Chu and I took the early lead and poured it on late for a 5-¼ -length victory Monday in the $25,000 Northwest Stallion Series Strong Ruler Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Emerald Downs.
A race later, Youtheprizeandi completed a sweep for the sire You and I with a neck triumph over first-time starter Royal Moses in the Northwest Stallion Series Knights Choice Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
The stakes double-header was the first stakes events of the meeting for 2-year-olds and the centerpiece of a 10-race Independence Day program on a sun-kissed afternoon.
The prohibitive 1-to-5 betting choice, Chu and I ran 5-½ furlongs in 1:03.54 on a fast track and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. The gelding increased his lead at every point of call, setting fractions of :22.35, :45.55 and :57.29, and was taken in hand late.
Juan Gutierrez rode Chu and I at 120 lbs for trainer Jim Penney and owner/breeder Michael and Amy Feuerborn of Maple Valley, Wash. Undefeated in two starts, the Washington-bred gelding by You and I-Bronze Charmer earned $12,993 for the victory.
Wild Wings, Joe Crispin riding at 120, finished second and paid $3.20 and $2.40. It was 1-½ lengths back to Orlando Xpress, who overcame a mid-race stumble to finish third and paid $2.80. First-time starter Matallie was fourth and Mel and Al finished fifth.
Youtheprizeandi also was a heavy favorite based off her sharp debut victory last month, and the dark bay or brown filly was up to the task. With Joe Crispin aboard at 120 lbs, she ran 5-½ furlongs in 1:03.65 and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Unbeaten in two starts, Youtheprizeandi earned $13,860 for owners Jethorse LLC, a five-horse syndicate that includes winning trainer Tim McCanna.
Confidently handled by Crispin, the daughter of You and I-Misty Knight took command nearing the three-sixteenths marker and held off Sweet Saga through the stretch and a late rally from Royal Moses.
Royal Moses, a 21-1 long shot ridden by Jose Zunino at 118 lbs, overcame a slow start and flew home to just miss the victory. The runner-up paid $10.80 and $4.80.
Sweet Saga, another first-time starter, was 1-¾ lengths back in third place and paid $2.40. Zenett, Gotaminute and Wild Chica completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Hollywood Harbor ($5.60) ran the fastest 6-½ furlongs of the meeting—1:13.80—while winning the $17,600 sub-feature for 3-year-olds and up by 5-¾ lengths under Zunino. The 4-year-old Washington-bred has won two straight and is 5-2-0 in eight career starts with earnings of $94,961 for owner Jody Peetz and trainer/co-owner Chris Stenslie.
In another sub-feature, 2010 Federal Way Handicap winner Feeling Fancy ($8.60) out-finished multiple stakes winner Sis’s Sis in the $18,900 allowance/optional claiming race for fillies and mares. Feeling Fancy, five-for-eight at Emerald Downs, ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:15.22 for jockey Leslie Mawing, trainer Frank Lucarelli and owners Chris Randall and Nick Rossi. Lucarelli, Randall and Rossi were at Hollywood Park Sunday as Gallant Son posted a mild upset in the Robert K. Kerlan Handicap on turf.
Crispin, Gutierrez and Zunino rode two winners apiece, and Crispin and Leslie Mawing finished the week tied for first at 52 wins apiece…Brent Povis of Redmond called a flawless fifth race as Allison Ridge ($10.80) led all the way under Juan Gutierrez to win in 1:37.12 for one mile. Povis practiced with Emerald Downs’ announcer Robert Geller for two months before being turned loose Monday.
Washington-bred Slew the Man ($10) stamped himself a possible Longacres Mile candidate with a front-running victory Monday over Bold Chieftain in the $50,000 Alamedan Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif. The 4-year-old Slewdledo gelding, winner of the 2010 Chinook Pass Stakes at Emerald Downs, ran one mile and one-sixteenth in 1:42.15 to cap a phenomenal weekend for owners Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz. Saturday, their 4-year-old WTBOA sales graduate Smiling Tiger captured the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap (GI) at Hollywood Park.
Live racing resumes Friday with first post time at 6:15 p.m.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
