After spending the past two years in northern California, Leslie Mawing returned to Emerald Downs in 2011 with one goal in mind: to win a riding title.
With three weeks left in the meet, the title chase isn’t over. However, the 37-year-old South African native enters mid-stretch with a 28-win lead, similar to Secretariat’s lead in lengths at mid-stretch during the 1973 Belmont Stakes. And just like Secretariat, nobody is catching Mawing.
In the past two weeks, Mawing has won 23 races, including seven straight multiple win days, and he just tied the track record last week with 14 wins on a four-day racing weekend. Even with a 17-day winning streak, Mawing said he’s not ready to slow down.
“I’ve just got to keep it rolling,” he said. “Just like in a horse race, you can never be too relaxed. My goal is to keep the winning streak alive until the end of the season.”
Mawing said after the meet ends that he will ship down to Golden Gate for the winter months, but in April 2012, he said he expects to return to defend his title.
“It’s more than a strong possibility that I’ll be back,” Mawing said. “My family’s up here, and Emerald Downs is a great place to ride.”
JEBRICA AMONG 12 IN SUNDAY’S $200,000 BC DERBY
Emerald Derby winner Jebrica heads the three-piece local contingent Sunday in a full 12-horse field in the 66th running of the $200,000 BC Derby at Hastings Racecourse.
The 1-1/8-mile event will also feature local stakes winners Couldabenthewhisky and Winter Warlock.
The three sophomore reps head north after finishing 1-2-3 in the Aug. 14 Emerald Derby. Jebrica, at 10-to-1, took the lead in the stretch with Couldabenthewhisky, but drew away to score a 2-¾-length victory. It was another 8 ¼-lengths to Winter Warlock, who gave way after he set blistering 1-1/8-mile opening fractions in :22 4/5, :45 4/5 and 1:10 2/5.
Riding assignments have been announced: Jebrica, Russell Baze; Couldabenthewhisky, Gallyn Mitchell; and Winter Warlock, David Wilson. The postpositions will be drawn Thursday night and posted Friday morning.
CLASS INCLUDED AIMS FOR OAKS SWEEP SUNDAY
Multiple stakes winner Class Included looks to become the second straight local representative to capture both the Emerald Downs and Hastings’ sophomore filly championship events Sunday in the $100,000 BC Oaks at 1-1/8 miles.
Riverbend Stable’s Zenovit captured both the 2010 Washington Oaks and BC Oaks with stalk-and-pounce victories.
Class Included exhibited a similar style on Aug. 13 when she won the Washington Oaks by a neck over Playful Argument, who will also represent the local contingent in Sunday’s event.
ATTA BOY ROY LOOKS TO REBOUND IN SHOT OF GOLD
Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy will make his next start on Saturday going six furlongs in the $35,000 The Shot of Gold at Canterbury Park.
The 2011 stakes circuit has been an up-and-down affair for Atta Boy Roy and his owners Roy and Ellie Schafer of REV Racing. After a May allowance score at Turf Paradise, the Valorie Lund trainee looked primed for another $2 million BC Sprint campaign, when he nearly held off Noble’s Promise to finish second in the June 4 Aristides Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The momentum, however, quickly shifted the other direction after an ordinary third-place effort in the June 24 Iowa Sprint Handicap. The real test came in the Aug 7. Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga, where Atta Boy Roy was unable to reach the front end early and then came up empty in the stretch to finish eighth.
A soft spot, like The Shot of Gold, could be a perfect confidence builder for Atta Boy Roy, ranked sixth all-time on the Washington-bred earners list with $525,580. Appointed the 9-to-5 morning-line favorite, Atta Boy Roy will break from post No. 6 against a nine-horse field.
The Shot of Gold goes as the seventh race, post time at approximately 11:55 a.m. (Pacific).
NOTES: Week 21 Honors*Jockey-Leslie Mawing (30-14-6-4) Trainer-Michael Puhich (5-2-1-0) Owner-Kingsport Syndicate #9 (Buddy Dave wins sixth race) Groom-Rene Escobar (Frank Lucarelli)*Winning Machine (25-7-6-3-$340,726) received a 91 Beyer Speed Figure with his 1-¾-length victory in Sunday’s $21,000 allowance race. The 5-year-old Jump Start gelding ran the meet’s fastest 1-1/16 miles in 1:40.88. Trainer Frank Lucarelli said Winning Machine would make his next start in the $100,000 British Columbia Premier’s Handicap at Hastings*Undefeated Editor Vanessa R N (3-3-0-0-$20,680) earned a 76 Beyer for her wire-to-wire victory in Monday’s $21,000 allowance race at one mile. Trainer Mike Puhich said the 4-year-old Johannesburg filly could be headed to the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes (G3-C) on Oct. 2 at Hastings Racecourse*Buddy Dave (26-8-4-5-$40,905), a candidate for Claimer of the Meet, tied his career high with a 74 Beyer after winning his sixth race at the meet*Touch of Elegance looks to become the meet’s first seven-time winner in Friday’s third race. The 4-year-old filly has won three straight races by a combined 11-¼ lengths including back-to-back wins posting a 78 Beyers*West Seattle Boy, the track’s all-time winningest horse with 20 career scores, makes his 102nd start in Sunday’s fifth race. The 12-year-old by Majesterian is 2-1-1 in seven starts this season*Washington-bred jockey Joe Steiner is scheduled to ride in 11 races this weekend and will finish the meet at Emerald Downs. The son of Quarter Chute Café’s Joe and Sally Steiner came out of retirement earlier this year and has been riding predominantly in Southern California*Nominations for Washington Cup IX (six stakes for Wa-breds, $215,000 in purses) close Saturday. Entries will be drawn Wednesday morning at the Quarter Chute Café.
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