Hard-trying Olympic Lights took advantage of an early pace duel and scored a 3 ¾-length victory Thursday in the $12,100 Ashbaugh Beal Purse for older sprinters at Emerald Downs.

With leading rider Ricky Frazier aboard, Olympic Lights ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 1/5 seconds and paid $7.60, $4.40 and $3.60. It was the 6-year-old gelding’s first win in three starts this year and his eighth in 17 starts overall at Emerald Downs. Doris Harwood was the trainer for the Shady Valley Ranch of Ivan and Delores Christiansen.

Ernie Owl, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, continued in fine form with a second-place finish and paid $3.80 and $3.40. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred has two wins, two seconds and a third from five starts at the meeting.

It was a half-length back to Carry On John, ridden by Inoel Beato, and a $4.20 show payoff. Highdleburg, Flaming Bullet, Chet the Jet and Get You completed the order of finish.

Olympic Lights stalked the pace as Highdleburg and Get You scorched the track with fractions of 21 3/5 and 44 2/5, slipped through inside into the stretch, collared the leaders a furlong out and drew off late.

The winner was re-claimed, however, by trainer Charles Essex for $15,000 on behalf of Moon Glow Farms. Harwood and the Christiansen’s claimed Olympic Lights for $17,500 in his previous start June 25.

Olympic Lights has compiled an overall record of 9-5-1 in 21 starts with earnings of $72,269.

News and Notes

Tim McCanna saddled two winners and leapfrogged over Vann Blevoir 40-39 in the trainers’ standings. The nine-time Emerald Downs champion trailed Belvoir 22-11 on June 1…Frazier rode two winners and leads Juan Gutierrez 74-59 in the jockeys’ standings…Get You also was claimed for $15,000 from the feature race by Dan Agnew and John Xitco. Mike Chambers is the new trainer…Live racing continues Friday with first post at 6 p.m.