Crocodile Tuff had her consistency rewarded Saturday in the $18,000 Second Chance Ranch Purse at Emerald Downs.
The hard-hitting 4-year-old filly, second in her first three outs this season, rallied for a two-length victory over stable mate Ghost Tree in the one-mile race for fillies and mares. With regular jockey Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo delivering a rail-skimming ride, Crocodile Tuff was timed in 1 minute, 36 seconds on a fast track and paid $7.20, $3.60 and $3.
Ghost Tree, with Kevin Krigger riding, closed ground from far back to finish second and paid $5.40 and $3.60. Dan Markle trains the winner and runner-up; a $1 exacta on the two Markle runners returned $17.30.
Private Fortune, the lone 3-year-old in the race with Francisco Duran aboard, finished third and paid $4.60.
All the Rage, the 8-to-5 betting favorite, encountered early traffic problems and settled for fourth place in the field of seven. Nina Win, Super Dixie and Perfect Finish completed the order of finish.
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Petionville, Crocodile Tuff was coming off a runner-up effort to Clair Annette in the $50,000 King County Handicap. In fact, she had hit the board in six of nine races at Emerald Downs the last two years while often facing many of the toughest horses in her division. It was her first victory since a maiden-breaking score at Zia Park on Nov. 25, 2008.
Crocodile Tuff has an overall mark of 2-5-3 in 15 starts with earnings of $80,549 for owners Sue and Tim Spooner of Olympia. The Spooners are tied with Homestretch Farms for second place in the owners’ standings at nine wins apiece.
Mitchell, Belvoir enjoy success at Canterbury
Emerald Downs’ all-time leading rider and its current leading trainer had a mixed bag of results in four races Saturday at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Jockey Gallyn Mitchell and trainer Vann Belvoir teamed up to win the first race on the 11-race card as Roy’s Tops scored a $25 upset in the $10,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles. Keith Swagerty owns the 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding, which broke a nine-race losing streak that dated to May 16, 2009.
Elusive Schemes, a 24-to-1 long shot owned by Belvoir and Gloria Ballestrasse, finished third in the $100,000 Claiming Crown Emerald for 3-year-olds an up at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Emerald, won by the 1-to-2 betting favorite Inca King, was one of seven Claiming Crown events worth $700,000 in purse money.
In the $75,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares, No Flies On Doodle finished eighth as the 9-to-2 third betting choice. Penn National shipper My Irish Girl ($5.80) was the winner in 1:09/92 for six furlongs.
And Forener, making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the May 23 Auburn Handicap, finished fifth of six in the $25,000 H.B.P.A. Sprint captured by even-money favorite King A.J.
Reggie captures 14th annual wiener dog races
Reggie defeated defending champion Lucy Lu in the championship heat of the 14th Annual Kent Kent & Alan Wiener Dog Races, held between the sixth and seventh races.
Reggie, owned by Diane and Kevin Hainsworth of Mount Vernon, finished second in last year’s championship heat. Two qualifying heats preceded the final, with the top six finishers from each heat advancing to the final.
News and Notes
• Second-race winner Catherine Z’s Hope was disqualified and placed second for interfering with Tribute to Sissy in the stretch run. Tribute to Sissy ($3.40) and Ricky Frazier were promoted to first and Catherine Z’s Hope and Francisco Duran were placed second.
• Both Youhadyourchance ($4.20) in the sixth race and Way Too Much ($5.20) in the seventh became triple winners at the meet….Let Me Get My Hat ($55) broke a 12-race losing streak with a gate-to-wire score under Jennifer Whitaker in the nightcap. The $2 win price was fifth highest at the meet.
• Lilly Fa Pootz, who won for a $7,500 claiming tag at Emerald Downs last year, notched a $15.20 upset in Saturday’s $75,000 Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Del Mar.
• Live racing continues Sunday with a 10-race card at 2 p.m. Posse Power is the 8-to-5 morning line favorite in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap for 3-year-olds.
