Gold Crusher and Eddie Martinez score in the Muckleshoot Derby

GOLD CRUSHER ALL THE WAY IN MUCKLESHOOT DERBY

AUBURN, Wash. (Sept. 3, 2020) – Gold Crusher used his speed to great advantage Thursday evening at Emerald Downs, opening a long early lead and holding off 6 to 5 favorite Unmachable for a 4¾-length victory in the $40,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds.

Ridden by Eddie Martinez at 123 lbs, Gold Crusher ran a mile and one-sixteenth in 1:41.63 and paid $14.40 as third choice in the wagering. The victory turned the tables on Unmachable, who edged Gold Crusher in the Seattle Slew Stakes last month.

Trained by Frank Lucarelli and owned by Chad Christensen and Josh McKee, Gold Crusher earned $22,000 for the victory and is 3-1-0 in seven career starts with overall earnings of $51,275. A 3-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold-Brookie Girl, Gold Crusher is the younger brother of Papa’s Golden Boy, expected to be a contender in the $100,000 Longacres Mile next week.

Lucarelli already has five stakes wins at the meet and ranks second all-time with 52 stakes wins at Emerald Downs, while Martinez leads jockeys with four stakes wins.

Lucarelli, Christensen and McKee have teamed for four stakes wins at the meet —two with Time for Gold and one each with Gold Crusher and Elliott Bay, the latter being the top local hope in the Longacres Mile.

Gunned to the lead by Martinez, Gold Crusher established a clear lead into the first turn, set fractions of :23.12, :46.55 and 1:10.15, kicked five lengths clear into the stretch and the outcome was never in doubt.

“Eddie (Martinez) made a good choice to go on with it tonight,” Lucarelli said. “I actually was excited to get (Gold Crusher) stretched out, and speed is doing pretty good here right now.”

Unmachable, with Javier Matias riding at 123 lbs, rallied from last in the nine-horse field to snatch second place. A Washington-bred by Macho Uno-Point of Reference, the runner-up earned $8,000 and is 2-2-2 in six career starts with earnings of $79,065. The gelding already has two stakes wins and three stakes placings in his brief career for trainer Jack McCartney and owner Tawnja Elison.

Muncey, ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, held third and was followed by 2 to 1 second choice Fantastic Day, Vinny From Dixie, Harbors Rule, Lolo Paniolo, Criterion and Tig.

Princess of Cairo and Gary Wales prevail in the Washington Oaks

PRINCESS OF CAIRO SCORES UPSET IN WASHINGTON OAKS

In the $40,000 Washington Oaks, Princess of Cairo wore down previously unbeaten Daffodil Sweet and edged clear for a 2¾-length victory in the meet’s top race for 3-year-old fillies.

A Canadian shipper coming off a third in a route stakes in Vancouver, B.C., Princess of Cairo ran a mile and a sixteenth in 1:41.12—nearly three ticks faster than colts in the Muckleshoot Derby—and paid $11.40 as second choice in the wagering. Gary Wales rode the winner at 121 lbs for trainer Glen Todd and owners Mark Dedomenico and North American Thoroughbred Horse Company.

A Kentucky-bred by Cairo Prince-Lovely Cool, Princess of Cairo earned $22,000 to boost her bankroll to $32,250. Her overall mark is 2-0-2 from four starts, including a troubled third in the Hong Kong Jockey Club last month at Hastings Racecourse.

Daffodil Sweet, the 1 to 5 favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez, held second by 12¼ lengths and is now 3-1-0 in four career starts with earnings of $50,590. Daffodil Sweet was dominant in her previous three starts, including a six-length victory in the Coca-Cola Stakes four weeks ago.

Breaking from the No. 2 post, Daffodil Sweet set fractions of :23.04, :46.43 and 1:10.63, owned a 1½-length lead into the stretch, but yielded to Princess of Cairo past mid-stretch.

Autumn Arrives finished third and was followed by Windy Point, She Owns the Paynt and For You Only. Discreet Demons and Alotmoreaction were scratched earlier in the day.

NOTES: Mutuel handle on the 11-race program was a season-high $2,425,732. . .Canadian shippers Five Star General—four furlongs in:46—and He’s the Reason—four furlongs in :46 1/5—both worked in preparation for the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Thursday, September 10. Mt. Rainier Stakes winner Elliott Bay also tuned up for the Mile, sizzling five furlongs in a bullet :57 3/5. . .11-year-old Doctor Bruce S. ($5.80) became a triple winner at the meet with a come-from behind victory in Thursday’s third race. Dream Catcher, runner-up to Doctor Bruce S, also is 11-years-old. . .Speaking of veteran horses, Mike Man’s Gold—No. 1 all-time with 22 Emerald Downs’ wins—finished 4th in his season debut as So Lucky ($6) led gate to wire in 1:02.16 for 5 ½ furlongs. The winning time was just off the 5 ½ furlong season best of 1:02.11 set by Windribbon. . .Lansky ($7.60) rolled to an easy victory in the $19,000 allowance sub-feature for 3-year-olds and up, running 6½ furlongs in 1:15.45. . .Rick and Debbie Pabst bred three winners Thursday—Lansky, Fortune’s Freud ($9) and Spot On ($6.60). . .Gary Wales rode three winners while Eddie Martinez, Alex Cruz and Javier Matias rode two winners each. . .Frank Lucarelli led the trainers with three wins and opened a 28-18 lead on Jorge Rosales in the trainer standings. . .Live racing resumes Wednesday, September 9, with first post 2:15 p.m.
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