COCA-COLA HANDICAP
17th RUNNING, JUNE 24, 2012
ONE-MILE IN 1:35.13 :23.23 :46.13 1:09.93 1:22.17
JOCKEY GALLYN MITCHELL, MAKORS FINALE, WINNER: “You could see from his last race that he had speed. He took the lead so easy today. He was pricking his ears the whole way. I was waiting (longer than usual) because he’s the kind that likes to wait for other horses. If I tried to ride him hard, he wouldn’t go anywhere. When I saw Leslie (Mawing) rolling up with D’honorable One, I pulled my horse closer so he could see (Makors Finale). When he saw him, my horse gave me another half-length. When he runs with company, he’s such a different horse. I was just trying to use my head and let him do the work. He’s one of the top-five horses I’ve ever been on.”
JOCKEY LESLIE MAWING, D’HONORABLE ONE, SECOND: “I wanted to be a little closer to the pace, but he missed the break a tad bit. It looked like Makors Finale was just too fast for the other horses up front. I asked my horse a little early to put some more pressure on the leader. He had to make a three-furlong move, so he got a little tired at the end. When this horse gets it all together, he’s going to be tough to beat.”
NOTES: Makors Finale (9-4-4-0-$90,852)…Gallyn Mitchell has two stakes wins this season and is No. 1 all-time with 76 stakes victories at Emerald Downs…Tom Wenzel ranks first with three stakes wins this season and has 16 lifetime stakes wins at EmD…Karl Krieg has two stakes wins at EmD, both with Makors Finale…Blaine Wright, trainer of runner-up D’honorable One, said 2011 Coca-Cola Handicap winner Zayda has been retired by owner Heidi Nelson (Nelson Family Racing). The 4-year-old Bluegrass Cat colt finished eighth in Saturday’s feature race for $32,000/$25,000 claimers…Don Love, the Florida-base breeder of D’honorable One, was on hand to watch the colt run for the first time Sunday…Next for 3-year-olds: $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap, 1-1/16 miles, Sunday, July 15.
IRISH DAY HANDICAP
17th RUNNING, JUNE 24, 2012
ONE-MILE IN 1:35.88 :23.82 :46.60 1:10.23 1:22.88
JOCKEY JUAN GUTIERREZ, EXCLUSIVE DIVA, WINNER: “This race was a little funny today. I thought I was going to take the lead. Lady Hokulea took the lead, so I stayed behind her. On the backside, I started to get worried, because I didn’t know if she’d be able to respond. At the quarter-pole, I started to ask her for everything. I saw Royal Moses closing fast, but my filly tried hard. She reminds me of Elusive Horizon. She’s a little filly with a big heart.”
NOTES: Exclusive Diva (5-4-0-1-$98,105)…Northwest Farms is No. 1 all-time with 29 stakes wins @ EmD…Tom Wenzel went four-for-four today and is only the fourth trainer to win two stakes in one day at Emerald Downs. He also leads all trainers with four stakes wins in 2012, and has moved into 10th place all-time with 17 stakes victories at EmD…Juan Gutierrez has ridden the last three winners of the Irish Day Handicap and ranks No. 3 all-time with 41 stakes wins at Emerald Downs…Next for 3-year-old fillies: $50,000 Kent Handicap, 1-1/16 miles, Sunday, July 15.
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