Grand Baylee and jockey Leslie Mawing rallied for a half-length victory over Pickled Again in the featured Xfinity Purse for fillies and mares Friday at Emerald Downs.
One of only two 3-year-olds in the field, Grand Baylee ran one mile in 1:39.47 on a sloppy track and paid $6.80, $4.40 and $3.60. Second in the jockeys’ standings with 52 wins, Mawing had two wins on the seven-race card and has ridden at least one winner on 14 straight programs at Emerald Downs.
Neil Knapp, trainer of Grand Baylee, also is on a hot streak, winning with seven of his last 17 starters while moving up to seventh place with 14 wins overall.
Grand Baylee has won two of her last three starts and is 3-0-0 in seven career starts with earnings of $9,012 for Knapp and Abella Racing. The daughter of 2004 Kentucky Derby runner-up Lion Heart has three wins at the meeting ranging from five furlongs to one mile.
Pickled Again, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, rallied in tandem with the winner, but settled for second place, and paid $8.20 and $5.
It was 2-¾ lengths back to Fiesty Lass, ridden by Javier Matias, and a $3.60 show payoff. The 4-year-old filly already has raced 10 times at the meet, compiling a 1-1-4 record for trainer Bonifacio Rayas.
Touch Too finished fourth, followed by Shesafastlildevil, Sugar Blossom and Miss Magnability.
NOTES: William Antongeorgi also rode two winners and is third with 48 wins*Leading rider Juan Gutierrez drew a rare blank but remains atop the leader board with 58 wins in 46 days*Veteran trainers Mary Pirone and Elwin Gibson each picked up their first wins of the season, as A Courting Venture ($8.80) prevailed in the fifth and Gotta Get Even ($6.20) got up in the nightcap*Newaukum Creek ($4.80) prevailed in the opener and Don and Wanda Munger opened a 12-7 lead in the owners’ standings over both Chris Randall & Nick Rossi and Michael & Amy Feuerborn *Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2:15 p.m. The annual Star 101.5 Wiener Dog Races will be held throughout the eight-race card, with Heat 1 after race three and Heat 2 after race four. The championship final is scheduled after race six at 5 p.m.
