Brook did whet she does best Friday at Emerald Downs.
The veteran mare made the early lead and powered home for a 3 ½-length victory in the $14,925 feature race for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs. It was the 12th win just 29 starts for the speedy 7-year-old, and her eighth victory in 19 races at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, Clemens Brook ran six furlongs in 1:09.11 on a fast track and paid $5.40, $3.60 and $3. Rigoberto Velasquez is the trainer for owner Inittowinit.
Breaking from the No. 1 post-position, Clemens Brook dueled with Once Upon a Song through fractions of :22.25 and:44.77, gained the lead past the quarter-pole, drew six lengths clear past mid-stretch and coasted home under a hand ride.
Clemens Brook was among the track’s elite claimers last year when she compiled a 3-2-0 record in six starts for David Tollett and Velasquez, who claimed her for $10,000 from a winning effort last July. Friday’s win, worth $8,140, pushed Clemens’ Brook career bankroll to $72,058.
Miss Communication, ridden by Rocco Bowen, rallied to finish second and paid $3.20 and $3. Whiskey Miner, Isaias Enriquez riding, finished third and paid $5.20 to show.
Liberty Lake, Royal Moses and Once Upon a Song completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Foolish Miss paid a meet-high $63.60 in Friday’s fifth race and gave jockey Jose Zunino his second win of the night. Alan Bozell trains the 6-year-old Washington-bred mare. . .Velasquez saddled two winners Friday*Clemens Brook and 9-year-old Havin a Good Day ($4.20), who notched his 19th career victory and 11th win at Emerald Downs with a front-running score over Bid for Pride in race three. . .Doris Harwood claimed Royal Moses for a meet-high $20,000 in Friday’s feature race. . .Whitaker, ninth all-time with 435 wins at Emerald Downs, needs one win to tie Debbie Hoonan for most wins by a woman rider at EmD. Hoonan currently is sidelined following shoulder surgery. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m. The 139th Preakness Stakes will be simulcast between races three and four, with post time 4:18 p.m. (pacific). . .Saturday’s Emerald Downs’ feature is an $18,900 allowance race for older fillies and mares at six furlongs, with California shipper Alert in Class the 9-to-5 morning line favorite for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop.
