Botch and hot-riding Julien Couton teamed for an impressive 2 ¼-length victory Saturday in the $21,000 Way Scarff Ford Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
With Couton aboard for his third winning ride on the card, Botch ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.38 and paid $6.60, $3.60 and $2.60. Blaine Wright trains the 5-year-old winner for owners Luigi DiPietro and Diana DiPietro.
A Kentucky-bred by Brother Derek, Botch is among the most consistent older horses at the track, compiling a 2-2-0 record in four starts with earnings of $32,150.
In fifth early as Tim Tim Tim led through fractions of :22.11 and :45.21, Botch advanced outside on the turn, split horses into the lane and kicked clear for the victory.
Couton, meanwhile, is pouring it on atop the riders’ standings. The 34-year-old Frenchmen has 40 wins through the first 27 days, and he already has four three-win day and 10 two-win days, and leads Juan Gutierrez by six wins in the standings.
Calculated Chaos, ridden by Gutierrez, chased Botch to the wire but settled for second place, and paid $4.20 and $2.40. A 5-year-old Notional gelding, Calculated Chaos was bidding to become the meet’s first four-time winner.
Westley, ridden by Jake Barton, finished well for third and paid $2.80 to show.
Dare Me Devil, Pakokohe and Tim Tim Tim completed the order of finish. Polish Dollar and Parkers Bluff were scratched.
NOTES: Gutierrez and Rocco Bowen each had two wins Saturday. . .Barkley ($6) caught long shot Beauty Has Power late and scored a 3 ¼-length victory in the Saturday opener for 2-year-old maiden special weights, running 4 ½ furlongs in :52.29. Javier Matias rode the son of Munnings for Howard Belvoir andRising Star Stable III. . .Belvoir and Matias are a hot combination at Emerald Downs. They also clicked inFriday’s feature with 3-year-old colt Red Ridge, and are 7-for-29 at the meet with a $2.78 ROI. . .Finding More ($4.60) produced another big effort to easily defeat a good field of optional claiming fillies and mares in 1:17.26 for 6 ½ furlongs. Ridden by Eliska Kubinova for Jim Penney and Blue Ribbon Racing #12, Finding More is two-for-two at the meet and 6-0-2 in 20 lifetime starts with earnings of $170,796. A 5-year-old by Tricky Trevor-Greenmountain Girl, Finding More was state champion 2-year-old in 2012. . .Whiskeyonthehouse ($5.60) prevailed in race five and became the meet’s third three-time winner. The 5-year-old Washington-bred has wins this season at six furlongs, 6 ½ furlongs and one mile. . . Trainer Candi Tollett has won with her last three starters including a gate-to-wire victory by Twelfth Fan ($5.60) inSaturday’s sixth race. . .Hastings Racecourse-based Cindy Krasner saddled her first Emerald Downs winner, as Emeraldcity Kitten ($12) led gate-to-wire in race two for older fillies and mares. . .Blues Blaster, owned and trained by former Northwest jockey Bruce Dillenbeck, scored a mammoth $83.20 upset in the $50,000 Oak Tree Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Pleasanton. A 4-year-old Chhaya Dance colt, Blues Blaster ran 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:42.56. Eagle Screams finished second while the Jerry Hollendorfertandem of Oustide Nashville and G.G. Ryder finished third and fourth respectively. . .Live racing continuesSunday with unbeaten Fooled Again headlining the $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings at one mile. First post is 2 p.m.
