Carry On John swept to the lead past mid-stretch and held off Siberian Cocktail and Dress Code for a three-quarter-length victory Saturday in the $15,100 SMSUA Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
With Inoel Beato riding, Carry On John ran 6 ½ furlongs in a swift 1 minute, 14 4/5 secnds and paid $5, $2.80 and $2.40. H.R. Pat Mullens is the trainer for owner Ron Crockett, Inc.
A 6-year-old Kentucky-bred by Boundary, Carry On John has won at least one race each of his four seasons at Emerald Downs. The consistent gelding has an overall record of 6-3-2 in 15 starts with earnings of $69,713.
Siberian Cocktail, the 8-to-5 betting favorite ridden by Ricky Frazier, rallied to finish second and paid $3 and $2.40 for place and show.
Dress Code, a 9-to-1 long shot with Troy Stillwell riding, closed inside for third and paid $3. Zagreus, Absolutely Cool, Clear to Canada and Royal Game completed the order of finish.
News and Notes
Washington Oaks winner Zenovit, perfectly ridden by Kevin Krigger, scored a 1 ¼ -length victory over Wando Woman in Saturday’s 47th running of the $52,135 British Columbia Oaks at Hastings Racecourse. Trained by Larry Ross and owned by Gerald Schneider, Zenovit ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.89 and paid $7.10.
Back at Emerald Downs, in the $5,100 Blue Mountain Championship for horses that started on the Blue Mountain Circuit in 2010, Five Star Promise returned from Walla Walla to post his fourth victory of the meeting under jockey Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo. The lone 3-year-old in the field of 11, Five Star Promise ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03 1/5 and paid $8. Debbie Van Horne is the trainer for owner Pole Gate Ranch, which claimed the horse for $4,000 two starts back at Emerald Downs.
In the $21,500 co-feature for 3-year-old fillies Sweet Nellie Brown ($5.20) led all the way for a two-length victory over Lily’s a Jewel in 1:35 1/5 on a fast track. The 3-year-old Washington-bred by Cape Canaveral, Sweet Nellie Brown has two wins, two seconds and a third in five starts this season for owners James & Zola Proffitt & Joanne Covert…Vann Belvoir had his second straight two-win day but Tim McCanna still holds a 63-55 edge on Bevloir and has clinched his 10th Emerald Downs training title.
Howard Belvoir won the opener with Gift Certificate ($5) and clinched leading owner with 17 wins. Ron Crockett Inc. picked up its 16th win with Carry On John, but has no starters Sunday.
Juan Gutierrez and apprentice Pedro Terrero each rode two winners.
Sunday is the final day of live racing at the 90-day meeting. First post is 2 p.m.
Winter Warlock is the 5-to-2 morning line favorite in the traditional closing day feature, the $75,000 Joe Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.