Praise a Native justified the players’ confidence Friday night at Emerald Downs.
The prohibitive 3-to-5 betting choice, Praise a Native took the lead on the turn and romped home an eight-length winner in the featured Griffin Place Purse for 3-year-olds that had never won two races. Ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, Praise a Native ran six furlongs in 1:10.36 on a fast track and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.20. Jim Penny is the trainer for owners Tom and Sharon McCann.
Be There Joe, Jennifer Whitaker riding, finished second and paid $4.40 and $3.20. Camp Pendleton, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo the jockey, finished third and paid $3.80 to show.
A Washington-bred by You and I-Game for Anything, the steady Praise a Native has compiled a 2-3-0 record in seven starts with earnings of $17,016. The gelding finished second in two of his three previous starts before Friday.
The next race for Praise a Native, however, will be in a new barn as trainer Dave Bennett claimed the gelding for $7,500 on behalf of owner Debra Larsen.
NOTES: Penney has opened the week with feature race victories by Snake Attack and Praise a Native. The Washington Racing Hall of Fame trainer is No. 4 all-time with 527 wins at Emerald Downs.
Mitchell was the only jockey with two wins and currently is fifth in the Thoroughbred standings with 45 wins. Mitchell, of course, is No. 1 all-time with 1,218 riding wins at Emerald Downs.
Apprentice Lance Bullock was suspended two days (Aug. 13-14) by the stewards for causing interference aboard runner-up Leanna’s Blast in Sunday’s fifth race. Bullock, 19, has six wins in 77 mounts, including a triumph on Caller Matty ($4.40) in the Friday nightcap.
Live racing continues Saturday with first post at 2:15 p.m.
Atta Boy Roy is 15-to-1 on the morning line Sunday in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga. Jesus Castanon has the mount on the 6-year-old Washington-bred ridgling for trainer Valorie Lund. R.E.V. Racing, owners of Atta Boy Roy¸ were victorious Friday at Emerald Downs with 3-year-old filly Makyva Diva ($9.80). The victory gave trainer Frank Lucarelli a second straight two-win night.
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