Hoofprintsintime rallied from last place and scored a neck victory over Stellar Blue in Friday’s feature race for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, Hoofprintsintime ran one mile in 1:39.04 on a fast track and paid $14.20, $6.80 and $4.40. Howard Belvoir is the trainer and co-owner with Rising Star Stables.
Stellar Blue, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, held second place and paid $10.40 and $5.80. It was a half-length back to Banditontheloose, the 8-to-5 favorite ridden by Joe Crispin, and a $3.20 show payoff.
Flying Jack, Game Emperor and Just Jokin Around completed the order of finish. Code Dudley and Marquetching were scratched.
A 3-year-old Washington-bred colt by Tribunal-No Lost Action, Hoofprintsintime is 2-0-0 in six career starts with earnings of $9,827.
NOTES: Chris Stenslie tied her career-high for single-season training wins as Dress Code ($7.80) prevailed in the sixth race. Stenslie is now 19-for-75 at the meeting, compared to her 19-for-125 mark last season.
Buddy Dave ($4.60) became the meet’s fourth four-time winner with a handy victory in the fifth race for owner Kingsport Syndicate #9 and trainer Vince Gibson.
Leonel Camacho-Flores was aboard both Buddy Dave and first-race winner Humongous ($3). It was the second two-win day of the meet for Camacho-Flores…Leading rider Leslie Mawing rode three winners and Juan Gutierrez had his second straight two-win night as only three jockeys rode winners on the abbreviated seven-race card.
Bourbon Bay ($6.60) set a Del Mar track record of 2:29.39 for 1-½ miles while winning the $125,000 Cougar II Handicap (G3) for 3-year-olds and up on Polytrack. The 5-year-old Sligo Bay gelding is owned by David & Jill Heerensperger of Bellevue.
Live racing continues Saturday with first post 2:15 p.m.