Law Abidin Citizen outgames favorite in Longacres Mile

Following a thrilling stretch drive, Law Abidin Citizen emerged the winner over heavily favored Anyportinastorm in the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Sunday. He paid $15.60 for his head victory in the premier race in the Northwest. The 50-cent all-stakes pick four paid $1,803.20 after there were no winning favorites in the sequence.

With Abel Cedillo riding, Law Abidin Citizen broke alertly and sat just off Anyportinastorm, who posted a half-mile time of 45.58 seconds. The pair hooked up at the quarter pole and battled to the wire with Law Abidin Citizen bobbing his head at the right time. Restrainedvengence joined the fray in midstretch and just missed while finishing a half-length short.

The final time was 1:34.08.

Law Abidin Citizen, trained by Mark Glatt, is also a Grade 3 winner on turf.

“He handled the track beautifully,” said Cedillo. “We wanted to get him into the race early and he broke great.”

“We thought me might like the track here,” said Glatt. “He runs really well over the firm turf courses in Southern California. This track is similar in that it can get pretty fast.”

The 5-year-old gelding by Twirling Candy is owned by Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider, and John Xitco.

No Talking Back takes Distaff

No Talking Back wrapped up the local filly-and-mare championship with a one-length victory over Bella Mia in the $50,000 Emerald Distaff. She paid $10 and posted a final time of 1:49.56 for a mile and an eighth.

With 58-year-old Scott Stevens riding, No Talking Back saved ground while stalking Bella Mia through a half-mile time of 47.30. She started to make her presence known on the stretch turn, made her move from along the rail at the top of the stretch, and had to work hard to get past a stubborn Bella Mia. Blazinbeauty rallied from last to finish third.

“I was loaded from the time we left the gate and I was just hoping for something to open on the fence,” said Stevens. “I had a lot of horse and didn’t need a lot of room for her to go through.”

The 5-year-old daughter of Flatter trained by Chris Stenslie races for One Horse Will Do Corporation and Steve Shimuzu.

* My Grandpa paid $17 for his hard-fought win over Alittlesstalk in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby.

My Grandpa and Alittlelesstalk hooked up at the six-furlong mark and staged a thrilling duel until My Grandpa edged clear late in the mile and an eighth race. The final margin was 1 1/2 lengths.

He was ridden by Jorge Carreno and posted a final time of 1:49.71.

“He broke a little slow but he’s a real nice horse,” said Carreno. “He really improved when blinkers went on.”

Alittlelesstalk, the only filly in the race, was game in defeat. Time’n Time Again finished third.

A Washington-bred son of Grazen, My Grandpa is trained by Tom Wenzel and owned by Ron Crockett.

* Killarney Lass set moderate fractions on her way to an impressive nine and one-quarter length victory in the $50,000 Washington Oaks. She paid $10.

With jockey Javier Matias aboard, Killarney Lass cruised through a half-mile in 47.23 seconds, held a six-length advantage at the eighth-pole, and just kept rolling while winning in hand. Twirling Devon rallied late with Two Shakes picking up third.

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Twirling Candy posted a final time of 1:48.55.

The shape of the 1 1/8-mile race changed dramatically when heavily favored Mucho Amor got off to a poor start.

Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Killarney Lass races for Sargent Stables. Lucarelli is the all-time leading trainer at Emerald with 997 wins at the Auburn track.