Dre’s K was never headed Saturday en route to an 11-¼-length victory in the $10,300 Laurel Laurel Purse for 3 year olds at Emerald Downs.
With Javier Matias riding for trainer Vann Belvoir, Dre’s K ran six furlongs in 1:09.66 on a fast track and returned $14.20, $4 and $2.40. The victory moved Belvoir into a 19-18 lead over his father, Howard Belvoir, atop the trainers’ standings.
Hustled to the front by Matias, Dre’s K cruised unopposed through fractions of :22.79, :45.36 and :57.16. He was six lengths clear into the stretch and padded the margin in the final furlong.
A Washington-bred gelding by Matty G, the talented but erratic Dre’s K has a 2-0-0 record from five starts with earnings of $11,191 for owner-breeder Rick Jewett. Dre’s K has victories of six and 11-¼-lengths, and off the board losses by 19-½, 10 and 15 lengths.
Praise a Native, the 3-to-5 betting choice ridden by Joe Crispin, was sluggish early but rallied late and edged Be There Joe by a nose for second place. Praise a Native paid $2.40 and $2.10. Be There Joe, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, paid $2.80.
Rainier Missile and Kafwain Secret M D rounded out the order of finish.
NOTES: Joe Crispin rode four winners on the 11-race card—the third rider at the meet to accomplish the feat.
Washington-bred Youtheprizeandi won the meet’s first maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies in :51.96 for 4-½ furlongs. Trained by Tim McCanna, owned by Jethorse LLC and ridden by Joe Crispin, Youtheprizeandi won by lengths and paid $6.80.
Seawind Stable LLC won the second race with first-time starter Sunrise Legacy ($21.40) and needs one win to become only the sixth owner with 100 wins at Emerald Downs…Trainer Chris Stenslie struck again as Oneparticularharbor ($28) led gate-to-wire in the seventh race under Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo. Stenslie is 8-3-0 in her last 15 starts and has jumped up to fifth place overall with 12 wins.
McCanna and Roy Lumm saddled two winners each…Sarah’s Secret ($9.80), trained by Washington Racing Hall of Fame Trainer Kathy Walsh, prevailed in the $100,000 Honeymoon Handicap (G2) for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Hollywood Park. The Kentucky-bred by Leroidesanimaux is co-owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood of Vancouver, Wash.
Live racing continues Sunday at 2:15 p.m. The $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes is race nine at 6:08 p.m. with Cliff’s Secret the 7-to-2 morning line choice in an 11-horse field.
