Seadrifter sails to feature victory | Emerald Downs
Published 9:26 am Saturday, August 1, 2015
For the Reporter
Seadrifter raced to an early lead and held off all challengers for a 1¼-length victory Friday in the Stella Artois Purse for older fillies and mares.
With Julien Couton riding, Seadrifter ran six furlongs in 1:10.47, and paid $6.40, $4.60 and $3. Rosie Simkins is the winning trainer for owner Horse Haven Creek Farm.
Seadrifter broke alertly from the rail, set fractions of :22.25, :45.26 and :57.45, turned back Cha Cha Latte into the stretch, and held off a late bid by Anitewithyou.
Anitewithyou, a 15-to-1 long shot ridden by Javier Matias, broke slowly and was over 10 lengths back early, unleashed a strong late rally, and was up for second place. The runner-up paid $10.40 and $3.40.
Cha Cha Latte, the 9-to-5 favorite ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, held third place and paid $2.80 for show. Niftys Tee Time, Forbidden Kee and She’sontopyodeling completed the order of finish.
A 4-year-old California-bred by Rockport Harbor, Seadrifter is 3-0-1 in five starts at the meet, and 4-0-1 in 12 lifetime starts with earnings of $19,363.
Notes
Five favorites and two second choices won on the eight-race card, a stark contrast from the previous two Fridays when favorites were a combined 1-for-14. … Julien Couton remained red-hot with three more winners to boost his meet-leading total to 65 wins. … Couton, who rode four winners Sunday, has 20 multiple-win days and remains on pace for a 100-win season. . .Juan Gutierrez rode two winners – his 15th double of the meet – and is second with 53 wins. … Jeff Metz upped his meet-leading training total to 35 wins when Goldimax ($5.20) prevailed in race two. … Showme Yourfriends ($6) was back in the Emerald Downs’ winner’s circle Friday, rallying for a two-length victory under Rocco Bowen in race one. Back with his original connections—owner One Horse Will Do Corporation and trainer Chris Stenslie – the 7-year-old gelding is 10-for-35 lifetime with earnings of $184,130. … Waybe Isbister, among a handful of trainers to win titles in both Thoroughbred and Harness racing, co-owns Churchbob ($7.60), a 5-year-old Benchmark gelding that broke a 10-race drought with a hard-fought win over He’s All Heart in race four. Isbister was leading trainer at Exhibition Park in 1979 and captured jug-head titles at Fraser Downs in 1994 and 2000. . .Unusual Lover ($3) made a successful EmD debut with a nose victory over 16-to-1 Timber Titan in race five. It was Emerald Downs’ career victory No. 903 for trainer Tim McCanna and gave jockey Diego Sanchez his first win since July 5. … Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2 p.m.
