Deb's Wildcard reaches wire first by nose in Seattle Handicap

Deb’s Wildcard recorded her first career stakes victory Sunday at Emerald Downs, winning the $50,000 Seattle Handicap for 3-year-old fillies by the narrowest of margins.

A newcomer to the Northwest from Northern California, Deb’s Wildcard held on to defeat Ethan’s Baby, Emerald Downs’s leading 2-year-old filly last year, by a nose. Ethan’s Baby was another 2 3/4 lengths in front of 8-5 favorite Suva Harbor, the third-place finisher in a field of nine.

Deb’s Wildcard, ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez for Golden Gate-based trainer Lloyd Mason, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.34 and paid $8.20. Belle Hill finished fourth, followed by Sneaking a Kiss, Pippa Bou Peep, Hip Ninety Three, S U M Racer, and Perhaps a Pie.

Deb’s Wildcard, who had made all eight of her prior starts on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate, had no apparent issue with the sandy dirt at Emerald Downs. Gonzalez kept her outside horses by design, he said, and Deb’s Wildcard “was just flying” on the turn. Fifth through the first quarter- mile, she rallied four-wide to collar front-running Ethan’s Baby nearing the furlong marker and quickly spurted clear. But Ethan’s Baby wasn’t finished, fighting back gamely to just miss.

Deb’s Wildcard earned $27,500 for Mason and co-owner Robert Jones of San Leandro, Calif., pushing her lifetime earnings to $113,924. She won for the fourth time in nine career starts, with previous victories in a maiden race, and two first-level optional claiming sprints. Bred in California, Deb’s Wildcard is by Desert Code, from the Demons Begone mare Deb’s Royal Flush.