Jeff Harwood’s Noosa Beach capped the most spectacular season in Emerald Downs’ history Sunday with a 2 ¾-length victory in the $50,000 Mucklshoot Tribal Classic for older Washington-breds Sunday at Emerald Downs.
It was the record fifth stakes win of the meeting for the 4-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding. He has now won, in order, the Seattle Handicap, Budweiser Handicap, Mt. Rainier Handicap, Longacres Mile (GIII) and Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. He also is the only six-time winner at the meeting, and the $26,180 first prize bumped his season earnings to $225,930.
With regular rider Ricky Frazier aboard for trainer Doris Harwood, Noosa Beach ran one mile in 1:35 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. The Harwood’s also bred Noosa Beach, who’s a slam-dunk to be voted Horse of the Meeting and top Washington-bred.
Noosa Beach took command from Siberian Cocktail after a half-mile in :46, kicked clear on the last turn and drew off through the stretch.
“The plan today was to just keep him clear,” Frazier said of Noosa Beach. “I knew that everyone was trying to beat him, so I just wanted to get him in a good spot. He did it so easily.
“If any horses came close, he would have just blown them away. He was much the best today. It just feels awesome to ride a horse like this. I just wish the season wasn’t almost over.”
Wasserman, the two-time defending champion in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, turned in his best performance of the season, rallying from last to finish second. With Jennifer Whitaker riding, Wasserman paid $4.20 and $3.20. The 8-year-old gelding earned $9,160 to increase his track-record earnings to $514,722.
He’s All Heart, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, finished third and paid $3. Margo’s Gift, Siberian Cocktail and Scalding Passion completed the order of finish.
The Muckleshoot Tribal Classic was the centerpiece of Washington Cup VIII, a series of six stakes races exclusively for Washington-bred runners worth an aggregate quarter-million dollars in purse money.
