Italian Warrior held off Cinematic Cat for a head victory Friday in the $11,900 Copiers Northwest Purse at Emerald Downs.

With Julien Couton riding, Italian Warrior ran six furlongs in 1:10.93 and returned $5.40, $3.60 and $2.60. Blaine Wright is the trainer for owners Luigi DiPietro and Diana DiPietro.

A 4-year-old Arkansas-bred, Italian Warrior has now won two straight after losing his first 11 starts. His overall record is 13-2-6-0, with earnings of $34,182. Friday, he swept past Cantcatchme in mid-stretch, opened a two-length advantage, and then was all-out to hold off Cinematic Cat.

Cinematic Cat, ridden by Jake Barton, finished with a late rush and was clearly second best. The runner-up paid $4.40 and $3.40.

It was 4 ½ lengths back to Kendini, a 27-to-1 long shot, and a $3.60 show payoff. Touch of Danzig finished fourth and Cantcatchme, the 9-to-10 favorite, faded to fifth.

NOTES: New track announcer Matt Dinerman called Friday’s third and fourth races, nailing both calls including a blanket four-horse finish won by Hot Bobby ($11.60) in race three. Dinerman is slated to call three races Saturday including the opener for Quarter Horses. . .Incidentally, Hot Bobby was the1,000th horse on the grounds when the track recently hit that milestone for the first time in four years. . . Robert Geller’s final day is June 7, and Dinerman takes over for good June 12. . .Italian Warrior ($5.40), Seadrifter ($7.80) and Wedding Kake ($6.60) became the 13th, 14th and 15th horses with two wins at the meet. . .Julien Couton rode two winners to extend his lead to 24-19 overJuan Gutierrez and Leslie Mawing atop the riders’ standings. . .Natasha Coddington rode first-time starter Rahys Ransom to a $47.40 upset in the nightcap for trainer Howie Gibson. Two of Coddington’s three wins at the meet have been on 22-to-1 long shots. . .Live Like Mike ($4.20) prevailed in Race 2 to give trainer Roddina Barrett her first win of the meeting. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m. Charlie Thomas makes his Emerald Racing Club debut in race eight (5:28 p.m.) and is 5-to-2 on the morning line.

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