Maggie’s Special and red-hot apprentice Eliska Kubinova teamed up for a three-quarter-length victory Saturday in the $15,850 Friends-4-Life Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
With Kubinova riding her third winner on the card and 48th of the meeting, Maggie’s Special ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:15.32 and paid $11.80, $5.80 and $3.80. Allen Gideon is the winning owner-trainer and breeder.
A 5-year-old Washington-bred by Spiker-Bella Capini, Maggie’s Special has developed into a consistent sprinter for Gideon, compiling a 3-3-2 record in 12 starts with earnings of $40,606. Saturday, she rallied inside to collar Include the Baby past mid-stretch and edged clear for the victory.
Include the Baby, the 8-to-5 betting favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez, carried a 1-½-length lead into the stretch, but was unable to hold off Maggie’s Special and finished second. Include the baby paid $3.04 and $2.80.
It was four lengths back to third-place finisher Perfect Pie, ridden by Debbie Hoonan, and a $2.60 show payoff. The Gang and I, Appealing Resume and La Distanza completed the order of finish.
Kubinova also had wins on Davidaaronnathanne ($25) in the fifth race and Sovereign Bay in the third, and now has four three-win days at the meeting. The 23-year-old Czech is fourth overall, and also was featured Saturday in a Seattle Times article that included two photos.
BEN NORMAN PREVAILS IN STAR 101.5 WIENER DOG DASH
Ben Norman, owned by Norman Howell of Lake Stevens, won the championship heat of the 16th annual Star 101.5 Wiener Dog Races on Saturday at Emerald Downs. Finishing second was Max, owned by Josh & Sheila Hardman of Graham, and in third place was Maxx Throttle, owned by Gretchen Howell of Lake Stevens.
The Wiener Dog Races are produced and organized annually by Kent & Alan morning show on STAR 101.5 FM.
NOTES: Saturday’s early $2 daily double paid a season-high $1,157.60 for the winning 2-1 combination on first-race winner Cee the Lady ($20.80) and second race winner Tenatious Spirit ($16.20)*Marvin’s Magic ($4) won his third race of the meet*all for different trainers*with a one-length triumph over Chaching Pete in the sixth race. The victory capped a race-to-race training double for Bill Tollett, who scored with 11-to-1 long shot Davidaaronnathanne in the fifth race*Blueberry Smoothie, the first foal out of two-time Emerald Downs champion Shampoo, debuted with a sharp victory in 1:03.22 for 5-½ furlongs for trainer Tom Wenzel and owner Northwest Farms*Juan Gutierrez rode two winners and extended his lead to 60-52 over an out-of-town Leslie Mawing in the jockeys’ standings*Gallyn Mitchell also rode two winners, book-ending the card on Cee the Lady and Lizzy Lass ($6)*At Sacramento, Special Holiday and Mawing finished off the board in the $75,000 California State Fair Filly & Mare Sprint won by 10-to-1 long shot Indian Gracey*Live racing continues Sunday with first post 2:15 p.m. Race eight is the 17th running of the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap with Hudson Landing the 2-to-1 morning line favorite over Winning Machine (5-2), St Liams Halo (3-1), Rainier Ice (9-2), Couldabenthewhisky (12-1), Slim Pickins (12-1) and Aaron the Baron (15-1). The Mt. Rainier is the final local prep for the 77th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, Aug. 19.
