Where I Belong held off Lucy Got Lucky in the stretch run for a two-length victory Thursday in the $15,700 Stanislaw Ashbaugh feature for 3-year-old fillies Thursday at Emerald Downs.
With Saul Arias riding for trainer Doris Harwood, Where I Belong ran 1 mile in 1 minute, 38 1/5 seconds on a fast track and paid $9.40, $5.20 and $2.40. A Kentucky-bred by Soto-Annie’s Halo, Where I Belong won for the second time in nine starts—a career that includes a second to Ladyledue in the April 25 Inaugural Stakes.
The victory was worth $8,635 for owner/breeder Barbara Ratcliff of Bellevue who owns Coal Creek Farm in Enumclaw.
The maiden Lucy Got Lucky rallied for second place under Juan Gutierrez and paid $7.60 and $2.60. The Blaine Wright trainee has finished second in five of seven career starts.
Private Lesson, the 2-5 betting favorite ridden by Ricky Frazier, was nearly five-lengths back in third place, and paid $2.10 for show. Start Time finished fourth and She’s a Sweetie was last. De Cantina was scratched earlier in the day.
Where I Belong took the lead from Private Lesson on the backstretch, as the Harwood trainees vied for command through six furlongs in 1:11 4/5. Where I Belong was two lengths clear into the lane and held sway under urging by Arias.
Racing Notes
• Cassie Papineau booted home a pair of winners and with 42 victories is bearing down on the single-season apprentice record of 47 wins.
• Harwood led the trainers with three wins, her fourth triple of the meet, and tied Howard Belvoir for third in the standings at 33 wins apiece.
• Tim McCanna and Vann Belvoir are first and second with 41 and 34 wins, respectively.
• Jose Contreras rode two of Harwood’s winners for his first riding double at Emerald Downs.
• Ricky Frazier drew his second straight blank, but he still leads Gallyn Mitchell 96-68 in the jockeys’ standings.
• Assessment at 120 pounds and Wasserman at 118 top the weights for Sunday’s $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap on Mile Preview Day.
• Triple stakes winner Elusive Horizon, one of two fillies and mares weighted at 120 for Sunday’s $50,000 Boeing Handicap, worked a half-mile in :49 1/5 for Harwood
• Racing continues Friday with first post at 6 p.m.
