Highdleburg raced to the early lead and held Schuster Way safe in the stretch for a 2 ¼-length victory Friday in the featured Stanislaw Ashbaugh Purse for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.
With Gallyn Mitchell up for his third win of the night, Highdleburg ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 09 3/5 seconds and paid $5, $3 and $2.60. Larry Wolf is the trainer for Vic Cozzetti’s Vic-Tory Stables VI.
A Washington-bred by Petersburg-Vying High, Highdleburg has a 2-1-1 record in seven starts with earnings of $11,393. The improving gelding has a 2-1-0 record in his last four starts.
Breaking from the outside post-position, Highdleburg led through fractions of 22 2/5, 45 2/5 and 57 2/5, entered the lane two lengths clear and held off a game Schuster Way in the drive.
Schuster Way, Troy Stillwell riding, paid $5.60 and $4.40, while Golden Partner finished third under Ricky Frazier and paid $4.40.
Wolf and Vic-Tory Stables have had great success this season with double-winner Highdleburg, three-time winner He’s All Heart and recent winner Larrythestableguy. Wolf, who doubled Friday, is having his finest season at Emerald downs with 12 wins in 58 starts for 20.6 win percentage.
Mitchell’s three wins upped his season total to 96, and Emerald Downs’ all-time leading rider is on the verge of his second 100-win season.
Track note:
• Keith Swagerty’s of Swag Stables broke the single-season record for most wins by an owner when Escorted ($5) rallied for a three-quarter-length victory under Mitchell in the third race.
It was the 24th victory of the meeting for Swag Stables and broke the mark of 23 wins set by West Ridge Ranch (Larry and Veralene Hillis) in 2003. Swag Stables set the mark in the 73rd day of the 91-day meet.
“It’s been a great year,” Swagerty said in the winner’s circle. “I’ve had great connections with (trainer) Vann Belvoir and Gallyn Mitchell.”
No Flies On Doodle has been the star of Swag Stables. Unraced when the meet began, the homebred daughter of Storm Blast has won four races, including the $75,000 Washington Oaks, and $91,225 in purses. She is a top contender for honors as the meet’s top 3-year-old filly.
• Jim Penney became the fourth trainer to hit the 450-win mark at Emerald Downs when Bag the Win ($4.40) romped under Gallyn Mitchell in the second race. The victory came on the 32nd anniversary of Penney saddling Theologist to a three-quarter-length victory in the 1977 Longacres Mile.
•Tim McCanna is No. 1 all-time with 692 training wins at Emerald Downs, followed by Frank Lucarelli at 569 and Howard Belvoir at 457
