Blame the Jockey and newcomer Francisco Duran cruised to a 4 ¾-legnth victory Friday in the featured Widmer Brothers Brewing Company Purse for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.

Blame the Jockey ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1 minute, 3 1/5 seconds and paid $8, $3.60 and $2.60. Frank Lucarelli is the trainer for owners Chris and Dianna Randall of Bellevue.

For Duran, it was his first victory in 25 career mounts at Emerald Downs. The 32-year-old native of Stockton, Calif., has had good success in Northern California, however, where he recently won his 1,000th career race at Golden Gate Fields.

Newfound Gold, the 6-5 betting favorite with Gallyn Mitchell riding, finished second, and paid $3.60 and $2.80. Ricky Ricky, a 24-1 long shot ridden by Robert Burney, finished third and paid $9.

A Texas-bred by Posse, Blame the Jockey has had a consistent career, but the victory was only his second in 11 starts to go with three seconds and three thirds.

News and Notes

• Ricky Frazier, last year’s leading rider, resumed his winning ways with back-to-back victories for trainer Neil Knapp in the third and fourth races, and scored his hat trick victory for trainer Larry Ross in the nightcap. The victories on Beautiful Jen ($4.40), Pete’s Black Gold ($15.80) and Snark ($4.20) were the first of the meet for Frazier, who sustained a sore hip on opening night and sat out last weekend.

• Trainer Richard Yaskus sent out his first starter at Emerald Downs and his first in over 20 years, Ringo’s Gold, the fourth-place finisher in the first race

• Racing continues 2 p.m. Saturday.