When Rescue Plan is on, he’s really on.
And the 3-year-old Smarty Jones gelding was all business Friday with a 5 ¼ -length victory in the $11,200 Danna Johnston Birthday Purse for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.
With leading rider Ricky Frazier aboard, Rescue Plan ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 1/5 seconds on a fast track and paid $4.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Roy Lumm is the trainer and co-owner with Janet Johnson.
Rescue Plan has three career victories, all at Emerald Downs, by margins of 13 1/2, seven and 5 1/4 lengths. Friday, the Kentucky-bred was dropping sharply in class and also enjoyed a pace advantage over his four rivals.
Breaking from the No. 1 post, Rescue Plan out-sprinted Gold Harbor for the lead, set fast fractions of 21 4/5, 44 4/5 and 57, spurted three lengths clear past mid-stretch and drew off as a handy winner.
“He’s a real nice horse, and I had a lot of confidence in him,” Frazier said. “He was the best horse. The only thing I did was not mess him up.”
Gold Harbor, ridden by Troy Stillwell, held second and paid $2.60 and $2.20. It was 2 3/4 lengths back to Buddy Dave, Matt Hagerty riding, and a $2.60 show payoff.
Castle Romeo and Humongous completed the order of finish. Pure Momentum was scratched.
Claimed from his second career start for $12,500 last year, Rescue Plan has compiled a 3-1-3 record in 13 starts with earnings of $38,974.
Frazier rode two winners—his 23rd day at the meet with at least two wins—and leads Juan Gutierrez 90-67 in the jockeys’ standings.
News and Notes
First-race runner-up Missie Ky I You had $85,523 of the $90,054 show pool (94.9 percent) in the maiden optional claiming race. First-time starter Be Faithful ($5.40) romped in the first by eight lengths under Pedro Terrero…Gutierrez and Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo also rode two winners on the eight-race card…Jockey Anne Von Rosen was fined $500 for causing interference aboard fourth-place finisher Slew the Man in last Sunday’s Emerald Derby. Von Rosen and Slew the Man interfered with Koala Beach on the last turn, causing Koala Beach to steady sharply and lose all chance…Sicy ($3.40), runner-up in her first four starts this year, rallied for the overdue victory under Frazier in Friday’s fourth race…Gallyn Mitchell, bidding for his 2,500th career victory, finished second in his only mount of the night aboard Eckstein in the nightcap…Live racing continues Saturday with first post at 2 p.m.
