Ducoti sprinted to the early lead and never looked back en route to a 2-¼-length victory Thursday in the featured Pete Von Reichbauer Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
With Leslie Mawing up for his 60th win of the meeting, Ducoti ran six furlongs in 1:10.69 and paid $7.60, $3.40 and $3.20. Bill Tollett is the trainer for owner-breeder Stephen Quilici of Roy.
Roxy Skylar, ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, rallied inside to finish second and paid $3.60 and $2.80. Wenden, with Connie Doll riding, edged Monarchos Cassie for third and paid $2.80 for show.
Ducoti led through fractions of :22.25, :45.27 and :57.52, and had plenty left in the stretch.
“I was able to give her a breather on the backside, and when we turned for home she just exploded,” Mawing said.
Mawing rode two winners and has at least one win on 11 straight cards. He leads Joe Crispin 60-54 in the Thoroughbred standings.
Ducoti became the 10th horse with at least three wins at the meeting, and she has an overall record of 5-1-3 in 15 starts with earnings of $21,476. The 4-year-old Washington-bred filly by He’s Tops has a 3-0-2 mark in six starts at the meet.
Monarchos Cassie, the 17-to-10 betting favorite, chased the winner from second place, but gave way in the stretch and finished fourth. Sun City broke in a tangle, never got untracked and finished last. Holy Mama was scratched.
The race was named in honor of the King County Councilmember who enjoyed a night at the races with several friends and colleagues.
NOTES: Jockey Matt Hagerty snapped a 0-for-59 skid in a big way with a head victory aboard 47-to-1 Fiesty Lass for trainer Roy Lumm in the fifth race. The $96.40 win payoff is second biggest at the 42-day-old meeting. Showme Yourfriends paid $102.40 in the May 30 Auburn Handicap.
The longest shot on the board won three times Thursday. In addition to Fiesty Lass, Primadonna Pearl ($29.40) led all the way under Javier Matias in the opener, and Out of Harbor ($57.20) got up in the last stride to capture the nightcap under apprentice Lance Bullock.
Despite both Fiesty Lass and Out of Harbor in the sequence, the $0.50 Pick 5 paid $4,997 to one winning ticket (2-4-7-6-2) …Live racing continues Friday at 6:15 p.m.
