
Daffodil Sweet
DAFFODIL SWEET ROMPS IN 2021 DEBUT
AUBURN, Wash. (May 20, 2021) – Daffodil Sweet returned to action in style Thursday evening at Emerald Downs, romping to a three-length victory in the $23,100 Elysian Brewing Purse for older fillies and mares.
A unanimous choice as the track’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2020, Daffodil Sweet had little trouble in her first try against older fillies and mares. Taking command into the turn, Daffodil Sweet opened a 2 ½-length lead past mid-stretch—running a half-mile in :44,54—and coasted home unthreatened.
Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, the winner ran six furlongs in 1:09.01 and paid $3.20 as the heavy betting favorite. Chris Stenslie is the winning trainer for owners One Horse Will Do Corporation (Jody Peetz) and Steve Shimizu.
A 4-year-old California-bred by Ministers Wild Cat, Daffodil Sweet is 4-1-0 in five starts with earnings of $63,295, including $12,705 for Thursday’s victory. Her lone defeat was a second in the mile and one-sixteenth Washington Oaks; her sprint record is four for four by an aggregate 25 ½ lengths.
Squan’s Kingdom, a newcomer to Emerald Downs, finished second while For You Only, the early leader, held third. Dontkissntell, Boundforjamaica and Fortune’s Freude rounded out the order of finish. Second choice at odds of 5 to 2, Dontkissntell broke poorly and failed to threaten in the stretch.
The $50,000 Hastings Stakes at six furlongs is the first stakes for older fillies and mares on Thursday, June 17.
NOTES: The amazing Mike Man’s Gold ($16.60) upped his all-time track record victory total to 24 with a head victory over Mirror Image in Thursday’s sixth race. The 11-year-old gelding broke his maiden July 7, 2012 and has at least one victory 10 straight seasons at Emerald Downs. The win aboard Mike Man’s Gold gave a come backing Kevin Radke his first Emerald Downs victory in nearly13 years. . .Mike Man’s Gold is 24 for 59 at Emerald Downs and 0 for 18 elsewhere. With the victory Mike Man’s Gold passed Firesweeper into 40th place in Washington-bred earnings with $364,355. . . Franklin Ceballos and Julien Couton rode two winners each Thursday. . .Couton tops the standings with six wins in the first two days. . .With a victory on Float On ($7.40) in race three, Alex Cruz extended his consecutive days winning streak to 27 extending over two seasons. . .Two-time defending training champion Frank Lucarelli scored his first win of the meet with Rocket Power ($4.80) in the Thursday opener—Emerald Downs’ win No. 1,068 for the track’s all-time leader. . .Blaine Wright, Emerald Downs’ training champion in 2016 and 2017, won with his first starter of the meet as Bodeeman ($8.40) scored a maiden victory in race five. . .Trainer O.A. Martinez won with his first ever Emerald Downs’ starter, saddling Big Tony to a $29 upset in the fourth race. A former jockey in the Southwest, Martinez began his training career in 2011 and has 111 career wins. . . Live racing resumes Wednesday, May 26, first post 6 p.m.
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