Scat Daddybaby showed off his sensational speed again Saturday at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Gallyn Mitchell for owners Mike and Amy Feuerborn and trainer Robbie Baze, the 5-year-old Scat Daddy gelding zipped 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.14 while scoring a three-length victory in the $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
The 4-to-5 betting favorite, Scat Daddybaby paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.20.
Trick Or Retreat, ridden by Leslie Mawing, rallied late for second and paid $3.80 and $2.60. Del Rio Harbor, ridden by Julien Couton, finished third and paid $2.80.
Grinder Sparksaglo, Fleet Eagle, Botch and Spit and Shine completed the order of finish.
After losing a blind shake for the 12th and final slot in last month’s Longacres Mile, Scat Daddybaby instead romped by 4-¾ lengths in the Pete Pedersen Memorial Purse, running one mile in 1:34.17 and earning the same Beyer—98—Stryker Phd received for winning the Longacres Mile.
Scaling back to 6-½ furlongs Saturday, Scat Daddybaby set fractions of :22.26, :44.31 and 1:08.60 en route to his second straight victory and his seventh in 20 lifetime starts. The $13,750 winner’s share increased his career earnings to $113,189.
JAVIER MATIAS RIDES 1,000th CAREER WINNER
Jockey Javier Matias rode the 1,000th winner of his career inSaturday’s 11th race, guiding Dallon’s Gold ($7.60) to a gate-to-wire victory for trainer Howard Belvoir.
Matias rode two winners Saturday, scoring career victory No. 999 aboard True Visionary ($4.20) in the second race and bagging the milestone 1,000th winner on 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding Dallon’s Gold in the nightcap.
Surrounded in the winner’s circle by his wife Elsa and son Aldo, Matias thanked Emerald Downs’ horsemen and his family for continued support in his riding career.
A 43-year-old native of Mexico City, Matias ranks sixth in this year’s Thoroughbred standings, recording 34 wins through Saturday, and he also is the track’s top Quarter Horse jockey with an amazing 9-for-15 record this season.
Matias is No. 12 all-time with 375 wins at Emerald Downs.
NOTES: Trainer Jeff Metz had two wins Saturday—his 64thand 65th of the season—and needs two wins Sunday to break Tim McCanna’s track record of 66 wins set seven years ago. Metz has four horses entered Sunday including two horses in race eight. . .Trainer David Martinez and Coal Creek Farm won back-to-back races Saturday withDedicated to You ($13.40) taking a $25,000 allowance race and Until You ($36) prevailing in a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up. Martinez actually finished first and second in the latter as Mike Man’s Gold held second. . .Trainers Rosie Simkins and Rigoberto “Jesse” Velasquez were honored as co-winners of the 2015 Martin Durkan Award after Saturday’s sixth race. Lisa Bazerepresented Velasquez, winner of a career-high 26 races this season at Emerald Downs, in the winner’s circle. . .Congratulations to Emerald Downs’ Joe Withee, co-owner of two winners on Saturday’s card—first-time starterCarson’s Fireball ($5.20) in the opener and Seattles Best Copy ($4.20) in race three. Steve Bullock trains both runners. . .Saturday’s $0.50 Pick 5 paid a giant $8,078.25—fifth largest of the season. . .The 70-day meet concludesSunday with Fan Appreciation Day at 2 p.m. The 11-race card features two stakes for 2-year-olds—$65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles and $50,000 Cahill Road Stakes at six furlongs. . .The complete list of season honors will be released Sunday, including a second Stryker Phd’s second straight Horse of the Meeting title.
