Roll Dem Bones with jockey Juan Gutierrez

ROLL DEM BONES WINS HOLLYWOOD HARBOR FINALE

AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 24, 2024) – Roll Dem Bones blazed to a front-running six-length victory over Mr. Fireball in Saturday’s final leg of the $30,000 Hollywood Harbor Sprint Series at rainy and sloppy Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, Roll Dem Bones ran six furlongs in 1:08.16—second fastest of the meet—and paid $21.12 as the fifth betting choice in a field of eight older horses. Joe Toye is the trainer for winning owner Bill Jensen, who received the special Hollywood Harbor Sprint Series championship trophy from race sponsor Jody Peetz in the winner’s circle.

Breaking from the No. 3 post-position, Roll Dem Bones dueled inside of Summanus and Party Foul through an opening quarter in :21.28, kicked clear around the turn after a half in a scorching :43.42, straightened into the lane four lengths clear after five furlongs in :55.46, and drew off with authority for the victory.

A 5-year-old West Virginia-bred, Roll Dem Bones earned $17,100—over double the normal amount for a $10,000 claiming race—to up his career total $181,398. His ledger is 7-13-5 from 47 starts including a 2-2-1 record on wet tracks.

To compete Saturday, a horse must have started in the first two legs of the series, July 20 and Aug. 3, from which Roll Dem Bones had finished eighth in a race won by Mr. Fireball and fourth in the second leg won by Party Foul.

Mr. Fireball, ridden by Javier Matias, rallied wide on the turn and was up for second place, earning $5,850 for owner/trainer Doug Carlson. Quiet Charm, second longest shot on the board at 24 to 1, finished third, while Summanus, the longest shot at 28 to 1, was up for fourth. Rounding out the full order of finish were 9 to 5 favorite Uncle Leon, Mirror Image, Taino House, and 2 to 1 second choice Party Foul.

In addition to enhanced purses, the Hollywood Harbor Sprint Series donated $1,000 to the Prodigious Fund for Thoroughbred aftercare and a $250 bonus to owner John Coonan for a win by Washington-bred Mr. Fireball in the opening leg on July 20.

NOTES: Joe Toye and Justin Evans had two wins apiece, the second straight multiple win day for each. . .With 51 wins, defending training champion Evans has surpassed his 2023 total of 49 wins. . .Blaine Wright enters Sunday needing one win to become the fifth trainer to win 500 races at Emerald Downs. Wright has four horses entered Sunday including Vivacious Tribute, the 5 to 2 morning line favorite in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings. . .Saturday’s $0.50 Pick Six paid $6,704.11, with Roll Dem Bones ($21.12) and Soldatna ($16.16) the toughest horses in the sequence. . .Luis Reyes rode three winners and moved up to fourth place in the riders’ standings with 35 wins. . .Racing continues Sunday featuring the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings, $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies, and a $27,000 allowance for older sprinters. First post 1:30 p.m.

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