Run Leyton Run powered to the lead into the turn and drew off late for a 5-½-length victory in the $12,600 feature race for 3-year-olds Friday at Emerald Downs.
With Rocco Bowen riding, Run Leyton Run ran 6-½-furlongs in 1:15.49 and paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. Unbeaten in two career starts for trainer Junior Coffey and owners-breeders Tom McCann and Jeff Cisell, Run Leyton Run earned $6,930 to increase his career ledger to $11,605.
Faster Than Duke, a 9-to-1 long shot ridden by Leslie Mawing, rallied late to finish second and paid $6 and $2.80. It was a neck back to Stevie Z, the 3-to-1 second choice ridden by Debbie Hoonan, and a $2.10 show payoff.
Lil Red Rockstar, Light My Heart and Power Fleet completed the order of finish.
A 3-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Game Plan-T’s So Shy, Run Leyton Run also romped in his May 5 debut, drilling maiden $12,500 claimers by 3-½ lengths.
Coffey, meanwhile, continued his sparkling campaign and is now seven-for-15 at the meeting.
Lil Red Rockstar sprinted to the lead while running the opening quarter-mile in :22.05, but Run Leyton Run took command three furlongs from the wire, opened a two-length lead into the stretch and drew off to win with complete authority.
NOTES: Tom Wenzel, named Trainer of the Week after going four-for-four on Sunday, had his win streak snapped Friday when She’s My Favorite finished second in the fourth race*Frank Lucarelli, atop the trainers’ standings with 23 wins, made it eight wins in his last 10 starts when Golden Gate shipper Cookies and Milk prevailed as the 9-to-5 favorite in the fifth race*Leslie Mawing and apprentice Eliska Kubinova rode two winners apiece, and Kubinova moved back into second place in the jockeys’ standings with 35 wins. It was Kubinova’s eighth riding double of the season*Leading rider Juan Gutierrez rode one winner, his 40th of the meeting*Former Enumclaw High School standout and 11-year NBA veteran Brian Scalabrine and current Chicago Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice both attended the races Friday and were interviewed by Joe Withee in the paddock before the fifth and sixth races*Live racing continues Saturday with a nine-race card at 2:15 p.m*Emerald Downs also offers live racing Sunday, July 1, and Tuesday, July 3 for the annual Fireworks Spectacular presented by Carl’s Jr. Emerald Downs will not have live racing on either Monday, July 2 or Wednesday, July 4*Hastings Racecourse, meanwhile, will have its Canada Day card Monday featuring the $50,000 Lt. Governor’s Handicap for 3-year-olds and up. Taylors Said and St Liams Halo, first and second in the first two older horse stakes at the meet, figure to be favored in the 1-1/16-mile race. Mario Gutierrez will ship in to his old stomping grounds and ride St Liams Halo for trainer Troy Taylor.
