Couldabenthewhisky capped a sensational juvenile campaign with a resounding five-length victory Sunday in the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds.
It was the third stakes win of the meeting for the 2-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold, and his four wins overall tied the track record for most wins by a 2-year-old.
With Gallyn Mitchell riding, Couldabenthewhisky ran 1 1/16 mile in 1 minute, 42 3/5 seconds on a sloppy track and paid $9.80, $4.40 and $3.40. It was Mitchell’s record fourth victory in the Northwest’s traditional championship event for 2-year-olds.
Seattle Sniper, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, held second place and paid $3.60 and $3.
It was 1-¼ lengths back to Jebrica, ridden by Francisco Duran, and a $3.60 show payoff.
Winter Warlock, the 2-to-1 betting favorite, set the pace to the head of the lane and finished fourth. The filly Tweetie Pie finished fifth, followed by Fueled by Kaffine, Carr Creek and Giuseppe G.
In third place as Winter Warlock set fractions of 22 3/5, 46 1/5 and 1:12, Couldabenthewhisky, moved up to take the lead on the last turn, straightened into the stretch with a three-length advantage and drew off to win handily.
“I wanted to save ground around the first turn and try to keep mud out of his face,” Mitchell said. “I knew he had a big kick, so I wanted to be as patient as I could. (Seattle Sniper) got the jump on me a little bit into the lane, but I knew I had plenty of horse.
“When I asked him, he opened up five lengths like it was nothing.”
Couldabenthewhisky earned $37,125 for the victory, pushing his earnings to $91,602 for owners Craig Fredrickson, Stan Fredrickson, Andy Maib and trainer Bonnie Jenne. The $5,500 yearling purchase compiled a 4-0-1 record in six starts and was voted Top Juvenile at the meeting. In addition to the Gottstein, Couldabenthewhisky won the 5 ½-furlong Strong Ruler Stakes and the one-mile WTBA Lads Stakes.
News and Notes
In Sunday’s Ashbaugh Beal Claiming Challenge: Feels Like Rain ($6)—ridden by Gallyn Mitchell for owner Jeff Harwood and trainer Doris Harwood—prevailed in the $16,000 Sassie Jo Lassie for fillies and mares at one mile; Sheen Falls ($3.60) made it 3-for-3 at the meeting with a 1 ¼-length victory under Javier Matias in the $12,000 Hit a Star for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Steve Fisher is the trainer for owner John Coonan.
Classielyte became a five-time winner at the meet with a gate-to-wire victory in the $12,000 Market Master for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. Ricky Frazier rode the winner for trainer Jim Penney and owners Paul and Lori Heist…Gavel ($36) won a cavalry charge to the wire under Francisco Duran in the $10,000 Bob Stories for 3-year-olds and up that have run for a claiming price of $3,500 or less in 2010. It was the fourth win of the meet for the 4-year-old Washington-bred by Tribunal, trained by Blaine Wright for owners John & Janene Maryanski & Riverbend Farm.
Ohwhatablast capped a steady campaign with a one-length victory over A. Lurie Girl in the $10,000 Pretty Peggy Slew for older fillies and mares which have started for a claiming price of $3,500 or less in 2010. Matias rode the winner for trainer Larry Ross and owners Andy and Jeff Beal.
And in the $16,000 Itstufftobegood, Emancipated capped an extremely productive season with a wire-to-wire victory under Juan Gutierrez for trainer Robbie Baze and owners Betty and the Boys. The 5-year-old Free At Last gelding compiled a 4-4-2 record in 12 starts at the meet and over $40,000 in purses.
Mitchell rode three winners on the 11-race card and finished third in the standings with 79 wins. Mitchell, who received the Lindy Award after the fourth race, is the track’s all-time leader with 1,252 wins and has finished in the top five all 15 seasons at Emerald Downs.
Gutierrez rode two winners and finished second with 94 wins, his second highest total at Emerald Downs.
