Emerald Downs: Hard Way Ten connects at 14-1 in Emerald Distaff

AUBURN, Wash. -- Hard Way Ten, a 14-1 outsider, raced to a hard-fought victory Sunday in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff at Emerald Downs, a race marred when defending champion Kimmyv broke down about 40 yards from the finish.

Hard Way Ten, a homebred for Seattle businessman Herman Sarkowsky, was making her fourth local start after arriving from Southern California in early June. She was a non-threatening fifth in the one-mile Boeing Handicap in her last start, but found the nine furlongs in the Distaff more to her liking.

After chasing front-runners You Me and Ema B and Zenovit through the second turn, Hard Way Ten surged to the front near the furlong grounds and gradually drew clear to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. She was timed in 1:50.09 and paid $24.20.

Sweet Nellie Brown, a 19-1 shot, finished second, and You Me and Ema B, seeking her third stakes victory of the meeting, hung on for third. They were followed by Rewritten, Private Fortune, 2-1 favorite U R All That I Am, and Zenovit in the field of eight. Kimmyv, who led for the first half-mile, weakened thereafter before suffering a catastrophic leg injury in the final furlong.

Hard Way Ten was ridden by Gallyn Mitchell for trainer Doris Harwood, who saddled morning-line favorite Noosa Beach in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile two races after the Distaff. Mitchell and Harwood added to their Emerald Downs records for total stakes victories – 73 for Mitchell, and 54 for Harwood.

Hard Way Ten earned $35,750, running her lifetime earnings to $132,385.