rick Kessler of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

With the victory, Papa Mambo became the meet’s first five-time winner and a top contender for Top Claimer when season honors are announced next week. Breaking from the No. 1 post-position, Papa Mambo led through fractions of :21.81, :44.33, shook off Curious Rumor into the lane, and drew off to win with complete authority.

A 6-year-old California-bred by Papa Clem, Papa Mambo is 5-0-0 in six starts this season with earnings of $31,000. Bowen has been up for all five wins, but they have come for three different trainers—Manny Ortiz, Candi Tollett and Toye.

Sugarseeker, ridden by Austin Solis, finished well for second place and paid $7.60 and $5.40, while Bell of Rainier, ridden by Javier Matias, caught She Got Away for third and paid $8.40.

Curious Rumor, the 6 to 5 favorite, also bidding for her fifth win of the meet, weakened in the stretch and finished sixth. A 3-year-old Jimmy Creed filly, Curious Rumor is 4-0-0 in six starts this season.

Eswan Flores

NOTES: For Bowen, it was his second straight four-win day and upped his season total to 105 wins. Bowen, who has already clinched a third straight riding title, had 126 wins in 2017 and 110 in 2016. . .Bowen and Toye also clicked with Jake’s a Poppin ($9.60) the seventh race and are a combined 35 for 84 (41.6 percent) the last two seasons at Emerald Downs. . .Eswan Flores also rode four winners Sunday, as only three jockeys had wins on the nine-race card—Bowen (4), Flores (4) and Austin Solis (1). . .Trainer Alan Bozell posted his first two-win day of the season, scoring with All Powered Up ($2.80) and Taptoo ($6.60). . .The 2018 trainers’ race is headed to the wire, with Jeff Metz leading Blaine Wright 43-40. . .Curious Rumor was claimed for $15,000 Sunday by North American Thoroughbred Racing Co. and trainer Sandi Gann. . .Trainer Tom Wenzel celebrates his 53rd birthday Monday. . .The final week of live racing begins Friday with first post 6:30 p.m.

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