Del Rio Harbor turns tables on Noosito in Coca-Cola

AUBURN, Wash. – Del Rio Harbor raced to an easy victory in the $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap Sunday, re-establishing himself as the leading 3-year-old at Emerald Downs.

Del Rio Harbor, Emerald’s champion 2-year-old in 2013, made amends for his third-place finish in the 6 1/2-furlong Auburn Handicap in his last start, when he finished nearly seven lengths behind winning stablemate Noosito. On Sunday, Noosito went to post as the odds-on favorite in the one-mile Coca-Cola and finished second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Del Rio Harbor, who ran one mile in 1:34.73 under Gallyn Mitchell and paid $11.20.

Del Rio Harbor, trained by Doris Harwood, shadowed longshot pacesetter He's Zubberfic before taking charge nearing the stretch. Charlie Thomas, making his first Emerald start after shipping in from Golden Gate, closed to finish third. He was followed by Mebossman, Slice of Red, Redsolocup, Kenai King, Trick Or Retreat, and He's Zubberfic in a field of nine 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Del Rio Harbor earned $27,500 for Desert Rose Racing and Bar C Racing Stables, expanding his career ledger to $155,709 from nine starts. By Harbor the Gold from the Horse Chestnut mare Bahati, he captured three stakes races at Emerald in 2013, including the season-ending Gottstein Futurity. He could be seen next in the 1 1/16-mile Seattle Slew Handicap on July 13.