Emerald Downs Wrap-Thursday, October 15

PAPA’S GOLDEN BOY DELIVERS AT THE SPRINT DISTANCE

Auburn, Wash. (Oct. 15, 2020) – Papa’s Golden Boy returned sprinting in Thursday’s opener and didn’t disappoint. It was his third victory at the meeting.

The Washington-bred, who is owned by Gary, Deborah, Jeff and Peyton Lusk, is one of the fastest horses on the grounds as he’s always the early leader in his races.

In the $20,900 allowance race, the Vince Gibson-trained 4-year-old charged to the lead covering the first quarter in :21-3, the half mile in :43-3 to open up a 4-length lead with a quarter mile to home.

Last year’s leading rider Gary Wales had enough left in the tank to hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Hard to Deny. Papa’s Golden Boy paid $3.00 to win and finished the 6 furlongs in 1:09.16.

Papa’s Golden Boy, who is by Harbor the Gold and out of Brookie Girl, earned $11,495 for the win and now has career earnings of $47,115. Earlier in the meet, he finished a head back second in the $40,000 Mt. Rainier S.

Notes: Before the first race Emerald Downs honored jockey Juan Gutierrez for his record-breaking 1,420th local victory that came Wednesday night. Gutierrez won his first race in the U.S. here at Emerald Downs in 2000…Jockey Alex Cruz took the fourth race aboard the 9-year-old Regazze Cat pushing his consecutive streak of winners to 21…Javier Matias tripled, Eddie Martinez and Leslie Mawing doubled on the 10-race card…One lucky winner in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick 7, the ticked paid $9,669.54…Thursday’s handle was $1,613,700…Racing resumes next Wednesday and Thursday.