Jeff Harwood’s Noosa Beach capped the most spectacular season in Emerald Downs’ history Sunday with a 2 ¾-length victory in the $50,000 Mucklshoot Tribal Classic for older Washington-breds Sunday at Emerald Downs.
It was the record fifth stakes win of the meeting for the 4-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding. He has now won, in order, the Seattle Handicap, Budweiser Handicap, Mt. Rainier Handicap, Longacres Mile Grade 3 and Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. He also is the only six-time winner at the meeting, and the $26,180 first prize bumped his season earnings to $225,930.
With regular rider Ricky Frazier aboard for trainer Doris Harwood, Noosa Beach ran one mile in 1 minute, 35 seconds and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. The Harwood’s also bred Noosa Beach, who’s a slam-dunk to be voted Horse of the Meeting and top Washington-bred.
Noosa Beach took command from Siberian Cocktail after a half-mile in :46, kicked clear on the last turn and drew off through the stretch.
“The plan today was to just keep him clear,” Frazier said of Noosa Beach. “I knew that everyone was trying to beat him, so I just wanted to get him in a good spot. He did it so easily.
“If any horses came close, he would have just blown them away. He was much the best today. It just feels awesome to ride a horse like this. I just wish the season wasn’t almost over.”
Wasserman, the two-time defending champion in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, turned in his best performance of the season, rallying from last to finish second. With Jennifer Whitaker riding, Wasserman paid $4.20 and $3.20. The 8-year-old gelding earned $9,160 to increase his track-record earnings to $514,722.
He’s All Heart, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, finished third and paid $3. Margo’s Gift, Siberian Cocktail and Scalding Passion completed the order of finish.
The Muckleshoot Tribal Classic was the centerpiece of Washington Cup VIII, a series of six stakes races exclusively for Washington-bred runners worth an aggregate quarter-million dollars in purse money.
Mizzen You dethrones Clair Annette in Belle Roberts Stakes
Mizzen You, claimed for $15,000 in her previous start, out-dueled defending champion Clair Annette and held off Ghost Tree late for a three-quarter-length victory in the $40,000 Belle Roberts Stakes for older fillies and mares.
Defending champion Clair Annette finished third in the final start of her remarkable career.
Ridden by Francisco Duran, Mizzen You ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 1/5 and paid $15.80, $7 and $3. Frank Lucarelli is the trainer for owner Howard Hammer of Stanwood, Wash. Duran and Lucarelli have combined to win four stakes races at the 2010 meeting.
Ghost Tree, ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, rallied strongly to finish second and paid $7 and $3.20.
Clair Annette, with regular rider Kevin Krigger aboard, finished third and paid $2.10. The 7-year-old mare, a winner of 10 of 22 starts and 9-of-17 at Emerald Downs, led to the upper stretch after setting fractions of :24 1/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11 1/5. Clair Annette resisted gamely, but was out-finished in the deep stretch.
Mizzen You was claimed Aug. 19, and the Belle Roberts was her first race around two turns. Lapped onto Clair Annette from the bell, Mizzen You gained a slight edge into the lane and held off Ghost Tree and a determined Clair Annette. The 4-year-old Mizzen Mist filly, bred by Clemans View Farm, has a 3-4-1 record in 11 starts with earnings of $46,383.
“I wanted to sit right off the speed, because I knew that Clair Annette would go to the front,” Duran said. “I got the jump on (Clair Annette) at the top of the stretch. I could hear horses coming behind me, but I knew I had it won. I knew this would be a tough spot, but I expected her to win.”
Lady Golightly romps by 8 ½ lengths in Diane Kem Stakes
Lady Golightly proved her 20-to-1 upset in the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes was no fluke with a powerful 8-½ length victory as the 6-to-5 betting favorite in the $40,000 Diane Kem Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
With apprentice Pedro Terrero riding, Lady Golightly took command on the turn, kicked four lengths clear into the stretch and drew off to win with completely authority. The daughter of Matty G ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:16 2/5 and paid $4.40, $3 and $2.60. Tom Wenzel is the trainer and co-owner with breeder William Griffin of Enumclaw Wash.
A top contender for honors as Top 2-Year-Old Filly, Lady Golightly is 2-1-1 in four starts with earnings of $49,600.
Last Wild Kiss, a 25-to-1 long shot ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, rallied for second place and paid $16.80 and $8.20. Bell Adieu, Francisco Duran riding, was a half-length back in third place and paid $4.
Mariah’s Juke Box finished fourth, followed by 2-to-1 second choice Iforgottobeme, Pickled Again, Allison Ridge, Julie M C M and Chasing Demons. Horse trained by Doris Harwood finished second, third and fourth.
Sis’s Sis surprises Zenovit in John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes
Trainer Jim Penney became only the fourth trainer with 500 career wins at Emerald Downs as Sis’s Sis turned back odds-on favorite Zenovit in the stretch run for a half-length victory in the $40,000 Diane Kem Stakes for sophomore fillies. The one-mile event was the first of six Washington Cup races.
