He's Not Grey debuts a winner in Emerald Downs Express, Bella Mia wires Angie C.

He’s Not Grey made his career debut a memorable one on Sunday, when he came rolling through the stretch for a 3 1/2-length win over Bullet Drill in the $50,000 Emerald Downs Express. The race was one of two stakes for 2-year-olds on the card. Bella Mia wired her rivals in the $50,000 Angie C.

Both of the stakes were run over 5 1/2 furlongs.

He’s Not Grey ($24.80) was content to stalk the pace set by Elliott Bay, who ran the opening quarter in 22.25 seconds while under pressure from Brown Tiger. He’s Not Grey advanced on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, and rolled past the leaders in the lane. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1:05.04.

“He’s been the talk of the barn, how good he’s been doing,” said winning owner John Parker. “He showed he can run.”

Juan Gutierrez was aboard He’s Not Grey for trainer Candi Tollett. The winner is a son of Slew’s Tiznow and for his effort Sunday he earned $27,225. He’s Not Grey was bred in California by Eagle Ridge Racing and Rancho San Miguel.

Sippin Fire, who was favored in the Emerald Express, finished fourth Sunday.

Bella Mia ($8) backed up a dominant maiden win with a 2 1/4-length stakes victory in the Angie C. She was clear through fractions of 22.41 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.40 for the half-mile before going on to cover the distance in 1:05.06.

“She broke like a rocket,” said winning rider Julien Couton, who was aboard for trainer Blaine Wright.

Faith Flys Again finished second, while it was another three-quarters of a length back in third to My Aunt Mo. My Aunt Mo was bumped soundly at the start and rallied from off the pace following a wire-to-wire win in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Hastings.

Bella Mia came into the Angie C. off a 5 1/4-length maiden special weight win over Faith Flys Again on July 1 at Emerald. The start came in her second career out. Bella Mia has now won two of three starts for John and Janene Maryanski and the first-place check of $27,225 she picked up pushed her career earnings to $38,788.

Bella Mia is a daughter of Harbor the Gold and she was bred in Washington by Mr. and Mrs. William T. Griffin.