Orange Sherbet and leading rider Ricky Frazier prevailed narrowly over Alfawnsoul and jockey Kevin Krigger in Thursday’s feature race for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
The winner, trained by Doris Harwood for owner Shady Valley Ranch, ran one mile in 1 minute, 37 2/5 seconds on a fast track. Orange Sherbet paid $14.80, $5.80 and $3.60.
Alfawnnsoul, Kevin Krigger riding, was a neck back in second place and paid $4 and $3.20. Fly Away, ridden by apprentice Pedro Terrero, rallied wide for third place and paid $3.60. Wild Gypsie, the 2-to-1 betting favorite, finished fourth, followed by Bou’s Shadow, Debbie La Loca and Northtown.
Krigger claimed foul against the winner, alleging interference into the stretch, but the stewards cited a mutual bump and made no change in the order of finish.
Orange Sherbet, in fourth place as Debbie La Loca and Northtown dueled for the lead in fractions of 23 2/5, 46 2/5 and 1:11 4/5, swept to the lead into the lane, and then battled nip-and-tuck with Alfawnsoul to the wire.
A Washington-bred filly by Tribunal, Orange Sherbet has compiled a 2-3-1 mark in nine starts with earnings of $14,053. The Shady Valley Ranch homebred has two straight wins after beginning with seven losses, and she’s two-for-three with Frazier riding.
For Harwood, it was her second straight feature race victory as her 4-year-old Noosa Beach scored a 9 ¼-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap, and the Harbor the Gold gelding is the early local favorite for the $250,000 Longacres Mile, Grade 3, on Aug. 22.
News and Notes
• New York Baby ($2.40) won the first race at odds of 1-to-5 and had 96.8 percent of the money wagered in the show pool ($39,031-of-$40,325 ).
• Trainer Dayon Lavanway broke into the win column as Chet the Jet ($4.40) romped under Kevin Krigger in the fourth race. It was the second career victory for the 4-year-old Klinsman gelding, who’s career got off to an inauspicious start last year when he dumped the rider in his first two races.
• Live racing continues 6 p.m. Friday.
• Simulcast action includes Emerald Downs stakes winners Atta Boy Roy, Peaceful Reign and No Flies On Doodle in stakes races at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.
