Miner League steps up in closing-day Gottstein Futurity
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Sunday's closing day headliner at Emerald Downs was the $75,000 Gottstein Futurity, won by Miner League.
The Tom Wenzel trainee raced just behind the early pace before making a strong move to assume command around the far turn and then holding off a determined late bid by runner-up Bourbon Dancer to win by a neck. General Crook was third in the field of 12.
It was the third consecutive win in the event by the owner-trainer team of George Todaro and Wenzel. Miner League covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.77 over a fast track.
Ridden by Carlos Montalvo, the winner was second choice in the wagering and paid $8.40 to win. Favored Rimrock Lake was fairly close in the early going while racing wide and then faded to finish seventh beaten 22 lengths.
Two other stakes preceded the Gottstein Futurity on the card, including the $50,000 Washington Cup Filly and Mares Stakes and the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.
In the Washington Cup Filly and Mares Stakes, defending champion Blazingbellablu rewarded her faithful by running down California invader Anthonys Cleopatra in the final yards to pay $4.40. Even-money favorite Anthonys Cleopatra was a neck back in second and it was 13 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Emerald Sea.
Blazingbellablu, owned by Petra Lewin and Charles Essex, with Essex as the trainer, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.60. Leading jockey Alex Cruz was aboard the winner.
Atoning for his loss in the same event a year earlier, Slew's Tiz Whiz won the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic as a 1-20 favorite for Slew's Crew Racing and Wenzel. Jose Zunino was aboard the winner, who paid $2.10 across the board.
Gold Crusher forced and then set the pace before holding on to be second as the 7-1 second wagering choice, finishing three lengths behind the winner. It's Kracken Time shared pace duties with the runner-up before finishing third, another 3 1/2 lengths back. Slew's Tiz Whiz covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.90.
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