River of Aces put her tremendous speed to good use Friday, zipping to a 2 ½-length victory in the $13,750 feature race for fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
With her regular rider Eliska Kubinova aboard, River of Aces ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.75, and paid $6.20, $4 and $2.60. Charles Essex is the trainer for owner-breeder Dean & Judy Anne Essex of Granite Falls.
A 4-year-old Washington-bred filly by Sam’s Ace-Itsrivertime, River of Aces won three races at Emerald Downs last year, including an allowance/optional claiming win over double stakes winner Talk to May Lawyer. Her overall mark is 4-1-0 in nine starts with earnings of $39,847.
Friday, River of Aces broke a step slow from the inside post-position, but rushed up to take command while drilling the opening quarter in :21.37 seconds. From there, she widened the lead to 1 ½ lengths while running the half-mile in a sizzling :44.08, and drew out to a three-length lead while running five furlongs in 1:02.75. After that, the outcome was never in doubt as River of Aces maintained a healthy lead to the wire.
“She’s very fast,” Kubinova said in the Winner’s Circle. “She broke in a little bit (at the break), but once her feet hit the ground she gets going.”
Stephanie Plum, ridden by Leonel Camacho-Flores, chased the winner from flag-fall to finish but settled from second place. The runner-up paid $4.80 and $3. It was two lengths back to Cheese Danish, ridden by Debbie
Hoonan, and a $3.40 show payoff.
Touch of Elegance and Kind of Naughty rounded out the order of finish.
NOTES: Leading rider Juan Gutierrez was blanked in three mounts for his first winless day at the meeting. Gutierrez leads Isaias Enriquez 21-17 in the jockeys’ standings*Enriquez had his third straight two-win day and has ridden winners on 12 straight cards*Quarter Horse racing kicked off the Friday card with long shot Dashin Baby Boy ($53.80) winning the opener in :18.19 for 350 yards, and Fast Intention ($8) taking race two in :46.61 for 870 yards. The all Quarter Horse early daily double paid a whopping $710.40*Veteran Washington horseman Chuck Findlay passed away Thursday in California where for the last few years he worked as a groom at Hollywood Park. Perhaps best known as the trainer of $303,929 earner Super Seven, a son of Trooper Seven that earned $303,929 and won stakes at Longacres, Playfair, Yakima Meadows and Exhibition Park. Findlay is the son of noted Washington trainer Bill Findlay. Chuck Findlay saddled 34 winners at Emerald Downs, the last one was Galactic Fire in 2004. He leaves a daughter, former Emerald Downs trainer Julie Findlay*Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m. The Preakness simulcast is between the third and fourth races with post time 3:20 p.m. (PDT)*Preakness Pancakes from 9-11 a.m. offers up free breakfast, program and admission to Saturday’s live racing at Emerald Downs*Also Saturday, nationally renowned RAINN ‘EM IN will be at Emerald Downs to continue its fight against sexual violence.
