Zagreus wore down Seven Torrents in deep stretch and scored a half-length victory Saturday in the $18,600 Andrea’s Birthday Bash for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
With Pedro Terrero riding, Zagreus ran one mile in 1:35.98 on a fast track and paid $19.40, $7.80 and $3.60. Tom Wenzel is the trainer for owner Ron Crockett Inc.
The upset victory was the second win in the last three starts for the 5-year-old gelding, whose last race around two turns had been a fourth to Gallant Son, Noosa Beach and Winning Machine in the 2008 Gottstein Futurity.
Seven Torrents, the leader to deep stretch under Juan Gutierrez, finished second and paid $4 and $2.80. Aaron the Baron, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, finished third and paid $2.40.
Hennessy God and Camp Granada completed the order of finish. Camp Granada, the 6-to-5 betting favorite also owned by Ron Crockett Inc., chased Seven Torrents to the head of the stretch and gave way in the lane.
A California-bred by Yonaguska, Zagreus has always had a touch of class while competing in the upper claiming/allowance ranks. The gelding has put it all together this season, compiling a 2-1-1 record from five starts. Zagreus has an overall record of 3-6-2 in 18 starts with earnings of $63,858.
Seven Torrents, the 2010 Oregon Horse of the Year, was loose on the lead while setting fractions of :23.71, :47.18 and 1:10.57. He led by 1-½ past the eighth pole, but couldn’t quite hold off Zagreus, and then jumped a shadow nearing the wire.
NOTES: Terrero rode two winners for the second straight day…Mitchell and leading rider Leslie Mawing also had two wins on the nine-race card…Rossi Reserve ($4.40) became the meet’s third four-time winner with a 1-¼ length triumph in the $13,800 sub-feature for 3-year-old fillies. Owned by Northwest Farms and also trained by Wenzel, Rossi Reserve ran six furlongs in 1:10.13.
Untilifindyou with five wins and Touch of Elegance with four wins are the other horses with at least four wins in 2011.
Lucy Lu, owned by Robyn Armani of Kent, edged Max, owned by Sheila Hardman of Puyallup, in the championship heat in the annual Kent and Alan Star 101.5 Wiener Dog Races. The victory atoned for a runner-up finish in the 2010 event, and Armani said in the winner’s circle that Lucy Lu is officially retired…Live racing continues Sunday with first post at 2:15 p.m. Noosa Beach is the 1-to-2 morning line favorite in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1-1/16 miles. A victory would make Noosa Beach No. 1 all-time with 11 stakes wins at Emerald Downs.
