Tribaltique swept to the lead in mid-stretch and drew clear for a 3-½ length victory Saturday in the $14,375 feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
Harbor Wind held second and completed a one-two finish and a three-win afternoon for Frank Lucarelli, the meet’s leading trainer by a 30-25 margin over Tim McCanna.
Lucarelli, from Enumclaw, already has four three-win days this season, but the track’s defending training champion wasn’t on hand for Saturday’s events at Emerald Downs. Instead he was in Inglewood, Calif., where he saddled Stormy Lucy to a fifth-place finish in the $350,000 American Oaks (GI) for 3-year-old fillies. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Stormy Atlantic, Stormy Lucy began her career at Emerald Downs last year, and has developed into a stakes winner while competing against some of the world’s most talented sophomore fillies on turf.
Tribaltique also is moving in the right direction, compiling a 2-1-0 record in three starts after being claimed for $12,500 by Lucarelli for owner R.E.V. Racing LLC.
With Leslie Mawing riding, Tribaltique ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:14.23 and paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10. The winning time was the second fastest of the meeting at 6-½ furlongs; Winning Machine, also trained by Lucarelli, ran a 1:13.97 in winning the May 20 Governor’s Handicap.
A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Tribal Rule, Tribaltique is 3-4-0 in nine career starts with earnings of $27,416.
Harbor Wind, ridden by Jorge Rosales, paid $5 and $2.80 for place and show. The lone 3-year-old in the race, Harbor Wind sprinted clear early, set fractions of :22.05 and :44.06, and led by two lengths into the stretch. Tribaltique reeled in the leader a furlong from the finish line, however, and drew off to win with complete authority.
It was six lengths back to third-place finisher Frenzo, who was ridden by Javier Matias and paid $2.20 to show. Exclusive Star and Big Bad Jim completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Jose Zunino, William Antongeorgi and apprentice Eliska Kubinova rode two winners each Saturday*Antongeorgi was up for Lucarelli’s first two wins: Jewel S ($4.20) in the third race and Cookie and Milk ($4.20) in the fourth*Leading rider Juan Gutierrez rode one winner and leads Mawing 56-47 in the jockeys’ standings*Gdanz Xpress ($9) prevailed in the ninth race finale for owner Lorna Brown, while 10-year-old gelding D Devil finished third for the 32nd time in a 105-race career*The early $0.50 Pick 4 was a parade of 3s, as the winning combination 3-3-3-3 paid $229.95*The fourth race won by Cookies and Milk ($4.20) was the Lynn Taketa Memorial Purse named in honor of the former trainer and Equine Art Show committee member who died last year. Former riding star Jerry Taketa was on hand for the race*Live racing continues Sunday with a 10-race card that features two stakes and five mounts for Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez, who also autographs posters from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the paddock. First post is 2:15 p.m. In the $50,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies, Gutierrez rides Regal Betty, a daughter of Congrats conditioned by John Sadler. What has Sadler done lately? Saturday at Hollywood Park he saddled winners of three graded races as Lady of Shamrock won the Grade I American Oaks, Switch captured the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap and Scherer Magic prevailed in the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship.
