Olympic Lights took a five-length victory in the $12,600 SAFE Purse for older sprinters in the feature at Emerald Downs Friday.
Olympic Lights ran the six furlongs in a fast 1minute, 8 4/5 seconds with Troy Stillwell in the irons paying $6, $3.80 and $3. Charles Essex conditioned the 5-year-old gelding for owner Dean Essex of Granite Falls, Wash.
Silver Wildcat, winner of last year’s Idaho Cup Derby at Les Bois Park, finished second in his Emerald Downs debut for trainer Chris Stenslie and owners-breeders Clifford and Pat Larsen. Ridden by Jose Zunino, Silver Wildcat paid $15 and $5.20.
Yes Bay, one of only two horses with four wins at the meet, rallied for third under Jennifer Whitaker and paid $2.60. Sea Speaker, Coastal King, Toutlelew and Zillah’s Knight completed the order of finish.
Olympic Lights went to the lead at once, setting fractions of 21 4/5 and 44 3/5, before entering the lane with a 3 ½-length advantage. He turned aside Silver Wildcat, and drew off in the final furlong.
A Washington-bred by Tropic Lightning, Olympic Lights has a 6-4-1 mark in 15 starts with earnings of $50,446. He has won 5-of-11 starts at Emerald Downs, including a 1:08 1/5 clocking that was the fastest three-quarters at the 2008 meeting.
Track Notes:
• Leading rider Ricky Frazier was tossed off of Tipperary Dream at the gate and suffered a minor shoulder injury before the start of the second race Friday. Though the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, he elected to take off the rest of Friday’s mounts and is listed as day-to-day. Frazier won the first race aboard Spring Run to give him 112 wins on the season.
• Cassie Papineau needs one victory to tie the record of 47 wins by an apprentice jockey.
• The stewards suspended Jose Zuninoand Seth Martinez two days each for causing interference in races on July 9 and June 11, respectively.
• First post is 2 p.m. Saturday. The $50,000 Angie C Stakes for 2-year-old fillies features 9-5 morning line favorite Knight Raider and 3-1 second choice Sweet Nellie Brown.
