The red-hot jockey-trainer combination of Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo and Chris Stenslie struck again Saturday as Feels Like Rain romped by 5-½ lengths in the Comcast Day at the Races feature race for fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
Hoonan-Trujillo and Stenslie are now 12-for-25 combined at the 2011 meeting, a streak that includes one of the biggest upsets in track history by Showme Yourfriends at 50-to1 odds in the May 30 Auburn Handicap.
Saturday’s victory wasn’t quite so dramatic but it was far easier. Hustled to the lead by Hoonan-Trujillo, Feels Like Rain led throughout while setting fractions of :24.38, :48.61, 1:12.91 and 1:25.10. Final time for the mile was 1:37.83 on a fast track, and the winner paid $9, $3.40 and $2.20.
Claimed for $2,500 from her most recent start July 14, Feels Like Rain yielded a quick dividend for Stenslie and owners Carol Hubbird and Dean and Lois Vogt. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Vindication has a lifetime mark of 7-1-4 in 19 starts with earnings of $48,281.
Patience Rewarded, the 7-to-5 favorite ridden by Joe Crispin, finished second and paid $2.60 and $2.10. A. Lurie Girl, the 3-to-2 second choice ridden by Leslie Mawing, held third and paid $2.10.
NOTES: Owners Shady Valley Ranch (Ivan & Delores Christianson of Renton) made it five straight victories as Showboat Gambler was a 2-¾-length winner in the third race. And Shady Valley was back in the winner’s circle in the nightcap as Mariah’s Juke Box ($3.40) rallied for the victory under Hoonan-Trujillo. Technically, however, the latter win didn’t extend the streak to six since the Tribunal filly is owned in partnership with Jeff Harwood…Doris Harwood and Vince Gibson led the trainers with two wins apiece on the eight-race card.
Leonel Camacho-Flores was the riding star with three victories—Silver Mench ($7.60) and Mufaajy for Gibson, and Wave Her On ($10.80) for trainer H.R. Mullens. Camacho-Flores also rode three winners Sept. 24, 2010…Hoonan-Trujillo with two victories was the other ride to win more than once. It was her 12th riding double of the season.
Trainer Tom Wenzel finished one-two with Risque Humor ($11) and Ever Ready Carrie in Saturday’s sixth race, a $15,600 maiden special weight for older fillies and mares.
Roll Your Eyes, trained by Blaine Wright and owned by John and Janene Maryanski, and Munnings Sister, trained by Tim McCanna and owned by Charles Fipke, finished second and third in the $50,000 Wine Country Debutante for 2-year-old fillies won by Power of Nine ($21.40) at Santa Rosa. City Route, the 1-to-5 favorite, was fourth in the field of five.
Live racing continues Sunday at 2:15 p.m. including a stakes double-header for 2-year-olds and 2-year-old fillies. The $50,000 Angie C Stakes for 2-year-olds fillies goes as race seven, and the $50,000 Premio Esmeralda for 2-year-old colts and geldings is race nine.
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