Razor sharp Off the Heezy scored his third straight gate-to-wire victory with a three-length triumph Friday in the $9,900 Pepsi Purse at Emerald Downs.
Expertly rated by jockey Juan Gutierrez, Off the Heezy ran one mile in 1 minute, 37 4/5 seconds on a wet-fast track and paid $11, $7 and $4. Jim Penney is the trainer for owners Homestretch Farm Inc., MOH Inc. and Kevin and Michelle Malesis.
Last Time Around, an 8-1 long shot ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, rallied for second place and paid $9 and $3.80. Musical Trick nosed out Sharper Eagle for third and paid $5.20 to show. Run Royal reign, the 8-5 betting favorite, made a middle move inside into contention, but flattened out in the stretch and finished fifth.
A 3-year-old Washington-bred by Tribunal, Off the Heezy has blossomed around two turns, reeling off a maiden win followed by two straight scores against winners—all at the flat mile distance.
Gutierrez, on a roll of his own, was up for his fourth win on the eight-race card, and the 40-year-old rider had Off the Heezy in command from the opening bell. Hustled to the lead into the clubhouse turn, Off the Heezy and Gutierrez set fractions of 23 2/5, 47, 1:11 2/5 and 1:24 1/5 for seven furlongs. The gelding shook well clear into the lane and was home free to the wire.
For Gutierrez, the meet’s third leading rider with 83 wins, it was his second day with at least four wins at the meet. Gutierrez rode five winners on July 25, and he also has 10 three-win days this season.
Penney ranks fifth among trainers with 32 wins and with a 19.4 win percentage.
Off the Heezy earned $5,445 and has compiled a 3-2-0 record from 10 starts overall.
Track notes:
• Leading rider Ricky Frazier and Robert Burney rode two winners each as three jockeys combined to sweep the eight-race card. Frazier has 135 wins in 76 days and needs 23 wins over the final 15 days to break his owe record of 157 wins set two years ago.
• Veteran trainer Dino Apostolou saddled his first winner of the meet—Dixiedoodledude ($22)—in the nightcap as Burney denied Gutierrez a five-bagger aboard runner-up Why Ian…2008 stakes winners Chhaya Dance and Nationhood make their season debuts for trainer Mike Chambers in Sunday’s $20,000 optional claimer at 6-½ furlongs.
• Racing continues at 2 p.m. Saturday.
• Simulcast action includes Rachel Alexandra (1-2 morning line) racing against the boys in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.
• Sunday’s simulcast slate features the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic from Del Mar, with Longacres Mile runner-up Awesome Gem in the 12-horse lineup.
