Emerald Downs launched its 20th season of live Thoroughbred action with a 10-race card Saturday afternoon.
Excessivelyprivate and jockey Julien Couton romped by five lengths in the opener, as the 3-year-old Private Gold filly ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.95 for trainer and co-owner Martin Pimentel. A newcomer to the jockey colony, Couton was one of three jockeys to post two wins on the opening day card.
O B Harbor was the day’s equine star, rolling to an eye-catching seven-length victory in the featured $21,500 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-old colts & geldings. Under Jose Zunino, O B Harbor ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.39—fastest of nine races Saturday at the distance—and paid $3.80, $3 and $2.40.
Trained by Chris Stenslie and owned by One Horse Will Do Corporation, O B Harbor is 2-1-1 in four career starts with earnings of $27,891. The Oregon-bred gelding ran the meet’s fastest five furlongs in 2014, a :56.63 clocking in his maiden win August 2.
O B Harbor could make his next start in the $50,000 Auburn Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, May 24.
Betrbegone rallied to finish second, paying $5.60 and $3.80, and Moby closed to finish third, paying $4.40. Cadenza, the early leader, finished fourth and was followed by Where’s My Voucher and Private Boss.
NOTES: Mr. Top Kat ($5.20) notched his 14th career victory in race two, defeating stable mate War Wizard by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:02.56 for 5 ½ furlongs. It was the 14th career victory for the 6-year-old Katowice ridgling. . . Gallyn Mitchell rode two winners including a victory on Sabrina, pushing his track record total to 1,389 wins. He also is the only jockey to ride all 20 seasons at Emerald Downs. . .Zunino also had two wins Saturday. . .Two-time defending training champion Jeff Metz scored his first win of 2015 with Gilmar ($11.40) in race three. . .Owners Todd & Shawn Hansen appear to have another bright prospect, Fooled Again ($11), a $43,000 Scat Daddy colt that debuted with a 3 ¼-length victory in :57.01 for five furlongs . . .Sabrina ($6.40) shipped in from Hastings Racecourse and edged Belladiva in the $16,500 co-feature for $25,000 claiming fillies and mares. A 4-year-old Florida-bred owned by Swift Thoroughbreds and trained by Dino Condilenios, Sabrina broke her maiden last year at Gulfstream Park and most recently was an eighth in the $100,000 B.C. Oaks. . . Juan Gutierrez missed his final three mounts after rapping his foot in aboard K K’s Wonderwoman in the starting gate prior to the running of the eighth race. . .Live racing continues Sunday with a 10-race card at 2 p.m. Scat Daddybaby, fourth in last year’s Longacres Mile, is the 7-to-5 morning line favorite in the $24,000 allowance feature at six furlongs.
