SEATTLE HANDICAP
15th RUNNING, MAY 27, 2012
6-½ FURLONGS IN 1:14.58 :22.82 :45.66 1:08.73
JOCKEY JUAN GUTIERREZ, EXCLUSIVE DIVA, WINNER: “The plan was to go to the front and try to get her to relax. I felt a little pressure from Lady Hokulea, but at the quarter-pole, my horse took another gear. I didn’t think she’d do it so easily for being such a little horse. She proved she was much the best.”
JOCKEY JOE CRISPIN, ROYAL MOSES, SECOND: “She ducked out really bad at the start, so I just dropped her down to the rail and let her save ground. She was weaving through traffic, but we had to go five-wide around the turn, so it cost us a little bit. If they would’ve pushed the leader a little more, I think I would’ve caught her. At this point, with the way (Royal Moses) closes, I think she’ll be wonderful going two turns. She’ll be tough to beat this year.”
NOTES: Exclusive Diva (4-3-0-1-$70,605)…The winning time of 1:14.58 (1:14-2/5) equals the stakes record held by Youcant’takeme in 2003. Incidentally, Youcant’takeme in 2003 is the only filly or mare ever to be named Emerald Downs’ Horse of the Meeting…The winning margin, 8-½ lengths, also was a stakes record…Northwest Farms is No. 1 all-time with 28 stakes wins at EmD and tied for first with two Seattle wins—Shampoo (2007) and Exclusive Diva (2012)…Tom Wenzel has 14 stakes wins at Emerald Downs, tied for 11th best all-time…Juan Gutierrez is No. 3 all-time with 40 stakes wins at EmD, and first with two stakes wins in 2012. Gutierrez also leads the meet with 22 wins overall…Next for 3-year-old fillies, $50,000 Irish Day Handicap, One Mile, Sunday, June 24…Northwest Farms, Wenzel and Gutierrez teamed with Elusive Noise to win the 2011 Irish Day Handicap.
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