For the Reporter

Princess Katie finished with a bold rush and nailed My Heart Goes On late for a head victory Sunday in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

Under a perfectly timed ride by Leslie Mawing, Princess Katie ran one mile in 1:36.36 and paid $9.60, $4.40 and $3.80. Robert Gilker, whose previous stakes win here was with Herbie D in the 2013 Longacres Mile, is the winning trainer for owner Ernest Chu of Vancouver, B.C.

Some 18 lengths off the pace on the backstretch, Princess Katie stuck to her task and reeled in her seven opponents with a sustained rally, finally nailing My Heart Goes On in the final stride for the victory.

“I didn’t want to be that far back but I knew the pace was pretty hot up front,” Mawing said. “I got a little worried at the half-mile pole when she wasn’t picking up on the bit. I kept after her and she kicked it in after the quarter-pole and gave me all she had.”

My Heart Goes On, ridden by Francisco Duran, did everything but win the race. The 2015 state champion 2-year-old filly shook off even-money betting favorite Invested Prospect on the last turn, kicked three lengths clear in mid-stretch, and just failed to last. The runner-up earned $10,000 for owner Coal Creek Farm and paid $8.20 and $5.40.Princess Kennedy, ridden by Rocco Bowen, was 1-½ lengths back in third place and paid $10 to show.

Previously unbeaten Invested Prospect led through fractions of :22.44, :45.27 and 1:10.51, but gave way into the lane and finished last.

A British Columbia-bred by Finality-Two to Get Ready, Princess Katie has a career record of 3-1-1 in eight starts with earnings of $86,198 including $27,500 for Sunday’s victory.

The $50,000 Kent Stakes at 1 1/16 miles is next for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, June 26.

Notes

Candi Tollett became the first trainer to win three races in a day this season at Emerald Downs, clicking with Seattles Best Copy ($6) in race four, He’s Cagey ($5.20) in race six and Huya($36.40) in race seven. … With her victory, Seattles Best Copy became only the third triple winner at the meet, joining Inexcess Again and Copy Begone in the exclusive club. Incidentally, Seattles Best Copy and Copy Begone are both Washington-breds by Demon Warlock. … Owner John Parker – whose 3-year-old Gold Rush Dancer won a $200,000 stakes Saturday at Santa Anita – continued his big weekend with victories by Seattles Best Copy and He’s Cagey. . .First-time starters were effective Sunday as Ila View ($38.20) romped by 8 ½ lengths in the opener under Eswan Flores for trainerAlan Bozell, and Oh Marvelous Me ($21.20) prevailed in race three under Jose Zunino for Blaine Wright. Ila View is a 3-year-old Rallying Cry filly and Oh Marvelous Me is a 4-year-old Bluegrass Cat gelding. . .In addition to the stakes win aboard Princess Katie, Mawing clicked on Seattles Best Copy and was the lone jockey with two wins Sunday. … With 22 days in the books, Rocco Bowen clings to a 28-27 lead over Mawing atop the riders’ standings. … Wright remains atop the trainers’ standings by a 15-13 margin over Jeff Metz. … Live racing continues Monday with a nine-race card on Memorial Day. First post is 2 p.m. There are carryovers in the $0.50 Pick 5 – $6,270 – and $0.20 Pick 7 – $2,179.