Fuzzy Dolphin goes gate to wire to capture Washington Cup Juvenile

For the Reporter

Fuzzy Dolphin sprinted clear early and held off Time ’n Time Again for a one-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings Stakes presented by Muckleshoot Casino.

The winner, adding blinkers, sprinted 6½ furlongs in 1:17.66 and paid $12.60, $7 and $4.40. Kevin Orozco was aboard Fuzzy Dolphin at 120 pounds for trainer Frank Lucarelli and owners Jacob and Karla Pollowitz of Shoreline.

Breaking sharply from the No. 2 post position, Fuzzy Dolphin set fractions of :22.07, :44.57 and 1:10.55, owned a clear lead past mid-stretch, and had enough gas to hold off Time ’n Time Again for the victory.

Fuzzy Dolphin earned $23,650 to boost his bankroll to $38,225. His overall record is 2-1-0 in five starts, and Sunday’s triumph made amends for a seventh as the favorite in last month’s WTBOA Lads Stakes.

“He broke pretty sharp today, he was on his game from the get-go,” Orozco said of Fuzzy Dolphin. “He was relaxed on the backstretch, and he held on well.”

A Washington-bred gelding by Harbor the Gold-Silver City Lillly, Fuzzy Dolphin is a full brother to Carrabelle Harbor, a three-time Emerald Downs’ stakes winner.

Bar C Racing Stables is the winning breeder.

Time ’n Time Again, with Julien Couton riding at 118 pounds, finished strongly for second and paid $8.80 and $5.80. Time ’n Time Again, a maiden, has finished second to Fuzzy Dolphin in two of three career starts.

Ally On Fire, ridden by David G. Lopez at 119 lbs., was 2 ½ lengths back in third and paid $9 to show, while Reno Roy, Bootlegger Trail, El Borracho, Emily’s Gold, Devil Dog, Verynsky, Docktarri, Sleet Afleet and This Great Nation completed the order of finish.

The $50,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles is next for 2-year-olds on closing day, Sunday, Sept. 23.

Money Inthe Starrs prevails in Juvenile Filly

Money Inthe Starrs wore down So Figure It Out and edged clear for a 1¾-length victory in Sunday’s other stakes event, the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Filly presented by Pegasus Training & Equine Rehabilitation Center.

Ridden by Javier Matias at 119 lbs, Money Inthe Starrs ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.88 and paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.20. Mike Puhich is the trainer for Dr. Mark Dedomenico of Redmond – coincidentally the owner and president of Pegasus Training & Equine Rehabilitation Center.

The winner stalked So Figure It Out through the turn, challenged outside into the lane, and gradually put away a stubborn So Figure It Out for the victory.

Purchased for $6,200 at the 2017 WTBOA Summer Yearling & Mixed Sale, Money Inthe Starrs earned $25,850 to boost her life mark to $39,440.

By Abraaj-Our Monstarr, Money Inthe Starrs is 2-0-1 in four starts. Connie Belshay of Graham, Wash. bred the winner.

So Figure It Out set fractions of :22.48 and :45.30, carried a short lead into the lane and finished gamely after being overtaken by Money In the Starrs. Ridden by Kevin Orozco at 119 pounds, So Figure It Out paid $5 and $3.40.

Lorelie G, with Julien Couton up at 119 pounds, held third and paid $4.20 to show, while Sadie Sue, Bluegrass Lily, Alittlelesstalk, Bellamagic and Belle of Gold rounded out the order of finish.

Notes

Fuzzy Dolphin co-owner Karla Pollowitz celebrated her 30th birthday Sunday. … Orozco, Rocco Bowen and Julien Couton rode two winners each Sunday. … Bowen, headed for a third straight riding title with 95 wins, is now tied with Frank Gonsalves for No. 5 in all-time Emerald Downs’ wins with 561. … Blazinbeauty ($4.40) and Little Dancer ($2.80) dead-heated for win in Sunday’s $20,500 George Colello Sr. Memorial Purse for older fillies and mares, the 4-year-old fillies both covering one mile in 1:35.98. Blazinbeauty and Little Dancer are both stakes winners at Emerald Downs, Blazinbeauty taking the 2016 Gottstein Futurity and Barbara Shinpoch Stakes and Little Dancer the 2017 Washington Oaks. … He’s Not Grey ($3.40) blitzed six furlongs in 1:08.68 under Julien Couton for his third win for trainer Candi Tollett and owner John Parker. A 3-year-old Slew’s Tiznow gelding, He’s Not Grey debuted last year with a victory in the $50,000 Emerald Express. … Couton, Tollett and Parker also clicked again with Front Row Friends ($3) in the nightcap, and Parker is now tied with Saratoga West for leading owner at 15 wins apiece. … Frank Lucarelli also had two wins Sunday, Blazinbeauty and Fuzzy Dolphin, and upped his all-time Emerald Downs leading total to 939 wins. Luke also ranks No. 4 in stakes wins with 45. … Mr. Takahashi finished second in Sunday’s ninth race, extending the 6-year-old Bertrando gelding’s streak of finishing first or second to 18 consecutive races. … Live racing resumes Friday with first post 2 p.m. Monday simulcast action features closing days cards at Saratoga and Del Mar.