JOCKEY JAVIER MATIAS, MIKE MAN’S GOLD, WINNER: “He didn’t break that sharp today. I got worried when I saw (Finallygotabentley) break sharp because I knew he’d be the horse to beat. My horse wanted to move early and was pulling pretty hard. The early move made us go wide around the turn. It got really tight in the stretch. I couldn’t use my whip too much because I was going to bump the other horse. I knew we won at the wire, but it was close. This horse should get better the longer the race. He’s a pretty smart horse.”

NOTES: Mike Man’s Gold (3-3-0-0-$59,318)*Jockey Javier Matias ranks first with six stakes wins at the meet and is now tied with Ben Russell for seventh place all-time with 18 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. Matias is 6-0-5 in 14 stakes mounts this season*Trainer David Martinez, former assistant to Vann Belvoir, has two stakes wins at Emerald Downs, both with Mike Man’s Gold*Owner/breeder Keith Swagerty has won six Emerald Downs stakes with progeny of broodmare Chedoodle, four by No Flies On Doodle and two by Mike Man’s Gold*Next open race for 2-year-old colts and geldings: $65,000 Gottstein Futurity on closing day, Sunday, September 23.