For the Reporter

Big Hat Charlie held off Party Pooper late and notched a neck victory Friday in the $15,200 feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Leslie Mawing – who was three-for-three Friday – Big Hat Charlie ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:01.95 and paid $10.60, $3.20 and $2.20. Frank Lucarelli is the owner for Center Point Racing Stables and Sabers Drawn Racing.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Indian Charlie, Big Hat Charlie opened a three-length lead past mid-stretch and was fully extended to hold off an on-rushing Party Pooper for the victory.Big Hat Charlie is 2-0-1 in 12 career starts with earnings of $34,910 including $8,360 for Friday’s victory.

Party Pooper, the 3-10 favorite with Joe Steiner riding, rallied from fifth place to just miss the victory and paid $2.20 and $2.10.Prince of Silver, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, was four lengths back in third and paid $3, while It’s Little Richie, Riotuff and Christmas Caballo completed the order of finish.

Notes

Lucarelli had a big day with two wins at Emerald Downs – Big Hat Charlie and Image of Truth ($4.40) – and a feature race win by 3-year-old gelding Speed Saver ($34) at Golden Gate Fields. … Mawing, second in the standings with 11 wins, connected aboard Aunt Maryann ($3.40) in the third, Image of Truth in the fourth and Big Hat Charlie in the sixth. … Ronald Richard rode the early double winners with triumphs aboard Secret Mark ($6.80) and Lean Cozzene ($18). … In Friday’s fourth race, older brother beat younger brother as 5-year-old Cantcatchme ($4.40) scored a two-length victory after dueling with 6-year-old Credit Line around the turn. Both geldings are out of the broodmare Kaaaching, who also produced Kaabraaj, the 4-year-old gelding that set a six-furlong track record of 1:06.86 last week. … Live racing continues Saturday with a nine-race program at 2 p.m.