Talk to My Lawyer, a filly, wins the Gottstein Futurity | Emerald Downs

Talk to My Lawyer became the 12th filly and only the second at Emerald Downs to win the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity with a hard-fought head triumph over Havanna Red in Sunday’s 74th renewal on closing day at Emerald Downs.

With 2011 riding champion Leslie Mawing up for his 128th victory of the meeting, Talk to My Lawyer ran 1-1/16 mile in 1 minute, 44.26 seconds on a wet-fast track and paid $7.60, $3.20 and $2.20.

Although it was her first victory, Talk to My Lawyer had finished a close second in the Aug. 28 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes and also finished third in the Aug. 7 Angie C.

Havanna Red fought tooth-and-nail to the wire, but for the fourth consecutive time and second straight in a stakes race, she had to settle for second place. Ridden by Leonel Camacho-Flores, Havanna Red paid $4.40 and $3.20.

Leadership, the 16-to-1 long shot of the field ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, finished third and paid $4.20 for show.

Sweet Saga, the 8-to-5 betting favorite and the other filly in the race, was rank early and finished fourth, while double stakes winner and 2-to-1 second betting choice Chu and I finished fifth.

For trainer Chris Stenslie, Talk to My Lawyer’s victory capped a marvelous season in which she was named Top Training Achievement for a career-high 32-wins that included three stakes and six feature-race wins.

And the win was worth $32,175 for owners Jody Peetz of Issaquah, Mary Lou and William Griffin of Buckley, William Brewer of Seattle and Marcie Healey of Bellevue.

A Washington-bred by Lawyer Ron-Infernal McGoon, Talk to My Lawyer is 1-2-1 in four starts overall with earnings of $51,920. The Gottstein victory was accomplished in unusual style as she led inside through fractions of :24.01 and :47.77, dropped back to fourth place turning for home, then re-rallied outside to beat Havanna Red in a long drive.

Mawing said Talk to My Lawyer had to overcome several obstacles for the win.

“She stumbled out of the gate, but luckily she gathered herself pretty quickly,” he said. “She was going easy after the start, but then she started lollygagging at the three-eighths pole and the rest of the field caught back up to us.

“She tried to get out on the turn, and I had to let go of the outside rein and use two hands on the inside rein to keep her in. All of a sudden she got brave and found another gear. She was digging in the whole way down the lane. She’s a pretty game filly.”

Peetz said in the winner’s circle that the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs would be considered for the filly’s next start. She joined Smarty Deb (2007) as fillies to win the Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs.

WEST SEATTLE BOY MAKES IT 21 WINS IN ASHBAUGH BEAL CLAIMING CHALLENGE

The Ashbaugh Beal Claiming Challenge*six starter allowance races for the track’s best claiming runners*helped make for an exceptionally strong closing day card.

The star of the show once again was West Seattle Boy as the gallant 12-year-old charged from far back for a neck victory over 46-to-1 long shot Form a Posse in the $10,000 Bob Stories for 3-year-olds and up. West Seattle Boy now has 21 career victories at Emerald Downs*five more than any other horse*and accomplished the remarkable feat of three victories as a 12-year-old.

Ridden for the first time by Jorge Rosales, West Seattle Boy ran 1-1/16 miles in 1:44.30 on a sloppy track and paid $17.60. Rigoberto Velasquez is the trainer for owners Lisa Baze and Jerry Carmody. Interviewed in the winner’s circle, Baze said no decision has been made on whether the Washington-bred son of Majesterian-Pancho’s Girl would return to race as a 13-year-old in 2012.

Snowbound Marquita, with Gallyn Mitchell aboard for trainer Charles Essex and owners Michael Pattison and Dean Essex, prevailed in the $12,000 Hit a Star for older fillies and mares. The 4-year-old Washington-bred by Snowbound ran six furlongs in 1:09.55 on a sloppy track and paid $8.20.

Heza Witch Doctor and jockey Jennifer Whitaker combined for a $45.60 upset in the $12,000 Market Master for older sprinters. Trained by Howard Belvoir for owner Tony Loften, the 4-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding ran six furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:09.12. Buddy Dave, bidding for his seventh win of the meeting, capped a spectacular season with a fourth place finish and was runner-up to Touch of Elegance in balloting for Top Claimer.

Nina Win beat A. Lurie Girl in a stiff drive as the two betting favorites dominated the $10,000 Pretty Peggy Slew for older fillies and mares. With Leonel Camacho-Flores riding for owner-trainer Roy Lumm, Nina Win ran 1-1/16 miles in 1:44.84 and paid $6.20. A 7-year-old Washington-bred mare by Majesterian*same sire as West Seattle Boy*Nina win has 12 career wins and is a two time Ashbuagh-Beal winner.

Wowie Maui ($4.40) and jockey Juan Gutierrez dominated the $16,000 Itstufftobegood for 3-year-olds and up, romping to a gate-to-wire three-length victory in 1:35.59 on a sloppy track. A 5-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold, Wowie Maui has been a study in consistency for trainer Joe Toye and owner-breeder David Breiwick, compiling a 4-4-0 record in nine career starts with earnings of $38,968. The win gave Gutierrez a career-high 99 victories this season at Emerald Downs.

NOTES: Leonel Camacho-Flores notched a victory aboard Ghost Tree ($9.20) in the second and finished the meet by riding winners on the last nine cards. Camacho-Flores, 27, was voted Top Riding Achievement for his marked improvement in the second half of the season. Camacho rode three winners Sunday and was the second leading rider with 34 wins since Aug. 1.

Mawing also captured the 11th race finale on Anni’s Jackpot to finish with 129 victories for the eighth highest win total in the track’s 16-year history. It also was Mawing’s 37th multiple-win day.

Frank Lucarelli captured his fourth Emerald Downs training title with a hard-earned 53-52 decision over Howard Belvoir.

Juan Gutierrez rode two winners and finished with 100 wins for the first time at Emerald Downs.  Gutierrez finished second in the standings, 28 wins ahead of third-place finisher Joe Crispin.

The track was listed sloppy for the first eight races and upgraded to wet-fast for the final three races*2010 3-year-old Top 3-Year-Old Filly Sis’s Sis ($4) earned her first 2011 score with a gate-to-wire half-length triumph under Gutierrez in the 10th race, a $21,000 allowance*That’s a wrap for 2011*Live racing will resume in April 2012.

Emerald Downs will be open for simulcast wagering throughout the off-season.