Clemens Brook takes Friday feature | Emerald Downs

Brook did whet she does best Friday at Emerald Downs.

Brook did whet she does best Friday at Emerald Downs.

The veteran mare made the early lead and powered home for a 3 ½-length victory in the $14,925 feature race for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs. It was the 12th win just 29 starts for the speedy 7-year-old, and her eighth victory in 19 races at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, Clemens Brook ran six furlongs in 1:09.11 on a fast track and paid $5.40, $3.60 and $3. Rigoberto Velasquez is the trainer for owner Inittowinit.

Breaking from the No. 1 post-position, Clemens Brook dueled with Once Upon a Song through fractions of :22.25 and:44.77, gained the lead past the quarter-pole, drew six lengths clear past mid-stretch and coasted home under a hand ride.

Clemens Brook was among the track’s elite claimers last year when she compiled a 3-2-0 record in six starts for David Tollett and Velasquez, who claimed her for $10,000 from a winning effort last July. Friday’s win, worth $8,140, pushed Clemens’ Brook career bankroll to $72,058.

Miss Communication, ridden by Rocco Bowen, rallied to finish second and paid $3.20 and $3. Whiskey Miner, Isaias Enriquez riding, finished third and paid $5.20 to show.

Liberty Lake, Royal Moses and Once Upon a Song completed the order of finish.

NOTES: Foolish Miss paid a meet-high $63.60 in Friday’s fifth race and gave jockey Jose Zunino his second win of the night. Alan Bozell trains the 6-year-old Washington-bred mare. . .Velasquez saddled two winners Friday*Clemens Brook and 9-year-old Havin a Good Day ($4.20), who notched his 19th career victory and 11th win at Emerald Downs with a front-running score over Bid for Pride in race three. . .Doris Harwood claimed Royal Moses for a meet-high $20,000 in Friday’s feature race. . .Whitaker, ninth all-time with 435 wins at Emerald Downs, needs one win to tie Debbie Hoonan for most wins by a woman rider at EmD. Hoonan currently is sidelined following shoulder surgery. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m. The 139th Preakness Stakes will be simulcast between races three and four, with post time 4:18 p.m. (pacific). . .Saturday’s Emerald Downs’ feature is an $18,900 allowance race for older fillies and mares at six furlongs, with California shipper Alert in Class the 9-to-5 morning line favorite for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop.