Lilly’s a Jewel powered from behind for a two-length victory Friday in the featured Carl’s Jr. Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
The classy 4-year-old filly ran one mile in 1:37.01 on a fast track and paid $12.40, $6.40 and $4.80. Leonel Camacho-Flores rode Lilly’s a Jewel for trainer Dan Markle and owners Sue and Tim Spooner of Olympia.
Sun City, ridden by Joe Crispin, finished second and paid $9.20 and $4.40.
Roxy Skylar, ridden by apprentice Lance Bullock, rallied for third place and paid $5. Soul Patch, the 6-to-5 betting favorite, finished fourth.
Lilly’s a Jewel has regained the 2010 form that saw her a stakes-placed earner of over $30,000. The Washington-bred daughter of You and I has won her last two races—both at one mile—and is 4-3-1 in 14 lifetime starts with earnings of $44,032.
Friday, she bided her time in last place as Ducoti carved out fractions of :22.66, :45.94 and 1:10.97. She commenced her rally a half-mile from the wire, taking the lead into the stretch, and drew off through the lane.
BUDDY DAVE WON’T BE DENIED!
The amazing Buddy Dave did it again in Friday evening’s sixth race. The 4-year-old gelding swept past the leaders in the final yards and scored a half-length victory over Snake Attack in 1:15.70 for 6-½ furlongs.
The victory tied Buddy Dave with 4-year-old filly Touch of Elegance for most wins at the meet with six apiece.
With Camacho-Flores up for trainer Vince Gibson and owner Kingsport Syndicate #9, Buddy Dave turned in another gutsy stretch-run, kicking in inside the eighth pole and tagging the leaders in the shadow of the wire.
Buddy Dave paid $6.40 as the second choice in the wagering; the gelding has been the betting favorite in only one victory this year. Snake Attack finished second and Untilifindyou—also bidding for his sixth win of the meet—finished third but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference vs. Chaching Pete on the backstretch.
NOTES: Leslie Mawing rode three winners on the eight-race card for his fourth straight multiple win day. The meet’s leading rider with 105 wins, Mawing has at least one victory on the last 12 cards…Mawing’s win on Gift Certificate in the nightcap extended Howard Belvoir’s lead to 46-44 over Frank Lucarelli in the trainers’ standings…Camacho-Flores rode two winners and has climbed up to eighth place in the riders standings with 30 wins…Gibson led the trainers with two wins including the triumph by Buddy Dave…Jockey Juan Gutierrez was off his mounts Friday due to personal reasons…Live racing continues Saturday with an eight-race card at 2 p.m.