$74,750 EMERALD DOWNS DERBY
75th RUNNING, AUGUST 12, 2012
1-1/8 MILES IN 1:48.48

JOCKEY ROCCO BOWEN, MAKORS FINALE, WINNER: “When I was a bug boy at Hastings I won a $100,000 stakes up there, but I still think this is the best race of my career. All week I felt like I had ice water running through my veins, but last night I couldn’t sleep very much. My mom told me before the race that I’d get a hat trick today, and she was right. Tom (Wenzel) told me to put the horse in front and lead every step of the way. I just made sure that we stayed in front and never let anyone get ahead of us. He fought the whole way. It was a great race.”

JOCKEY WILLIAM ANTONGEORGI, ITALIAN BOY, SECOND: “He got hot before the race, but he always does so I wasn’t worried. The way I envisioned the race is the way it played out. My horse settled nicely for me. I knew they’d send Makors Finale, so I just kept my horse within range. I had to start riding my horse pretty hard in the turn just to keep up with the winner. He was tired, but he ran the rest of the way with his heart. We just came up a little short today.”

NOTES: Makors Finale (11-5-4-0-$121,452)* Owner/breeder Karl Krieg has three stakes wins at EmD, all with Makors Finale*With three stakes wins (including one dead-heat) Makors Finale in all probability clinched the title as Emerald Downs’ Top 3-Year-Old of 2012*The winning time of 1:48.48 was .27 seconds faster than Champagneandcaviar in the Washington Oaks*Trainer Tom Wenzel is No. 1 with six stakes wins in 2012, and No. 10 all-time with 19 stakes wins at Emerald Downs*Jockey Rocco Bowen has two stakes wins at Emerald Downs: Master’s Bluff, NWSS Slewdledo Stakes; Makors Finale, Emerald Derby. Bowen also had his first three-win day Sunday at Emerald Downs*D’honorable One was favored by a paltry $133*$11,555-$11,422*over Italian Boy*D’honorable One ran in all four races of the EmD Derby Series, compiling a win, two seconds and one third.