Malibu Rum makes it three straight after winning Friday's feature on a sloppy track

MALIBU RUM CONTINUES WINNING WAYS

AUBURN, Wash. (June 22, 2012) – Malibu Rum made it three-for-three this season and six-for-10 lifetime with a come-from-behind four-length victory Friday in the $12,100 SMACNA Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Debbie Hoonan, Malibu Rum ran six furlongs in 1:08.48 on a sloppy track and paid $5.80, $4 and $3.20. Dan Markle is the trainer for owners Sue and Tim Spooner of Olympia, Wash.

Ugottabcatty, a 13-to-1 long shot ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, held second and paid $9.80 and $3.60. It was two lengths back to Rezar, ridden by Javier Matias, and a $6.20 show payoff.

Davos, Untilifindyou, Vegas Flyer and Goggles McCoy completed the order of finish.

Last early as Goggles McCoy led Untilifindyou through fractions of :22.33 and :44.84, Malibu Rum rallied wide through the turn, gained the lead past mid-stretch and drew off late.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Kela, Malibu Rum is only the seventh triple winner at the meet, and the $6,655 winner’s share bumped his earnings to $39,053 for the Spooners, who rank No. 3 all-time with 145 wins at Emerald Downs.

NOTES: Trainer David Martinez, former assistant to Vann Belvoir, picked up his first Emerald Downs win as Miss Magnability ($4.60) prevailed in the third race…William Antongeorgi rode three straight winners in races two through four, and is now tied for second place in the jockeys’ standings with apprentice Eliska Kubinova and Leonel Camacho-Flores. They all have 31 wins, five behind Juan Gutierrez…In the trainers’ race, Tim McCanna won the opener with Don’t Be Bugging Me ($7), Frank Lucarelli took the second with Bear Creek Road ($3.60), and there is a three-way tie for first between McCanna, Lucarelli and Howard Belvoir at 19 wins apiece…Live racing continues Saturday with a 10-race card at 2:15 p.m. The featured $17,100 ninth race includes 2011 Auburn Handicap winner Showme Yourfriends facing Go With Gusto, a 7-year-old gelding aiming for his fourth straight victory at the meet.

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