Poncho, far back entering the stretch, finished with a bold rush and posted a neck victory over Slews Destiny in the $15,100 feature race Friday evening at Emerald Downs.

The longest price in the field of six, Poncho ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03 3/5 and paid $25.80, $10.40 and $5.20. Jennifer Whitaker rode the winner for trainer Howard Belvoir and owner Michael Alhadeff’s Once Stable.

Slews Destiny, ridden by Jose Zunino, set the pace to deep stretch and was overtaken at the wire. The runner-up returned $6 and $3.60. Morgan’s Money, Gallyn Mitchell riding, finished third and paid $3.

Robbos Courage, Little Red Eagle and 9-5 betting favorite Toutlelew completed the order of finish.

In fifth place around the turn, Poncho was six lengths back of the leader into the stretch and appeared to have almost no chance of winning the race. The gelding kicked in late, however, and rallied in the middle of the track to tag Slews Destiny in the shadow of the wire.

A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Tribunal, Poncho has a 2-1-1 mark in seven starts and earnings of $26,680. Friday’s victory was worth $8,305.

Notes: Cut the Silk ($14.40) won the fifth under apprentice Cassie Papineau as the 7-year-old mare won for just the fifth time in a 52-start career that includes 17 runner-up finishes…Poncho ($25.80) and Pavan Raj ($21.60) in the eighth were the other horses to post double-digit winners…New Daily Racing Form Northwest handicapper/writer Nick Rousso and DRF Southern California correspondent Steve Andersen are among the guests on Saturday’s edition of The Win, Place Show on KJR Sports Radio 950. Hosted by Joe Withee and Rob Rao, the one-hour program airs at 8 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday…Longacres riding champion Vicky Baze has resumed her riding career in Northern California. Riding for the first time in nearly two years, Baze is winless in nine starts at Golden Gate Fields. Baze, 44, won the 1986 Longacres riding title as Vicky Aragon…Racing continues today at 2 p.m.