Thetrailerguy rallied through a narrow opening and nailed Prime Engine in the final strides for a half-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.
With Julien Couton riding at 117 lbs, Thetrailerguy ran one mile in 1:36.80 and paid $18.40, $7.40 and $4.20. Monique Snowden—saddling her first career stakes winner—is the trainer for owner Heidi Nelson of Bothell, Wash.
Prime Engine, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 119 lbs, rallied to the lead in mid-stretch and just missed the victory. The 5-to-2 second choice, Prime Engine paid $5.40 and $4.20.
Senna, a 19-to-1 long shot ridden by Francisco Duran at 116 lbs, flew late for third and paid $6.20.
Percy Fawcett, Gloria’s Angelo, O B Harbor, Fooled Again, Betrbegone and Awesome Indian completed the order of finish.
Fooled Again, the 2-to-1 favorite after his victory in the Auburn Handicap, led to the far turn, running six furlongs in 1:10.73, and gave way in the lane.
The race essentially boiled down to whether Thetrailerguy, who rallied from fifth place into contention, would find room in the stretch to catch the leaders. Finally, Couton found a seam between O B Harbor and Prime Engine, and Thetrailerguy surged past Prime Engine in the final yards for the victory.
“I just had to find the right hole to get in there,” Couton said. “I had a lot of horse. I finally found the hole and the horse did the rest. I’ll tell you what; he showed me a lot of heart today. He’s got a lot of talent.”
A Kentucky-bred by Henny Hughes-Unbridled Glory, Thetrailerguy has won three straight and has an overall record of 3-1-0 with earnings of $54,425, including $27,500 for Sunday’s win.
Snowden said she had some anxious moments watching the race, especially the stretch run.
“I honestly was holding my breath to the last jump,” she said. “I can’t believe this just happened.”
Nelson, who has a solid history of picking out top
runners, said she named Thetrailerguy after her late husband, who for many years owned a trailer business in Seattle.
NOTES: In the feel good story of the day, Stable Security Officer Garrett Landram and Chris Harkey of the Commissary rescued an adorable kitty from the inside of a pop machine in the stable area. The yet to be named feline was reported to be in good condition. No word as to how the wayward kitty found its way into the soda machine. . ..In Sunday’s $25,000 sub-feature for 3-year-old colts and geldings, John’s Not Bluffin($23.80) scored by a length over Daytona Beach in 1:36.69 for one mile—0.11 faster than the Coca-Cola Handicap. Juan Gutierrez rode the Raise the Bluff gelding for Frank Lucarelli and Ron Crockett Inc. . .Jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores turned in a sparkling four-for-four afternoon—sweeping the first three races, including the quarter horse daily double, and the 11th race finale on Buds a Flyin ($7.60). . .Camacho-Flores, Luis Gonzalez and Ruben Camacho are tied for first in the Quarter Horse standings with three wins apiece. . . Trainer Jeff Metz had back-to-back wins with Another Winter ($5.40) and Sea Side Story ($4) and finished the week with a 23-14 lead over Blaine Wright in the trainers’ standings. . .Couton rode two winners and leads Gutierrez, who also doubled, 42-36 in the Thoroughbred standings. . .TrainerJunior Coffey notched his first win of the meet as 4-year-old filly Belladiva ($5.80) led virtually gate-to-wire in race seven vs. $25,000 claimers. It was career win No. 163 at EmD for Coffey, whose 19.95 win percentage ranks eighth all-time. . .The $0.50 Pick 5 paid a season-high $11,463.05. The Emerald Downs record is $22,203 on June 2, 2013. . .Live racing resumes Friday at 6:45 p.m. Simulcast wagering is daily at Emerald Downs, Mondays and Tuesdays in the Quarter Chute Café and Wednesdays and Thursdays on the 5th floor.
