Couldabenthewhisky rebounded from his only career defeat with a half-length victory over Winter Warlock in the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings Sunday at Emerald Downs.

In the $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, the maiden Lady Golightly emerged with a 3 ½ -length victory over Kids Cooler in 1:37 4/5 for one mile on a fast track. Previously unbeaten Carrabelle Harbor, the 1-to-2 betting favorite, beat only one horse and struggled to finish fourth.

Couldabenthewhisky, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 120 pounds, ran one mile in 1 minute, 38 4/5 seconds and paid $11.20, $5 and $3.20. Bonnie Jenne is the trainer and co-owner with Andy Maib, Craig Fredrickson and Stan Fredrickson.

Couldabenthewhisky put away Hayjax into the stretch and fought off Winter Warlock late for the triumph. Winter Warlock was responsible for Couldabenthewhisky’s only defeat in four starts in the Aug. 8 Premio Esmeralda Stakes.

Atoning for his fifth-place finish in the Premio Esmeralda, Couldabenthewhisky, a Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold became the first juvenile colt with two stakes wins at the meet and has an overall mark of 3-0-0 in four starts. The $24,750 first prize doubled his earnings to $49,373.

Winter Warlock, ridden by Kevin Krigger at 120 pounds, pressed Hayjax through six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, and continued gamely in the stretch. Winter Warlock paid $3.20 and $2.40.

It was 1 ½ lengths back to third-place finisher Seattle Sniper, the 11-to-10 betting favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 119 lbs, and a $2.20 show payoff.

Mitchell, riding his 66th stakes winner at Emerald Downs, replaced Ricky Frazier on Couldabenthewhisky, as Frazier rode Hayjax.

“This was the first time I had ever ridden this colt, so I didn’t know what to expect,” Mitchell said. “I thought maybe he was a one-paced speed type, but he showed me today that he could relax. He was doing it so easily that I didn’t want him to lose interest, but he pricked his ears at the half-mile pole. He was a little green down the lane, and I was afraid the other horses were going to catch him. He showed his toughness and just dug back in.”

In the Shinpoch, Lady Golightly, second and third in two maiden sprints, improved dramatically on the stretch-out for trainer Tom Wenzel. The Washington-bred daughter of Matty G, in fourth-place early, advanced steadily and surged past Kids Cooler in deep stretch and won going away.

Owned by Wenzel and William Griffin, Lady Golightly earned $24,750 and paid $42.40, $10.60 and $7.20. Apprentice Pedro Terrero—riding his first stakes winner at Emerald Downs—was aboard Lady Golightly at 114 lbs.

Kids Kooler, Mitchell riding at 115 pounds, spurted away from Carrabelle Harbor on the last turn, drew well clear into the stretch, but yielded late to Lady Golightly. Kids Cooler paid $3.60 and $3.20.

It was 16 ¼ lengths back to third-place finisher Wings of Pegasus, Krigger riding at 119 lbs, and a $4.20 payoff.

Carrabelle Harbor hopped at the start, engaged Kids Cooler in a speed duel for six furlongs, and gave way on the last turn. The dark bay or brown filly, so impressive in winning the Knights Choice at 5 ½ furlongs and Angie C at six furlongs, struggled throughout the race according to jockey Ricky Frazier.

“She broke a little slow, and I moved her to the front so she wouldn’t go five-wide (on the first turn),” he said. “I did everything I could to try and slow her down early, but she just wouldn’t. We fought the whole way.”

Terrero has ridden 54 winners at the meet—the second highest total by an apprentice in track history—but had been winless in five stakes mounts.

“The plan was to sit back, because I knew there would be some horses in the race with a lot of speed,” Terrero said. “My filly was really relaxed on the backstretch. When I asked her to go at the three-eighths pole, I knew I had a lot of horse. I wasn’t sure if I was going to catch the No. 1 (Kids Kooler), because she looked fast up front. I am very happy to get my first stakes win here.”

Thursday racing ends in September

There is no Thursday racing in September at Emerald Downs, but there will be racing on Labor Day, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m., and a special matinee card Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. First post remains 6 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

50-cent pick four debuts Friday

Emerald Downs has received approval from the Washington Horse Racing Commission to offer 50-cent minimum Pick Four wagering, beginning Friday. Emerald Downs, which offers Pick Fours on the first and last four races daily, previously had a $1 minimum.

News and Notes

Jockey Kevin Krigger withdrew his appeal and was suspended two days, Sept. 5 & 6, for causing interference aboard Prisoner in the fourth race July 3.

Martin Pimentel saddled both winners of the early daily double including a mammoth upset by Pickled Again in the second race. Ridden by Miguel Perez, the third-time starter paid a meet-high $83.60 for a $2 win ticket.

Mitchell, Krigger and Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo rode two winners apiece on the 10-race card.

Frazier finished Week 20 with a 97-73 lead over Gutierrez in the jockeys’ standings…Tim McCanna and Vann Belvoir joined Pimentel with training doubles, and McCanna leads Belvoir 53-46 in the trainers’ standings.

Live racing resumes Friday with first post at 6 p.m. Emerald Downs is open for simulcast wagering Wednesday-Sunday.