Fuzzy Dolphin and Kevin Orozco

FUZZY DOLPHIN ALL THE WAY IN WA CUP JUVENILE

AUBURN, Wash. (September 2, 2018) – Fuzzy Dolphin sprinted clear early and held off Time ’n Time Again for a one-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings Stakes presented by Muckleshoot Casino.

The winner, adding blinkers, sprinted 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.66 and paid $12.60, $7 and $4.40. Kevin Orozco was aboard Fuzzy Dolphin at 120 lbs for trainer Frank Lucarelli and owners Jacob and Karla Pollowitz of Shoreline, Wash.

Breaking sharply from the No. 2 post-position, Fuzzy Dolphin set fractions of :22.07, :44.57 and 1:10.55, owned a clear lead past mid-stretch, and had enough gas to hold off Time ’n Time Again for the victory.

Fuzzy Dolphin earned $23,650 to boost his bankroll to $38,225. His overall record is 2-1-0 in five starts, and Sunday’s triumph made amends for a seventh as the favorite in last month’s WTBOA Lads Stakes.

“He broke pretty sharp today, he was on his game from the get-go,” Orozco said of Fuzzy Dolphin. “He was relaxed on the backstretch, and he held on well.”

A Washington-bred gelding by Harbor the Gold-Silver City Lillly, Fuzzy Dolphin is a full brother to Carrabelle Harbor, a three-time Emerald Downs’ stakes winner.

Bar C Racing Stables is the winning breeder.

Time ’n Time Again, with Julien Couton riding at 118 lbs, finished strongly for second and paid $8.80 and $5.80. Time ’n Time Again, a maiden, has finished second to Fuzzy Dolphin in two of three career starts.

Ally On Fire, ridden by David G. Lopez at 119 lbs., was 2 ½ lengths back in third and paid $9 to show, while Reno Roy, Bootlegger Trail, El Borracho, Emily’s Gold, Devil Dog, Verynsky, Docktarri, Sleet Afleet and This Great Nation completed the order of finish.

The $50,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles is next for 2-year-olds on closing day, Sunday, September 23.

Money Inthe Starrs and Javier Matias

MONEY INTHE STARRS PREVAILS IN JUVENILE FILLY

Money Inthe Starrs wore down So Figure It Out and edged clear for a 1 ¾-length victory in Sunday’s other stakes event, the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Filly presented by Pegasus Training & Equine Rehabilitation Center.

Ridden by Javier Matias at 119 lbs, Money Inthe Starrs ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.88 and paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.20. Mike Puhich is the trainer for Dr. Mark Dedomenico of Redmond, Wash—coincidentally the owner and president of Pegasus Training & Equine Rehabilitation Center.

The winner stalked So Figure It Out through the turn, challenged outside into the lane, and gradually put away a stubborn So Figure It Out for the victory.

Purchased for $6,200 at the 2017 WTBOA Summer Yearling & Mixed Sale, Money Inthe Starrs earned $25,850 to boost her life mark to $39,440.

By Abraaj-Our Monstarr, Money Inthe Starrs is 2-0-1 in four starts. Connie Belshay of Graham, Wash. bred the winner.

So Figure It Out set fractions of :22.48 and :45.30, carried a short lead into the lane and finished gamely after being overtaken by Money In the Starrs. Ridden by Kevin Orozco at 119 lbs, So Figure It Out paid $5 and $3.40.

Lorelie G, with Julien Couton up at 119 lbs, held third and paid $4.20 to show, while Sadie Sue, Bluegrass Lily, Alittlelesstalk, Bellamagic and Belle of Gold rounded out the order of finish.

Happy Birthday, Karla!

NOTES: Fuzzy Dolphin co-owner Karla Pollowitz celebrated her 30th birthday Sunday. . .Orozco, Rocco Bowen and Julien Couton rode two winners each Sunday. . . Bowen, headed for a third straight riding title with 95 wins, is now tied with Frank Gonsalves for No. 5 in all-time Emerald Downs’ wins with 561. . .Blazinbeauty ($4.40) and Little Dancer ($2.80) dead-heated for win in Sunday’s $20,500 George Colello Sr. Memorial Purse for older fillies and mares, the 4-year-old fillies both covering one mile in 1:35.98. Blazinbeauty and Little Dancer are both stakes winners at Emerald Downs, Blazinbeauty taking the 2016 Gottstein Futurity and Barbara Shinpoch Stakes and Little Dancer the 2017 Washington Oaks. . .He’s Not Grey ($3.40) blitzed six furlongs in 1:08.68 under Julien Couton for his third win for trainer Candi Tollett and owner John Parker. A 3-year-old Slew’s Tiznow gelding, He’s Not Grey debuted last year with a victory in the $50,000 Emerald Express. . .Couton, Tollett and Parker also clicked again with Front Row Friends ($3) in the nightcap, and Parker is now tied with Saratoga West for leading owner at 15 wins apiece. . .Frank Lucarelli also had two wins Sunday, Blazinbeauty and Fuzzy Dolphin, and upped his all-time Emerald Downs leading total to 939 wins. Luke also ranks No. 4 in stakes wins with 45. . .Mr. Takahashi finished second in Sunday’s ninth race, extending the 6-year-old Bertrando gelding’s streak of finishing first or second to 18 consecutive races. . .Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:30 p.m. Monday simulcast action features closing days cards at Saratoga and Del Mar.

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