PREMIO ESMERALDA STAKES
17th RUNNING, JULY 29, 2012
SIX FURLONGS IN 1:10.04

JOCKEY JAVIER MATIAS, MIKE MAN’S GOLD, WINNER: “In the gate, he surprised me a little bit. Last time he broke last, but this time he broke really sharp. I didn’t want to take him back, so I just let him settle. I waited until the quarter-pole to ask him because I didn’t want him to move too early. At the quarter-pole, I said ‘let’s go.’ I never heard anyone coming until Gallyn (Mitchell) passed me after the wire.”

JOCKEY GALLYN MITCHELL, FINALLYGOTABENTLEY, SECOND: “I really thought we’d win this race. After dueling early in his last race, I figured out how this horse wants to run. He likes that late move. He was really green in the stretch today. I think if he stays straight we win the race. I was so far in front galloping out past the wire that the outrider had to catch him. If he ever figures it out, he’s going to be dangerous.”

NOTES: Mike Man’s Gold (2-2-0-0-$34,568)*Javier Matias is tied for first with Juan Gutierrez for most stakes wins at the meet with four apiece. Matias has 16 career stakes wins at Emerald Downs*Owner Keith Swagerty also campaigned No Flies On Doodle, half-sister to Mike Man’s Gold and a four-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs*This is the first Emerald Downs stakes win for trainer David Martinez, former assistant trainer to Vann Belvoir*Martinez is 1-0-3 in six stakes this meet including two third-place efforts by 3-year-old gelding Brady’s Kat*Washington-breds have won this race 14 times in 17 years*Next for 2-year-old colts & geldings: $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes, 6-½ furlongs, Saturday, Aug. 18.