The track’s all-time leader in victories will reach another milestone Saturday as West Seattle Boy makes his 100th lifetime start in the fifth race at Emerald Downs.
Winner of a record 19 races at Emerald Downs—which is three more wins than any other horse in the track’s 16-season history—West Seattle Boy is among seven horses entered in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up with a $3,500 claiming price. And once again the track’s all-time leading jockey rides the track’s winningest horse as Gallyn Mitchell—winner of 1,306 races at Emerald Downs—takes the call for trainer Rigoberto Velasquez and owners Lisa Baze and Jerry Carmody.
West Seattle Boy became only the second 12-year-old to win a race at Emerald Downs by rallying from 12 lengths back for a half-length victory for a $3,500 tag at one mile on June 19. The Washington-bred is 1-1-1 in five starts this year and has a 19-12-15 record in 84 career starts at Emerald Downs.
West Seattle Boy’s lifetime mark, including 15 races at Portland Meadows, is 23-13-19 in 99 starts with earnings of $171,130. His racing career began way back on June 3, 2001, at Emerald Downs with a victory under Jennifer Whitaker.
First post Saturday is 2 p.m. on the eve of the 76th Longacres Mile. The featured seventh race is a $21,000 allowance for fillies and mares at 6-½furlongs. Feeling Fancy, the 2010 Federal Way Handicap winner, heads a field that includes Washington State Legislators Stakes third-place finisher Dream Sweeper and Hastings Racecourse shipper Late Affair, winner of three straight races by a combined 20 ¾ lengths.
Following Saturday’s races, the 2011 Washington Racing Hall of Fame Banquet will be held in the Emerald Room on the fourth floor. Slated for induction are trainer Tim McCanna, jockey Vicky Baze, female horse Firesweeper, male horse Pataha Prince, breeder Grousemont Farm and lifetime achievement Karen and Mickey Taylor. Tickets are available at (253) 288-7701.
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