Muncey and hot-riding Javier Matias wore down Harbors Rule in the final jumps for a neck victory Sunday in the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Emerald Downs.
The hard-earned victory capped a stakes sweep for Matias, who also rode Cakewalk to a gate-to-wire triumph in the $58,500 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
In an oddity, both Muncey and Cakewalk broke their maidens in stakes Sunday, although Muncey had the more arduous task.
Angled off the rail at the three-eighths pole, the bay colt had to overhaul Wilson to Lockett, Turntheclocktozero and Harbors Rule in the final furlong for the victory. Rallying in the middle of the track, Muncey ran six furlongs in 1:11.78 and paid $8.80, $5.80 and $4.40. Howard Belvoir is the trainer for Rising Star VII, a syndicate led by Vicki Potter of Auburn.
Harbors Rule, a 31 to 1 long shot, dug in gamely inside and just failed to last for the victory. Ridden by Scott Stevens, the full brother to 2015 Lads Stakes winner Mach One Rules paid $20.80 and $11.40.
Wilson to Lockett, ridden by Ryan Barber, finished third and paid $11.20 to show, while Turntheclocktozero, Haveulostyourmind, Forty Smooches, Wicked Winnings, Dropyourbuffs, Reddy to Star and Brett completed the order of finish.
Muncey showed promise in his only previous start, rallying belatedly to finish fourth beaten just 2¾ lengths in a maiden special weight last month. Handicappers took note of the effort, and Muncey was bet down to favoritism in Sunday’s 10-horse field.
A Kentucky-bred by Munnings, Muncey earned $22,275 for the victory. Although bred in the Bluegrass, Muncey sold for $30,000 at the 2018 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale.
For Belvoir and Rising Star, it’s their third win in the last four Lads Stakes, following victories by Elliott Bay in 2017 and So Lucky in 2016.
Cakewalk all the way in Barbara Shinpoch
In the $58,500 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Cakewalk put it all together and cruised to a 3½-length victory in 1:11.58 for six furlongs.
Ridden by Matias, Cakewalk paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.80 as the betting favorite. Blaine Wright trains the winner for owner David Mowat (Ten Broeck Farm) of Woodinville.
Cakewalk’s brief career had mainly been tough luck before Sunday. She stumbled and lost the rider in her debut at Pleasanton, Calif., in June, and was beaten a nose in a maiden special weight at Sacramento last month. Sunday, however, things went smoothly.
Breaking sharply from the No. 1 post, Cakewalk set fractions of :21.86, :45.06 and :57.91, turned back Windy Point past mid stretch, and was clear to the wire. The victory, worth $30,245, pushed her bankroll to $35,745.
Windy Point, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, chased the winner home and determinedly held second, returning $4.40 and $3.20. You Go Girl, ridden by Kevin Krigger, finished third and paid $3.40, while Angie C Stakes winner For You Only, finished fourth. My Fol, Tap That Spot, Munny and Jaded Tiger rounded out the order of finish.
Wright far and away is the leading stakes trainer at the meet; the Shinpoch was his eighth stakes win – six more than anybody else – and 39th all-time at Emerald Downs. Mowat has two stakes wins this season: Cakewalk and Seattle Stakes winner Mucho Amor.
Notes
Kevin Krigger rode four winners Sunday and is three wins away from the 1,000 mark for his career. Since returning to Emerald Downs three weeks ago, Krigger already has 14 wins and joins Gary Wales and Kevin Orozco as riders with four-win days this season. … Wales rode two winners Sunday and owns a 26-win lead – 80-54 – over Orozco atop the jockeys’ standings. … Matias ranks fifth all-time in stakes wins with 34, and also moved ahead of Kevin Radke into seventh place all-time with 533 overall wins at EmD. … Cherokee Louise ($8.20) and La Waun ($8.20) each became triple winners at the meet Sunday. … The 2019 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale is 2 p.m. Tuesday at the M. J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion adjacent to Emerald Downs. … Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:30 p.m.
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