With Juan Gutierrez riding, Sis’s Sis ran one mile in 1:36 1/5 and paid $9.40, $2.40 and $2.20. Penney trains the winner for owners Michael and Amy Feuerborn of Maple Valley, Wash.
The victory, which atoned for an 11th place finish in the Aug. 14 Washington Oaks, made Sis’s Sis the lone 3-year-old filly with two stakes wins at the meet. She has won four-of-six this season, beginning with a triumph in a $17,500 claiming race on opening weekend. Her overall record is 5-1-0 in nine starts with earnings of $84,005.
Zenovit, the Washington Oaks winner, offered a bold challenge in the stretch but was turned aside by Sis’s Sis and settled for second place. Ridden by Ricky Frazier, Zenovit paid $2.10 and $2.10.
“I knew that Zenovit was a good closer, so I wanted to get a couple lengths on her into the stretch,” Gutierrez said. “If Zenovit was going to catch me, it was going to be at the very end.”
Lilly’s a Jewel, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo riding, rallied for third place and paid $2.80 for show. Knight Raider, the early leader, finished fourth and Missie Ky I You finished fifth.
Slew the Man reels in the speed prevails in the Chinook Pass Stakes
Slew the Man, ridden by Kevin Krigger, took advantage of a speed duel and blew past the leaders into the stretch and posted a three-length victory in the $40,000 Chinook Pass Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
The winner, a son of Slewdledo bred by Ron and Nina Hagen, ran one mile in 1:36 1/5 and paid $6.80, $4.20 and $3. Mike Chambers is the trainer for owners Alan Klein of Burlingame, Calif., and Philip Lebherz of San Mateo, Calif.
Wheelhouse a 23-to-1 long shot ridden by Francisco Duran, rallied from the clouds to finish second and paid $16.80 and $8.60. Bogachiel, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, took the lead into the last turn, led by one length into the stretch, but weakened slightly to finish third and paid $4.60.
Newfound Man, the 8-to-5 wagering favorite, finished fourth, followed by Mr. Mad Max, Power Strip, Koala Beach, Fisher Creek, Absolutely Cool and Certified Diamond.
Fisher Creek and Certified Diamond dueled through taxing fractions of:23 and :45 3/5 before giving way to Bogachiel into the last turn. Slew the Man, never far back, rallied outside on the last turn, took the lead into the stretch and powered away from the field.
Slew the Man has a 4-4-3 record in 16 starts with earnings of $96,115. Most of those races were in California where his efforts included a third-place finish vs. older horses in the Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton. His first local start was a troubled fourth in the Aug. 15 Emerald Derby won by Saratoga Boot.
Mack’s Gold Bullet holds off favorite in Dennis Dodge Stakes
Mack’s Gold Bullet remained undefeated with a hard-earned one-length victory over stakes winners Winter Warlock and Couldabenthewhisky in the $40,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
With Juan Gutierrez riding his second Washington Cup winner of the day, Mack’s Gold Bullet ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16 4/5 and paid $11.20, $5.40 and $3.80.
Trained by Vann Belvoir and owned and bred by Ron McCormack, Mack’s Gold Bullet is 2-for-2 with earnings of $27,943. The Private Gold gelding debuted with a seven-length victory vs. $30,000 maiden claimers on Aug. 22.
Winter Warlock, ridden by Kevin Krigger, finished second and paid $3.40 and $2.60. The Demon Warlock gelding won the Premio Esmeralda Stakes and has finished second in the Strong Ruler, WTBA Lads and Dennis Dodge Stakes.
Couldabenthewhisky, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, challenged the top two in the stretch, but settled for third place and paid $3. The Harbor the Gold gelding won both the WTBA Lads and Strong Ruler Stakes.
The Dennis Dodge, however, belonged to Mack’s Gold Bullet. The dark bay or brown geldingwas pressured by Giuseppe G while running the opening quarter in :22 1/5. Mack’s Gold Bullet kicked 1-½ lengths clear into the stretch and held off Winter Warlock and Couldabenthewhisky.
Stolen Rio finished fourth, followed by Giuseppe G, Broulee Beach and Stellar Blue. Broulee Beach, the 8-to-5 favorite, raced within striking distance early but gave way after a half-mile.
Gutierrez rode two of the six Washington Cup winners and is tied with Ricky Frazier at 9-9 in the all-time Washington Cup jockeys’ standings.
NOTES
Noosa Beach accounted for over $173,000 of the nearly $188,000 wagered to show in the Muckleshoot tribal Classic.
Frazier and Harwood lead in 2010 stakes wins with 10 and eight, respectively.
Frazier and Harwood also continue to pad their records as the track’s all-time leaders in stakes wins. Frazier has ridden 72 stakes winners at Emerald Downs and Harwood has saddled 48 stakes winners.
Carl Williams scored a victory in his first Emerald Downs mount aboard Miss Liberty Gold ($15.20) in the second race for trainer Joe Toye. An Arizona mainstay at Turf Paradise and Yavapai Downs, Williams has 724 career wins.
Live racing resumes Friday with first post at 6 p.m. It’s another Free Friday with free general admission to all fans courtesy of Washington’s horsemen.
