The photo finish camera revealed the meet’s first dead heat for win in Friday’s feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
Parkers Bluff, ridden by Rocco Bowen, and Songandabullet, ridden by David G. Lopez, both ran six furlongs in 1:11.80 on a sloppy track.
Parkers Bluff, the 5-to-2 betting favorite, paid $3.60, $3.60 and $3. The 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding, trained by Alan Bozell, has a 3-4-3 record in 11 career starts with earnings of $20,829 for Bozell and co-owner Donel Matwiejow.
Songandabullet, winning his second straight at the meet, paid $4.40, $4 and $3.40. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Songandaprayer, trained by Frank Lucarelli, is 3-2-0 in 14 starts with earnings of $26,121 for owners Ron and Nina Hagen.
Parkers Bluff swept past Financial Officer into the lane, gained a short lead past mid stretch, and held gamely to finish on even terms with Songandabullet.
Songandabullet, in fourth place early, angled out into the stretch, and finished strongly to catch Parkers Bluff in the final stride.
Financial Officer, the early leader, finished one length back in third place and paid $4.80 to show. Big Black Cat, Improviso, Regal Valid and Clemkdiddlehooper completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Jennifer Whitaker got her first win of the meet and her 434th at Emerald Downs in gate-to-wire fashion aboard Direct Cost ($13.80) in race five for trainer Howard Belvoir. . .Eight different jockeys and trainers won races on the seven-race card including Rocco Bowen, the meet’s leading rider with 19 wins, and Jeff Metz, the leading trainer with 20 wins. . .Tim McCanna won races Friday at Emerald Downs and Golden Gate Fields, with Cantcatchme ($3) romping by 4 ¾ lengths in race three at Emerald and Impressa Vanessa ($2.40) scoring by four lengths at Golden Gate. A 4-year-old Congaree filly, Impressa Vanessa had finished second in all five starts this year prior to Friday. Cantcatchme, meanwhile, was McCanna’s 878th win at Emerald Downs. . .Live racing continues Saturday at 2:15 p.m. Lotta Attitude is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the $18,900 feature race for 3-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs.
