Couldabenthewhisky romped in the $30,000 Strong Ruler Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings and first-time starter Carrabelle Harbor prevailed in the $30,000 Knights Choice Stakes for 2-year-old fillies in Sunday’s stakes double-header for Washington-bred juveniles at Emerald Downs.
Ricky Frazier was aboard both winners, boosting his Emerald Downs record to 67 stakes wins, while Harbor the Gold sired both stakes winners. Frazier, in fact, rode five winners on the 10-race card and lost what would have been a track record-tying sixth when 10th race winner Sky Tribute was disqualified and placed fifth for interference in deep stretch.
There were no such dramatics in the Strong Ruler Stakes as Couldabenthewhisky and Frazier led all the way and scored a popular 1 ¼-length victory over Winter Warlock with Gdanz Express finishing third. The son of Harbor the Gold ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1 minute, 3 4/5 seconds on a fast track and paid $5, $2.60 and $2.20. Bonnie Jenne is the trainer and co-owner with Andy Maib of Redmond and Craig and Jan Fredrickson of Kent.
Winter Warlock, ridden by Kevin Krigger, finished second and paid $3.20 and $2.60. Gdanz Express, Francisco Duran aboard, rallied for third place and a $4.80 show payoff.
Carrabelle Harbor also scored by 1-¼ lengths, but she rallied from just off the pace for the victory. Trained by Doris Harwood, Carrabelle Harbor also ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03 4/5 and paid $4.80, $3 and $2.10. She became the first debutante to win a stakes at Emerald Downs since Ladyledue in the 2008 Knights Choice Stakes.
Carrabelle Harbor is co-owned by Bar C Racing Stable (Pam and Ken Christopherson of Hermiston, Ore.) and Desert Rose Racing (D.H. Walker of Kent).
Bar C Racing Stables bred both Couldabenthewhisky and Carrabelle Harbor, who were born nine days apart in March 2008.
Iforgottobeme, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, dueled with the winner to deep stretch before yielding to finish second. Iforgottobeme paid $3.60 and $2.80. It was 5 ¼ lengths back to Belle Adieu, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, and a $3 show payoff.
Couldabenthewhisky earned $15,694 and is 2-for-2 with a bankroll of $23,498. The gelding set fractions of 21 4/5, 45 1/5 and 57 en route to the victory.
Frazier and Jenne combined to win six stakes with Ladyledue in 2008-09, and Frazier said the trainer recently told him to get ready for more glory with Couldabenthewhisky.
“He’s just an awesome horse,” Frazier said of Couldabenthewhisky. “Bonnie had this horse in fantastic shape. She told me before the race that he’s never done anything wrong, and he still hasn’t.”
In the Knights Choice, Carrabelle Harbor gave Frazier his record fifth consecutive win in the stakes. And it was Harwood’s 18th stakes win with a 2-year-old, tying Bud Klokstad for most stakes wins by juveniles.
By Harbor the Gold-Silver City Lilly, Carrabelle Harbor earned $16,521 for the victory.
“She had to overcome a couple of mistakes today,” Frazier said. “I knew she had a ton of speed, and had she broken sharp, she would have been two lengths in front. But she broke a step slow, so I just settled her behind the leaders. At the three-eighths pole, I knew I had (Iforgottobeme) beaten. I just had to make sure we didn’t’ lose to anyone coming from behind.
“Winning this race for the fifth straight time is just a tribute to the trainers. I really appreciate the opportunity they gave me to ride their good
Remarkably, Harwood and Frazier have combined to win 16 of the last 38 stakes for juveniles at Emerald Downs.
Frazier misses record in dramatic finale
Jockey Ricky Frazier enjoyed a remarkable day of riding Sunday at Emerald Downs. The 45-year-old Arkansan nearly joined Kevin Radke and Seth Martinez in the record books as jockeys to ride six winners at Emerald Downs.
Frazier actually had the record for several minutes, after 7-to-1 long shot Sky Tribute prevailed in the 10th race finale. However, Frazier and the big gray filly were disqualified and placed fifth for interfering with fourth-place finisher Color Me Tuff in deep stretch, and Ducoti ($6) was promoted from second to first-place.
Still, it was a great day for Frazier, who finished with five wins and both stakes while opening a 68-54 lead on Juan Gutierrez in the jockeys’ standings. It was Frazier’s fifth five-win day at Emerald Downs, and he was the third jockey to ride five winners at the meet. Francisco Duran had a five-win day May 23 and Kevin Krigger had five wins July 8.
Frazier’s first victory was a dead-heat in the fourth on Do Boy ($3.40), who hit the wire together with Ask George ($2.80). He finished the day with five wins, a fourth and two fifths in eight mounts.
Frazier rode four straight winners in race six to nine, including the Strong Ruler Stakes on Couldabenthewhisky ($5) and the Knights Choice Stakes on Carrabelle Harbor ($4.80). He also won the seventh on Denkenesh ($4.40) and the ninth on Jasmine’s Melody ($6.80).
News and Notes
* The Do Boy/Ask George dead-heat was already the third dead-heat for first at the meeting…Jockey Juan Gutierrez also enjoyed a big day with three winners and is firmly entrenched in second place. Frazier, going for his fifth title in seven years, leads Gutierrez 68-54, with Gallyn Mitchell and Francisco Duran tied for third at 44 wins each.
* Ganbei ($17.50) caught previously undefeated Burj Dubai in the final strides for a 7-to-1 upset in Sunday’s $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate for 3-year-olds and up at Hastings Racecourse.
* Marlang ($6.80) won the 1 ½-mile Sunset Handicap as Hollywood Park completed its 65-day spring/summer meeting Sunday,
* Live racing resumes Thursday with first post at 6 p.m.
* Reminder: Emerald Downs is open for simulcast wagering every Wednesday to Sunday, and this Wednesday’s action includes opening day of Del Mar’s 2010 season at 2 p.m. The 37-day meeting continues through Sept. 8.
