Wild Hoss makes it three wins for red-hot jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores on Friday night

IT’S MUNGER AND CAMACHO-FLORES TIME!

AUBURN, Wash. (April 27, 2012) – Trainer Don Munger and jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores stole the show Friday night at Emerald Downs.

The 88-year-old Munger and the 28-year-old Camacho-Flores teamed up for three long shot winners on the seven-race card. They swept the early daily double with White River and Mt Peak, and later capped their big evening when Wild Hoss rallied for a 7-to-1 upset in the feature race for 3-year-old Washington-breds.

All three winners were bred and co-owned by Munger and his wife Wanda. Also, the Munger-owned stallion Nacheezmo sired all three winners, and Camacho-Flores was up for all three victories and took over first place in the jockeys’ standings with eight wins.

“It’s only the second time in my life I’ve won three races in one day,” said Munger, whose involvement with Thoroughbreds spans over a half-century.

The 3-year-old filly White River tipped Munger’s hot hand in Friday’s opener, spurting clear for a five-length victory at odds of 9.50-to-1.

In the second race, 5-year-old mare Mt Peak scored her maiden victory by 1-½ lengths at 4.30-to-1, making it two-for-two for the Munger/Camacho-Flores combination. And finally in the featured sixth, Wild Hoss looped past the field for a 1-½ length victory at odds of 7.20-to-1.

A 3-year-old colt by Nacheezmo-Fesity Blue, Wild Hoss finished fifth in his season bow April 13, and improved dramatically Friday to win going away. The bay colt ran five furlongs in :58.36, and is now 2-2-1 in eight career starts.

NOTES: Last Friday, Munger and Camacho-Flores combined with 22-to-1 Humongous for a 3-½-length victory… Friday’s early $0.50 Pick 4 (2-4-8-1) paid $1,345…Trainer Doris Harwood broke into the win category in 2012 when Maltese Pins ($10.80) drew off to win the third race under Gallyn Mitchell…Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett enjoyed a big day Friday as he won two of the first three races at Golden Gate Fields—6-year-old mare Eyes On the Prize notched a $16.20 upset in the first, $32,500 allowance/optional claiming race on the turf and 3-year-old colt Johnski ($4) captured a $28,500 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds in race three. A Kentucky-bred by Lion Heart, Johnski is the latest runner out of the prolific broodmare Carrie Can, whose progeny include Harvard Avenue, Stormin J.P., Carry On John and Davos. Crockett race manager Lance Williams said Johnski could ship to Emerald Downs for the $50,000 Auburn Handicap on June 3. Incidentally, both of Crockett’s Friday winners were saddled by Frank Lucarelli and ridden by Russell Baze, whose world record career win total now stands at 11,567…Washington Husky football fans almost had a dream hunch play come in Friday at Keeneland. The 3-year-old colts Coach Royal and Sark finished second and third in the 10th race for maidens on the turf…Washington-bred Missie Ky I You ($5.40) broke her maiden in her 20th career start Friday night at Betfair Hollywood Park. The 5-year-old You and I mare had compiled 0-7-5 record in 19 starts prior to Friday…The first Emerald A.M. of the season is 9 a.m. Saturday, featuring jockey Rocco Bowen and owner Jody Peetz…Live racing continues Saturday at 2:15 p.m. A $0.50 Pick 5 carryover of $1,885 is up for grab on races five through nine.
-##-