Rescue Plan and hot-riding apprentice jockey Pedro Terrero dominated the $15,100 Sound Transit Purse for 3-year-olds Friday evening at Emerald Downs.
With Terrero calling the shots, the son of Smarty Jones rocketed to the early lead and was never headed en route to a seven-length victory over runner-up Ricky Ricky. Rescue Plan ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 1/5 seconds on a wet-fast track and paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.60. Roy Lumm is the trainer and the co-owner with Janet Johnson.
Ricky Ricky, ridden by Robert Burney, touched out Swiss Exploit for second place and paid $5.40 and $3.40. Swiss Exploit, Troy Stilwell riding, finished third and paid $4.
Claimed for $12,500 in his second start last year, Rescue Plan was winless in six subsequent starts but held up well against tough company. This year, for example, he had finished third in races won by Forener and Boundtogetbusy, and those are two of the most fancied 3-year-olds at the track.
Facing no such opposition Friday, Rescue Plan was in control throughout the race. He led by 2 ½ lengths after a quarter-mile in :22 2/5, and extended the lead to five lengths while running the half-mile in :44 4/5. He drew off under intermittent urging through the stretch to win as much the best.
Rescue Plan has a 2-1-3 record in nine starts overall with earnings of $30,692.
Terrero rode three winners on the seven-race card for his first triple at Emerald Downs, and the apprentice rider is fourth in the standings with 16 wins. He missed a fourth winner by a nose when Any Wager ($15.60) nailed Kindacatchy on the line in the finale. Juan Gutierrez, the meet’s leading rider with 21 wins, rode Any Wager.
News and Notes
• Bijou Barrister ($11.80) recorded his sixth consecutive win and his second straight at Emerald Downs with a victory in the fifth race over 4-5 favorite Maltese Tiger. H.R. Pat Mullens is the trainer and co-owner with R.A. Larson and Ed Zenker.
• Meanwhile, Immigration finished third in the fifth, and the former stakes winner already has three seconds and one third in four starts at the meet.
• Ace and Jim ($6.40) scored by three lengths in the second and moved Vann Belvoir into first place in the trainers’ standings with 14 wins.
• Jim Penney is second with 13 wins.
• Live racing continues 2 p.m. Saturday with a 10-race card.
