Gold Rush Dancer had his consistency rewarded Sunday at Emerald Downs, scoring a 5 ½-length victory over My Heart Goes On in the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds on closing day of the 2015 season.
Ridden by Julien Couton at 120 lbs, Gold Rush Dancer ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.45 on a fast track and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Bill Tollett is the winning trainer for owner/breeder John E. Parker of Lake Bay, Wash.
It was the 100th win of the meeting for Couton, the 2015 riding champion, and the first stakes win for Gold Rush Dancer, who had been stakes-placed three times beforeSunday’s dominating breakthrough victory.
Gold Rush Dancer overtook the filly My Heart Goes On into the stretch and, although drifting and veering through the lane, drew off for an easy victory.
“He was a little bit all over the place,” Couton said. “But he has so much talent, and he’s going to bet better as he gets older.”
A Washington-bred by Private Gold-Dances On Water, Gold Rush Dancer earned $35,393 to push his bankroll to $74,093. His overall mark of 2-2-1 in five starts includes seconds in the Emerald Express and Captain Condo Stakes, and a third in the WTBOA Lads Stakes.
My Heart Goes On, ridden by Javier Matias at 118 lbs, held second and paid $4.80 and $3.20. Cape Grace, a filly ridden by Leslie Mawing at 118 lbs, finished third and paid $2.60.
Love the Lion, Wando Cat, Packy’s Out and En Avant completed the order of finish.
