Pearl staged a frantic rally under leading rider Ricky Frazier and scored a one-length victory Thursday in the $12,600 Stanislaw Ashbaugh Purse for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
In sixth place into the stretch, Primadonna Pearl responded to Frazier’s urging and swept past the leaders late for her third straight victory and fourth of the season overall. Primadonna Pearl ran six furlongs in 1 minue, 9 seocnds on a fast track and paid $10.20, $5.40 and $3.20. Vann Belvoir is the trainer for owner Jerry Maggard of Yakima, Wash.
De Cantina, an 18-1 shot ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, finished well inside for second place and paid $17.60 and $7.40. Gang Leader, Troy Stillwell riding, finished third and paid $3.40.
Private Lesson, the even-money betting favorite, broke slowly, bid three-wide for the lead into the lane, weakened late and finished fifth.
Claimed for $7,500 in May, Primadonna Pearl took awhile to find her best stride for her new connections. Although competitive, she lost five straight before beginning her winning streak with a similar rally on July 18. She followed that one up with a last-to-first score at the same $15,000 claiming level on Aug. 27, and then completed the hat trick with her slingshot victory Thursday.
A Washington-bred by Private Gold, Primadonna Pearl has a 5-2-5 mark in 17 starts overall.
Vann Belvoir had two wins on the card and is in contention for the training title with 51 wins. Eight-time champion Tim McCanna leads with 56 wins while Doris Harwood, the meet’s leading stakes trainer, is second overall with 52 wins.
Frazier doubled for his 46th multiple win day and upped his total to 142 wins in 80 days. He needs 16 victories in the final 11 days to better his own single-season mark of 157 wins.
Track notes:
• Gallyn Mitchell became the second jockey at the meet to hit the 100-win mark with a victory on Ave and Jim ($5.40) in the first race…Hoonan-Trujillo scored consecutive victories in the fourth race on Jolienator ($15.80) and the fifth aboard Inhoc Signo Vinces ($9.40).
• Apprentice jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores finished fourth on Brite City Lights in Thursday’s first race, his first mount at Emerald Downs. The triple-bug apprentice rode his first career winner last weekend at Walla Walla.
• Racing continues Friday with first post at 6 p.m…Entries for Washington Cup VII will be taken Friday morning at the Quarter Chute Café.
