Appeal Factor doubles up in WTBOA Lassies Stakes
Appeal Factor made it two stakes wins from as many starts in Sunday's $50,000 WTBOA Lassies Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald Downs.
The 2-year-old filly by The Factor found herself on the inside and right behind the leaders soon after the start with room to operate. Jockey Silvio Amador finessed his mount around the early pacesetter, Neissa, joining that one soon after the group had gone a quarter-mile.
From that point on, Appeal Factor did all the rest, taking the field through a lively half-mile run in 44.34 seconds en route to a four-length victory over Mocktails Anyone, with early leader Neissa a neck farther back in third. Appeal Factor completed the distance on a fast track in 1:18.58.
Appeal Factor, a homebred who races for Oak Crest Farms LLC, is trained by David Martinez and paid $3.80 as favorite.
Earlier on the card was the $65,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes, which was taken in front-running fashion by Freightline in a race where the field nearly maintained the same order at every point of call.
The 2-year-old males went 23.00 and 45.94 before finishing the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.11, with Freightline winning by 3 1/4 lengths returning $8.60 to win.
Just five runners went to post in the Lads, with the winner turning the tables on favored Whiskey Harbor, who had beaten Freightline to the punch in winning the King County Express on July 9. Bourbon Dancer and even-money favorite Whiskey Harbor were second and third, respectively.
Freightline is a son of Coast Guard owned by Gold Coast Racing III and trained by Steve Bullock. Alex Cruz rode the winner.
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