Papa's Golden Boy runs away from Governor's Stakes rivals
Papa’s Golden Boy used his substantial speed to win the $50,000 Governor’s at Emerald Downs Sunday. He paid $4 for his 2 ½-length front-running victory over Unmachable in the 6 ½-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up.
Breaking alertly from the rail with Julien Couton aboard, Papa’s Golden Boy held and 2 ½-length advantage over Windribbon when he posted a half mile time of 43.85 seconds. He increased the margin to 3 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole and easily held off the late move by Machable. Windribbon held on to finish third.
The race was marred when Baja Sur fell in midstretch. Baja Sur got up on his own power and was vanned off. Jockey Franklin Ceballos appeared to be okay following the incident.
The final time was 1:14.50.
A 5-year-old Washington-bred son of Harbor’s Gold, Papa’s Golden Boy is trained by Vince Gibson. He races for Gary Lusk, Deborah Lusk, Jeff Lusk and Peyton Lusk.
The win, his third straight at the meet, stamped Papa’s Golden Boy as the one to catch and beat in the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 15.
Daffodil Sweet moved to the top of the local filly and mare division with a convincing win over Dontkissntell in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators. She paid $8.80 for her 2 ½-length victory and posted a final time of 1:15.19 in the 6 ½-furlong dash for fillies and mares.
A California-bred daughter of Ministers Wild Cat, Daffodil Sweet went into the race off a last-place finish after a terrible start in the $50,000 Hastings at Emerald on June 17. It was the first time she had finished worse than second and the only time she had lost sprinting.
A Chris Stenslie-trained 4-year-old, Daffodil Sweet made no mistakes in the Legislators. She broke well enough with Juan Gutierrez aboard, and sat just off Ima Happy Cat, who posted a half-mile time of 43.88 seconds. Gutierrez angled her to the outside of Ima Happy Cat approaching the turn, and drew off in midstretch. Dontkissntell came from mid-pack to finish second over Squan’s Kingdom, who made a late move to get up for third.
Daffodil Sweet races for One Horse Will Do Corporation and Steve Shimizu.