Class Included is the class of the field in the $65,000 Washington Oaks at Emerald Downs | Horse Racing

Published 7:42 pm Saturday, August 13, 2011

The same connections that brought you Sis’s Sis in 2010—trainer Jim Penney and owners Michael and Amy Feuerborn—appear to have another champion in 2011.

Class Included had her consistency grandly rewarded Saturday at Emerald Downs with a neck victory over 16-to-1 long shot Playful Argument in the $65,000Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. With Leslie Mawing riding, Class Included took command on the last turn, was two lengths clear past mid-stretch and was fully extended to hold off Playful Argument in the final yards.

Class Included ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 50.76 seconds on a fast track and paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.80. She became the only 3-year-old filly with two stakes wins at the meet—she also won the May 29 Seattle Handicap—and finished second in the division’s other two stakes. Her lifetime record is 3-4-0 in seven starts with earnings of $100,750, including $35,750 for the Oaks victory.

The Oaks is the season’s championship race for 3-year-old fillies, and Class Included is almost certain to be voted Top 3-year-old filly next month. Last year, Penney and the Feuerborn’s won the honor with Sis’s Sis, who also won two stakes although she did finish 11th and last in the Washington Oaks.

A key factor all season has been Class Included’s willingness to relax early in her races, and Saturday she was some seven lengths back as Elusive Noise and 2-to-1 second choice Carrabelle Harbor carved out fractions of :22.86, :46.16 and 1:11.24, before fading badly.

“I was really stoked about her workout last week, so I was coming into the race pretty confident,” said Mawing, the filly’s regular rider.  “I didn’t want to be overconfident because you really have to respect Elusive Noise and Carrabelle Harbor. I knew those two would show speed.

“I asked my horse to pull back a little bit before the first turn and she relaxed right away. I was sitting comfortably on the backside and just waited. I got the lead at the top of the stretch with plenty of horse. Once I committed to the lead, there was no turning back. “

Playful Argument, ridden by Pedro Terrero, rallied wide through the second turn and was slowly gaining on the winner late, but couldn’t get past. Playful Argument paid $9.20 and $5.40.

Soul in One, ridden by Joe Crispin, rallied from last to finish third and paid $4 to show.

The Gang and I, Judging Mimi, Elusive Noise and Carrabelle Harbor completed the order of finish. All starters carried 120 lbs.

NOTES: Mawing rode three winners on the card—his ninth day with at least three wins—and leads Juan Gutierrez 86-72 in the Thoroughbred rider standings.

Gallyn Mitchell rode two winners while Penney and Chris Stenslie led the trainers with two wins each…Perfect Pie ($4.20) became the meet’s fifth four-time winner with a 1-½ length victory under Jennifer Whitaker in the fifth race. The 4-year-old Tale of the Cat filly is 4-2-0 in seven starts with $27,642 in earnings for Stenslie and owners Jody Peetz and Tony Loften. Stenslie, Peetz and Loften also won the opener with Showtime At Nine ($4.40).

Live racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program at 2:15 p.m.  The $65,000 Emerald Derby goes as race nine at 6:18 p.m. Couldabenthewhisky is the 2-1 morning line favorite, followed by Zayda at 5-2 and Winter Warlock at 3-1.