Koala Beach romps in Gottstein

Koala Beach raced to an eight-length victory Saturday in the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs. A popular favorite in a field of seven that included four fillies and four maidens, he ran the 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.80 and paid $2.60.

A Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold, Koala Beach won his second consecutive stakes race and third race in six lifetime starts.

The victory capped a dominating season for trainer Doris Harwood, who set track records for overall earnings ($930,000) and victories in 2-year-old races (21). Harwood, who trains Koala Beach for her husband, Jeff, recorded 12 stakes victories at the meeting, tying the track record she established in 2007.

With Gallyn Mitchell riding, Koala Beach set a moderate pace and kicked away near the quarter pole. Fillies owned by Ron Crockett, the president of Emerald Downs, finished second, third, and fourth without threatening the winner. Have'n a Wild Time, an upset winner of the restricted Diane Kem Stakes on Sept. 13, was second, followed by Pistolpackin'gal, Rewritten, Private Fortune, Saratoga Boot and Our Double O Seven.

Koala Beach earned $37,125, pushing his lifetime earnings to $92,843.