Star of the Dia had his consistency rewarded Friday with a half-length victory over Leadership in the $11,650 feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Isaias Enriquez, Star of the Dia ran six furlongs in 1:10.09 and paid $9.60, $3.80 and $3.20. Frank Lucarelli*still with an outside chance at the training title*is the conditioner for owners Chris Randall and Nick Rossi.
The win snapped a five-race losing streak for Star of the Dia, during which the 4-year-old gelding had compiled two seconds and three thirds.
Leadership, ridden by Javier Matias, flew late to snatch second place and paid $4.80 and $2.80. Parkers Bluff, the 2-to-1 co-betting favorite, held third and paid $3 to show.
Ugottabcatty, Financial Officer and He’s a Cruiser completed the order of finish.
Star of the Dia stalked Parkers Bluff and Direct Cost through a half-mile in :44.96, took the lead into the stretch, and held off a late rally by Leadership for the victory.
A Kentucky-bred by Seeking the Dia, Star of the Dia is 4-8-5 in 22 career starts with earnings of $61,124.
NOTES: Zilver ($50.80) scored a massive upset in race five to give trainer Neil Knapp his second win of the night, and trigger a two-day carryover of $19,079 to Saturday in the $0.50 Pick 5. A 6-year-old Silver Deputy gelding, Zilver is 10-for-32 lifetime, but had been 4-0-0-0 at Emerald Downs before Friday. Marvins Magic, bidding for a fifth straight win and his sixth win of the meet, finished a close third. . . Jockey Ronald Richard capped his first three-win day of the meet with a last-to-first victory on Dead Eye ($18) in the seventh race finale. Richard, seventh in the standings with 43 wins, had one three-win day last season. . .Incidentally, Dead Eye was the Professor Pollowitz pick of the day in Friday’s official program. . .Isaias Enriquez rode two winners*Star of the Dia and Zilver*and ranks third in the standings with 54 wins . . .With five days remaining, Jeff Metz leads Frank Lucarelli 48-40 in the trainers’ standings. Metz has three horses entered this weekend and Lucarelli only one, meaning Lucarelli would have to finish with a flourish next week to deny Metz his second straight training title. . .Delta Downs track announcer Don Stevens, who grew up in Federal Way, made his first visit to Emerald Downs for Friday’s races. . .Live racing continues Saturday with a nine-race card at 2:15 p.m. The $0.50 Pick 5*featuring the $19,079 carryover*begins on race five at 4:04 p.m. . .Saturday simulcasts includes the $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby, featuring the return of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome. Race 12 at Parx, the Pennsylvania Derby goes off at 2:40 p.m. (pacific).
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