Snake Attack, a 4-year-old with the winning habit, led every step Thursday for a 3 ½-length victory in the $10,000 Ashbaugh Beal Purse for older horses at Emerald Downs.
With Kevin Krigger riding at 124 pounds, Snake Attack ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 4/5 seconds on a fast track and paid $11, $5.20 and $3.60. Jim Penney is the trainer for owner Kama’aina Thoroughbreds (Zachary and Beth Correa, Enumclaw, Wash.)
A Kentucky-bred gelding by You and I, Snake Attack won for the second time this season and is 6-for-14 at Emerald Downs. Overall, Snake Attack is 7-2-2 from 20 starts with earnings of $75,591.
Adding blinkers after a fifth-place effort at one mile on July 31, Snake Attack put away 6-to-5 favorite Chickasaw Park on the turn, drew four lengths clear into the stretch, and held off Immigration for the victory.
“I told Kevin (Krigger) to put him into the race, and he did,” said Penney, fourth with 32 wins at the meet and fourth all-time with 490 wins at Emerald Downs.
Immigration, ridden by Jennifer Whitaker at 120 lbs, finished well for second place and paid $5 and $3.80. The 6-year-old Delineator gelding has finished second in five of nine starts his season.
It was 1-¼ lengths farther back to Flaming Bullet, the 3-to-1 second choice, in third place. Ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 120 lbs, Flaming Bullet paid $3.20.
Chickasaw Park might have been compromised by a poor break and finished fourth. Snow On the River, Amante Mio and Chet the Jet completed the order of finish.
News and Notes
It’s a Magic Life, ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo and trained by Diane Garrison, scored a $53.60 upset in the fifth race. It was the fifth winner at the meet to pay over $50 for a $2 win ticket…Trainer Neil Knapp sent out first-time starter Tarabunal for a $21 upset under Miguel Perez in the second race. The 2-year-old Tribunal filly rallied for a neck victory over 31-to-1 long shot Eatonville Wildcat…Perez, who arrived in mid-July, rode three winners on the card including two for trainer Robbie Baze—Wild Gypsie ($8) in the fourth race and Um Um Good Stuff ($45.80) in the seventh…Little Lady Lo ($8.60) notched her third straight victory in the opener. Francisco Duran has been up for all three wins for trainer Frank Lucarelli and owner Ron Crockett Inc…A 3-year-old Delineator Live racing continues Friday with first post at 6 p.m.
