For the Reporter

The newcomer proved tough Saturday as Inexcess Again and jockey Leslie Mawing combined for a three-length romp in the $16,600 feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

The only horse without an Emerald Downs race on his resume, Inexcess Again zipped 5½ furlongs in 1:02.35, and paid $11.40, $5.20 and $3.80. Blaine Wright – now three-for-three at the meet – is the winning trainer for owner/breeder Madera Thoroughbreds of Madera, Calif.

Inexcess Again dueled with Ain’t Tellin’ through a quarter-mile in :21.55, drew clear into the turn while running a half-mile in :44.12, and held the closers safe through the stretch run.

Raspberry Road, Joe Steiner riding, rallied strongly to finish second and paid $4.60 and $3.60, while Cantcatchme, ridden by Isaias Enriquez, finished third and paid $4.40.

Private Boss, Perfect Night, Ain’t Tellin’, Cash N Dash and Betsy’s Gold rounded out the order of finish.

A 5-year-old gelding by Snorter-Birdinexcess, Inexcess Again has a career record of 4-1-1 in 10 starts with earnings of $34,315, including $9,130 for Saturday’s victory. Inexcess Again reeled off three consecutive wins last fall at Golden Gate Fields, but had finished seventh, third and fifth in three starts this year in the Bay Area.

Wright, who doubled last Sunday, is tied with Len Kasmerski for leading trainer at three wins apiece. Wright is No. 2 all-time in Emerald Downs winning percentage at 22.8 percent (206-for–905).

Notes

Once again, there were no tickets with all seven winners in the $0.20 Pick 7. The three-day carryover is $10,420.46 to Sunday’s races 4 thru 10. … The $0.50 Pick also has a carryover of $6,110 to Sunday’s races 6 thru 10. … Sorelli ($9.20) and jockey Osvaldo Gonzalez prevailed in Saturday’s opener, the first race of the meet for Quarter Horses. Roddina Barrett, trainer of Sorelli, also won the meet’s first Thoroughbred race last week with Forbidden Kee. … Jockey Richard Lull and trainer Jim Gilmour each picked up their first Emerald Downs win as Keep ‘Em Laughing ($13.40) led gate-to-wire in race six. A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Lull began riding in 1983 and his previous win was three years ago at Presque Isle Downs. … Gilmour added a second win in the nightcap, as The Canary Lived ($24.60) rallied under Francisco Diaz-Lopez for the day’s biggest upset. … In race seven, trainer Michael Bullene notched his first Emerald Downs victory as 5-year-old geldingCharlie’s Gold ($4.40) led gate-to-wire for a nose victory over Credit Line. … Trainer Len Kasmerskiand owner Roz Barclay continued their hot hand as Parlay ($6.40) prevailed in race three, improving Kasmerski and Barclay to a combined three-for-four at the meet. … Grand Baylee ($16.40) scored her 10th career Emerald Downs win in race four under jockey Luis Medina for trainer Vince Gibson. . .Emerald Racing Club’s Archie Graham had his first Emerald Downs workout Saturday, a half-mile in :49 for trainers Larry and Sharon Ross. Several of ERC’s 200 members attended the drill, which was 14th out of 28 at the distance. … Live racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program at 2 p.m.