KENT HANDICAP
16th RUNNING, JULY 15, 2012
1-1/16 MILES IN 1:42.02 :23.84, :47.80, 1:11.90, 1:36.86

JOCKEY JAVIER MATIAS, CHAMPAGNEANDCAVIAR, WINNER: “There really wasn’t a plan going into this race. I wanted to break fast this time, because last time she didn’t break well. I saw nobody was going to the lead, so I just took it. The pace was feeling so easy. From the quarter-pole to the wire, I rode this horse so hard. (Exclusive Diva) passed me, so I went left-handed with the stick, and my horse came right back. I really wanted to beat that horse, because she was the class of the race.”

JOCKEY MARIO GUTIERREZ, REGAL BETTY, THIRD: “We did exactly what we wanted. Stalk the pace, and then make one move. She kicked in and kept giving me more, but the leaders never came back. The horses on the front end didn’t stop today. It’s been so nice to be back at Emerald Downs. Being in the jockeys’ room and talking with everybody has been great. It’s been such a great year, I’m glad I can share my happiness with everyone.”

NOTES: Champagneandcaviar (10-2-2-2-$47,775)*$58.60 is a record mutuel for the Kent Handicap and sixth largest $2 win price in Emerald Downs’ stakes history*Fleur de Lis Stable LLC and Javier Matias have combined for three stakes wins at the meet: Winning Machine, Governors Handicap, Budweiser Handicap; Champagneandcaviar, Kent Handicap*By Van Nistelrooy-Dance With Carson, Champagneandcaviar is a half-sister to Winning Machine*Matias has 15 stakes wins at Emerald Downs*This is the first stakes win of the meet for Howard Belvoir. He ranks No. 6 all time with 28 stakes wins at EmD*Next for 3-year-old fillies: $65,000 Washington Oaks, Saturday, Aug. 11.