Winter Warlock, whose daddy was runner-up in the 2004 Longacres Mile, appears to have a bright future of his own at Emerald Downs.
The first progeny of Demon Warlock to win a race, Winter Warlock also became the fledgling sire’s first stakes winner with a three-quarter-length triumph Sunday in the $50,000 Premio Esmeralda Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
The Premio Esmeralda Stakes is the centerpiece of a daylong celebration that salutes the contributions of the Hispanic community in Thoroughbred racing. It also was half of a stakes double-header that also featured a dominant victory by undefeated Carrabelle Harbor in the $50,000 Angie C. Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
With Kevin Krigger aboard at 120 pounds, Winter Warlock ran six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 4/5 seconds and paid $9.20, $3.40 and $2.60. Tim McCanna is the trainer for owners Tim Floyd of Spokane, Horseplayers Racing Club and James Broussard of Spokane.
Seattle Sniper, the 6-to-5 betting favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 120 lbs, made a bid in mid-stretch, but settled for second place and paid $3 and $2.80. It was 3-¼ lengths back to Gdanz Express, the third-place finisher ridden by Miguel Perez at 120 lbs, and a 3.40 show payoff.
Couldabenthewhisky, the 2-to-1 second choice and winner of the Strong Ruler Stakes last month, finished fifth after a troubled trip.
Winter Warlock set a pressured pace of 22 2/5, 45 2/5 and 57 2/5, maintained a short lead into the stretch and repelled Seattle Sniper, a Northwest Farms homebred that ran two fast races on sloppy tracks in June.
“I wasn’t worried about (Seattle Sniper) passing us, because I knew it would take a super horse to beat us today,” Krigger said. “I think the extra start was a big difference between his last stakes race and today.”
A Washington-bred by Demon Warlock-Royal Snowflight, Winter Warlock earned $24,750 for the victory. The dark bay or brown colt is 2-1-0 in three starts with $35,230 in earnings.
Carrabelle Harbor made short work of the Angie C. Stakes. An Oregon-bred by the smoking-hot sire Harbor the Gold, Carrabelle Harbor cruised gate-to-wire for a 9 ¼-length victory over 15-to-1 long shot The Gang and I.
With Ricky Frazier riding at 119 pounds, Carrabelle Harbor ran six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 and paid $4, $2.80 and $2,20. Doris Harwood is the trainer for Bar C Racing Stable and Desert Rose Racing LLC.
The Gang and I, ridden by Francisco Duran at 119 lbs, held second by a neck and paid $9.20 and $4.40. Wings of Pegasus, ridden by Krigger at 119 lbs, finished third and paid $2.60.
Carrabelle Harbor, who debuted July 18 with a 1-¼ length triumph in the Knights Choice Stakes, is 2-for-2 with earnings of $41,271. The only anxious moments Sunday were caused by her hesitance to load into the starting gate.
“The only mistake she made today was not getting in the gate,” said Frazier, who has combined with Harwood to win six stakes at the meeting. “Racing wise, she was absolutely perfect. She broke sharp and switched leads when I asked her to.”
By Harbor the Gold-Silver City Lilly, Carrabelle Harbor set fractions of 21 4/5, 45 2/5 and 57 4/5, led by four lengths into the stretch and drew off under a vigorous hand ride.
News and Notes
Both Frazier and Harwood rank No. 1 all-time in stakes wins at Emerald Downs, with 69 and 46, respectively…Frazier and Harwood also lead in 2010 stakes wins with seven and six, respectively…Harwood also ranks first with 19 stakes wins by 2-year-olds including the last four runnings of the Angie C—Carrabelle Harbor, 2010; Knight Raider, 2009; Super Dixie, 2008, and Smarty Deb, 2007…Harbor the Gold, who stands at Bar C Racing Stable in Hermiston, Ore., has sired seven stakes winners at the meeting…Favorites are 5-for-18 in stakes this season, including 2-for-2 by Carrabelle Harbor….Third-race winner La Valle Girl paid a meet-high $71.20 for a $2 win ticket. Trained by Chris Stenslie and ridden by Francisco Duran, the 3-year-old Private Gold filly had finished last in her two previous lifetime starts. Stenslie has trained the two biggest-priced winners at the meet—La Valle Girl and Leroi Victor, a $65 winner on July 23…Krigger, Frazier and apprentice Pedro Terrero rode two winners each on the nine-race card…Frazier finished Week 18 with an 80-63 lead over Juan Gutierrez in the jockeys’ standings…Howard Belvoir led trainers with two wins…McCanna’s victory with Winter Warlock gave him a 45-41 lead over Vann Belvoir in the trainers’ standings…Live racing resumes Thursday with first post at 6 p.m. Emerald Downs is open for simulcast wagering Wednesday-Sunday.
