Corvallis Dee best in Gottstein Futurity

AUBURN, Wash. - Corvallis Dee took the lead at the top of the stretch and drew out to a 3 1/2 length victory in Sunday's $100,000 Joe Gottstein Futurity, the highlight of the inaugural Washington Cup Day at Emerald Downs.

The Gottstein was the only one of eight stakes on the 10-race card that was not restricted to Washington-breds, but it too was won by a state-bred. Corvallis Dee, a son of Slewdledo who was purchased from last year's WTBA yearling sale for $11,500 by owner Art McFadden, got the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.60 under leading rider Kevin Radke to earn $55,000 for his owner. He gave trainer Bud Klokstad a record seventh victory in Washington's most important race for 2-year-olds.

Corvallis Dee paid $12.40 to defeat the favored Harvard Avenue, who got up for second by 4 1/2 lengths over Military Singer.

The best of the Washington-bred stakes, the $50,000 Washington Cup Classic for older state-breds at 1 1/16 miles, was won by Colony Lane in 1:42.20. Colony Lane, who is trained and owned in part by Bonnie Jenne, defeated favored Alfurune by 3 3/4 lengths under Gary Baze to pay $7.40. Long On Pride, who raced coupled with the winner, narrowly edged Sabertooth for third.

Upsets abound on Washington Cup Day undercard

In other Washington Cup Day stakes action, Badger K. Eli ($15.80) won the $40,000 Chinook Pass Sprint by a nose over Iron Top in 1:09.60 for six furlongs; Infernal McGoon ($2.80) won the $50,000 Belle Roberts Handicap for older fillies and mares with 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.60; Crystal Mt. Stevie ($38.40) won the $40,000 Diane Kem Stakes for 2-year-old fillies in 1:11.60 for six furlongs; Getthepartystarted ($8.80) won the $40,000 John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in 1:37.20 for a mile; I'm a Soccer Boy ($43.80) won the Trooper Seven Stakes for 3-year-old males in 1:37 for a mile; and Millenium Nugget ($14.40) won the $40,000 Captain Condo Stakes for 2-year-old males in 1:10.80 for six furlongs.

The first Washington Cup Day spurred total wagering of $2,105,039, an increase of more than 31 percent over the same day last year, when the Gottstein Futurity was the only stakes on the card. It was the third-highest handle at the Emerald meeting behind Longacres Mile Day ($3,037,581) and Emerald Derby Day ($2,295,440).