Mr. Mad Max turned in one of the most explosive finishes of the early Emerald Downs season Friday evening.
The 4-year-old Tribunal gelding rallied from last in the upper stretch to nail betting favorite Chaching Pete in the final stride for a nose victory in the $9,300 Facebook Friday Purse.
With a perfectly timed ride from jockey Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, Mr. Mad Max ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 10.17 seconds and paid $8.20, $4.20 and $2.80. Dan Markle is the trainer for owners Sue and Tim Spooner of Olympia.
Interviewed in the winner’s circle, Hoonan-Trujillo said the finish was so close that she wasn’t sure if Mr. Mad Max had won.
“I didn’t know until I came back and saw (the result of the photo) on the tote board,” she said.
Chaching Pete, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, swept past Harbor Gold on the turn, was 1 ½-lengths clear past mid-stretch and just failed to last. The runner-up paid $3.40 and $2.60.
It was 2 ¾-lengths back to Snow On the River, Pedro Terrero riding, and a $6 show payoff. Passion Lives Here finished fourth, followed by Prince Giddyup, Gold Harbor, Ringo’s Gold and Cyber Bell.
A 4-year-old Washington-bred, Mr. Mad Max has a 2-4-1 record in 17 starts with earnings of $33,533. He had finished second in two of his last three starts this spring at Golden Gate Fields.
Hoonan-Trujillo was the third different woman rider to ride a winner on the eight-race card. Veteran Connie Doll won the opener, a mixed breed race at 870 yards on the Thoroughbred Destinys Roar. And in the sixth race, jockey Shawna Whiteside scored her first career Emerald Downs’ victory aboard 13-1 long shot Cranberry Gold.
NOTES: Vic Cozzetti of Vic-Tory Stables said Joe Steiner will ship in from California to ride He’s All Heart in the $50,000 Governor’s Handicap on Sunday, May 22…Champali Lace ($5) improved to three-for-three at Emerald Downs and has won four straight races overall after a victory in the third race under Pedro Terrero. Junior Coffey is the trainer…Terrero was the only jockey to ride two winners…Leading trainer Howard Belvoir celebrated his 67th birthday with a victory by Triple Tee ($6) in the fifth race…Longacres Mile-winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was announced as part of the induction class for 2011 for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame…Live racing continues Saturday with first post at 2:15 p.m.
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