Lotta Passion edged Le Weaver late for a one-length victory Thursday in the Stanislaw Ashbaugh Purse for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
With Javier Matias riding, Lotta Passion ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 3/5 seconds and paid $0.20, 4.40 and $4.80. Doris Harwood is the trainer for owner Frank Gaunt of Eatonville, Wash.
Le Weaver, Gallyn Mitchell riding, dueled throughout, drew level past mid-stretch, but was out-finished by Lotta Passion. Le Weaver paid $3.40 and $3.20.
Fantasyville, with Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo riding, finished well for third place and paid $3.40.
A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred by Orientate, Lotta Passion debuted with a maiden victory April 26, but had run four straight thirds before Thursday’s victory. Breaking from the rail, she set fractions of :22, :44 4/5 and :57, while maintaining a short lead over Le Weaver, and held on in a stiff drive.
Overall, Lotta Passion has compiled a 2-0-4 record on seven starts and earnings of $20,680.
Harwood, who has already set single-season records for most earnings and most wins by 2-year-olds, has 56 wins at the meeting. Tim McCanna, the leader with 57 wins, also had one win Thursday.
Track notes:
• Seth Martinez rode three winners on the eight-race card, his sixth triple of the season, and ranks fourth with 68 wins.
• Leading rider Ricky Frazier was blanked and needs 13 wins in the final seven days to break his own record of 157 wins in a season.
• Jennifer Whitaker rode two winners, both on horses trained by Howard Belvoir.
• Racing continues Friday with first post at 6 p.m.