No catching Claire Annette at Emerald

AUBURN, Wash. Front-running sensation Claire Annette rolled to a 4 3/4-length victory Sunday in the $30,000 Hastings Park Handicap for fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

Unbeaten and never headed in her past six starts, Claire Annette sprinted six furlongs in 1:08.60 to equal the stakes record set by Private Dreams in 2006. Ridden by Joe Crispin for trainer Connie Bouslaugh, the 6-year-old mare paid $4.80 as the betting favorite in a field of seven. Elusive Horizon finished second after racing close up throughout. Longshot Judicature closed for third.

Owned by her breeder, Nina Egbert, Claire Annette won for the seventh time in 14 career starts. Named the claimer of the meeting at Emerald Downs in 2008, she posted her first career stakes victory in the Hastings Park. It also was the first Emerald Downs stakes win for Crispin, 48, a three-time riding champion at Portland Meadows.

Bouslaugh said Claire Annette s next start would come in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on June 7.