It’s championship week for 3-year-olds in both divisions at Emerald Downs.
Saturday, 3-year-old fillies line up in the $65,000 Washington Oaks at 1 1/8 miles. And Sunday, colts and geldings take their turn in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby at 1 1/8 miles. The nine-furlong features figure to play a pivotal role in determining titles ion both divisions.
In fact, the 3-year-old filly division has been jumbled all season with three different winners in as many races. California-based City by the Bay, winner of the Seattle Handicap, and Ole’s Miss, the Canadian invader that shipped in to win last month’s Kent Handicap, are not nominated to the Washington Oaks.
That leaves the door open for Irish Day handicap winner Find Your Spot to clinch honors with a win in the Oaks.
Trainer Robbie Baze has two contenders with Mylast Sweet Pea and Chu and You, the former finishing third, fourth and second in the first three legs of the series, while Chu and You, after seconds in the Seattle and Irish Day, faded to finish sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Kent.
Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer nominated Lady Fifty Two to the Oaks. A daughter of Kodiak Kowboy, Lady Fifty Two has never raced farther than six furlongs but she did string together wins earlier this year at Golden Gate Fields.
In the Derby, trainer Doris Harwood holds a pair of aces with Noosito and Del Rio Harbor, Washington-breds by Harbor the Gold that have swept the first three races of the series. Noosito scored big victories in the Auburn and Seattle Slew Handicaps while Del Rio Harbor countered with a 2 ½-length win in the Coca-Cola Handicap. Noosito and Del Rio Harbor are tied 3-3 in the lifetime series, and both seem able to handle the additional distance in the Derby.
$65,000 Washington Oaks, Saturday, August 9
3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 & 1/8 Miles
Horse. . . . .Owner. . . .Trainer
Champagne Gal (3-KY) North American Thoroughbred Racing Co. Mike Puhich
Cheeky Stone (3-WA) Karen & Mickey Taylor LLC Larry Ross
Chu and You (3-WA) Michael & Amy Feuerborn Robbie Baze
Find Your Spot (3-WA) Where We At Jim Penney
Lady Fifty Two (3-KY) Dedomenico, Hollendorfer & Todaro Jerry Hollendorfer
Mylast Sweet Pea (3-WA) Bill & Betty Stiles & Valerie M. Johnson Robbie Baze
Papa’s Flashy Girl (3-CA) McGhee, Saratoga West & Strickland Jeff Metz
Quiet Wisdom (3-KY) Valerie M. Johnson & John Zervos Robbie Baze
Sunpenny (3-WA) Z Thoroughbred Racing Partners III Frank Lucarelli
$65,000 Emerald Downs Derby, Sunday, August 10
3-Year-Old Colts & Geldings, 1 & 1/8 Miles
Horse. . . .Owner. . . . .Trainer
Del Rio Harbor (3-WA) Desert Rose Racing & Bar C Racing Stables Doris Harwood
Hillside Select (3-KY) Grasshopper Racing Stable Inc. Jim Penney
Hoody (3-WA) Homestretch Farms & Hilton Stables Jim Penney
Mebossman (3-WA) R.E.V. Racing LLC Frank Lucarelli
Noosito (3-WA) Last Rose Stable Doris Harwood
Oldtimers Vision (3-KY) Dr. William Lien & Neil Knapp Neil Knapp
The Tom Squad (3-CA) J.C. Racing Stable Jeff Metz
Zoomzoomania (3-KY) Mike Pattison, John Charlton, J & U Rickard Charles Essex
