Mucho Amor, with Juan Hernandez up, romps to a six-length victory in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs on Sunday. COURTESY TRACK PHOTO

Mucho Amor, with Juan Hernandez up, romps to a six-length victory in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs on Sunday. COURTESY TRACK PHOTO

Mucho Amor captures $50,000 Seattle Stakes

  • Monday, May 13, 2019 8:23am
  • Sports

Northwest newcomer Mucho Amor delivered a sensational Emerald Downs’ debut Sunday, romping to a six-length victory over Alittlelesstalk in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez at 120 pounds, Mucho Amor covered six furlongs in 1:09.76 and paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.20. Blaine Wright is the winning trainer for Dave Mowat’s Ten Broeck Farm.

A Kentucky-bred by 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, Mucho Amor earned $25,300 to increase her earnings to $92,590. Her overall record is 3-0-0 in five starts, including a maiden special weight win at Keeneland and a recent allowance victory at Golden Gate.

“Someone asked me this morning why I brought (Mucho Amor) up here,” Mowat said in the winner’s circle. “Number one, I live here, and number two, I have great respect for the industry up here and want to do anything I can to help it.”

The only anxious moments were prior to the race, when Mucho Amor was a bit reluctant to load.

“She was a little nervous before the race, but once the gate open she ran great,” said the Golden Gate-Fields-based Hernandez, now 4-2-0 in seven stakes engagements at Emerald Downs. “This is like my second home here. Winning stakes, how can you not like it?”

Mucho Amor pressed the pace while four-wide into the turn, gained command nearing the five-sixteenths marker and drew off steadily to the wire.

Wright now has 21 stakes wins since the start of the 2017 season, and is No. 7 all-time with 32 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. He’s booked on a Monday flight to Baltimore where he saddles Peter Redekop’s Anothertwistafate in Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

Alittlelesstalk, longest price on the board at 51 to 1, finished a clear second and paid $29 and $9. Ridden by Lorenzo Lopez at 120 lbs, Alittlelesstalk earned $9,200 for Warlock Stables, Kelly Dougan and Ya Killing Me LLC.

Killarney Lass, second choice at 3 to 1, faded to third after setting fractions of :21.95 and :45.16 for the quarter and half-mile. Ridden by Kevin Orozco, Killarney Lass paid $2.80.

Northwest Factor, last year’s Gottstein Futurity champion rallied late for fourth and Lulu’s Lightening, Forty Six Carats, Something About Me, Slingshot Mistress and Timberlake Gage completed the order of finish.

The $50,000 Kent Stakes at 6½ furlongs is next for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, June 9.

Barkley victorious in season debut

Barkley came through with a sensational 2019 debut, surging late for a 2¼-length victory over Sippin Fire in Sunday’s $21,500 allowance for 3-year-olds and up.

Last seen capturing the 2018 Longacres Mile, Barkley zipped 5½ furlongs in 1:02.98 and paid $5, $3 and $2.60. Regular rider Javier Matias was aboard for trainer Howard Belvoir and owner Rising Star Stable III.

Barkley earned $11,825 and moved into fifth place on the track’s all-time earnings list with $363,625. A 6-year-old full horse by Munnings, Barkley is 10-4-1 in 18 lifetime starts – all at Emerald Downs – including six stakes wins.

As usual, Barkley accomplished his victory in dramatic style. He broke slow and lagged in fifth as Cody’s Choice set fractions of :22.07 and :44.88, remained inside the entire journey and collared the leaders with a powerful late surge.

Sippin Fire, 2018 Emerald Downs’ Horse of the Meeting, rallied strongly into the lane but was unable to hold off Barkley in deep stretch. Ridden by Gary Wales, Sippin Fire paid $3.80 and $3.

Oh Marvelous Me, third to Barkley in last year’s Longacres Mile, finished third and paid $3.60, while Cody’s Choice, Elliott Bay and Hit the Beach rounded out the six-horse field.

The race was a prep for the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes at six furlongs on Sunday, June 2.

Under allowance/optional claiming conditions, Elliott Bay and Cody’s Choice both raced for a $50,000 tag Sunday. Elliott Bay was claimed for $50,000 by owner Chad Christensen and trainer Frank Lucarelli, tying the largest claim in track history.

Notes

Seattle Times Executive Editor Don Shelton served as Honorary Steward for the Seattle Stakes. … Belvoir and Sharon Ross each had back to back winners Sunday – Belvoir with Don’tbeshywillie ($4.20) and Barkley, and Ross with Zanab ($6.80) and Bob’s All In ($10.40). … Matias and Kevin Orozco led the jockeys with two winners apiece, and Matias is five wins away from 500 career wins at Emerald Downs. … Through eight days of racing, Gary Wales leads Orozco 9-8 atop the jockeys’ standings. … Frank Lucarelli tops the trainers’ standings with eight wins. … Jennifer Whitaker made it 19 straight seasons with a victory at Emerald Downs, guiding Don’tbeshyillie to a gate to wire triumph in Sunday’s fourth race. Whitaker is No. 10 all-time with 481 wins at Emerald Downs. … Roamin Effort ($5.60) became the fourth double winner of the meet with a come form behind victory under Jorge Carreno in race three. Co-owned by trainer Robbie Baze and Bill Nooney, Roamin Effort is a 4-year-old Roman Dancer gelding. … In honor of Mother’s Day, Blue Ribbon Farm had its traditional broodmare and foal on the track between races two and three. Washington-bred champion Finding More was this year’s mare along with a foal by $3.8 million earner Shaman Ghost. … Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:30 p.m.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Ethan Nonthaveth scores the second Kentwood goal for the Conks in a minute against Mount Rainier. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Tale of two halves for Kentwood boys soccer

Kentwood led 3-0 at halftime, but ends with 3-3 draw against Mount Rainier.

Juan Hernandez gives a scream after driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake steals a win on the road — and steals top spot

Falcons defeated Lions 3-2 in an intense battle for the lead of the NPSL.

t
Seven former Kent-based Thunderbirds in Stanley Cup playoffs | List | Update

Barzal, Bear and Kolesar helped lead Seattle to Western Hockey League title in 2017

t
Seeing Green (River): Gators win first hoops title since 1969

Along with a ring, coach Godfrey Drake and sophomore Jaiden Feroah win yearly awards.

Ben Ray / The Reporter
Sarah Wright has been nothing but dominant in the circle for Kentwood.
Spring sports breakdown: NPSL surprises and standings

League summaries so far, with mid-season awards.

Courtesy of Kent School District.
Kent School District and Kent Reporter partner for Athlete of the Year

Voting opens May 1 and will run until May 8, Awards given on June 4.

(Google screenshot)
Women’s NCAA basketball tournament was a game-changer | Bench Talk with Ben Ray

It seems like we are entering a time where the WNBA is ready to take that next leap to become even more mainstream with the help of these athletes. Why is that?

2024_0328_SOFTBALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBBY MULLIKIN (Courtesy Photo)
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Sofia Mottern-Salinas

Mottern-Salinas plays three positions and hit her second homer of the season against Mt. Rainier.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Justin Jamison

Jamison has set a new personal record in the 400 every race this season.

Seth Thomas and Isaiah Shimizu contest for possession of the ball. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood takes down Kentridge and takes over first place in NPSL

Conks have now beaten Kentridge six straight times dating back to 2018.

t
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Nashayla Fellows

Fellows has a top ten mark in the entire state for discus and shot put.

t
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Theo Carter

Carter has a top five time in the 400 and 800 in league.