Poker Brad prevails in Independence Day Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. - Under a perfectly judged ride from Kevin Krigger, Poker Brad wore down the heavily favored Flamethrowintexan to win Sunday's Independence Day Handicap at Emerald Downs by a neck in 1:41 for 1 1/16 miles.

Krigger kept Poker Brad within a length of the frontrunning Flamethrowintexan through six furlongs in 1:10.80, moved him to even terms inside the eighth pole and just got by in the final strides to earn the $22,000 winner's share of a $40,000 purse for owner Quadrun Farm LLC. Poker Brad, a 7-year-old by Go For Gin, went off as the 5-2 second choice in a compact field of four and returned $7.00 to win. He is trained by Tim McCanna.

In Sunday's second stakes, the $40,000 King County Stakes for older fillies and mares, 3-2 favorite Karis Makaw swept to the front turning for home and maintained a 3/4-length advantage over Ruby Dawn in 1:36.20 for a mile. Karis Makaw, a 4-year-old daughter of Charismatic, is trained by Bob Meeking for owner Evelyn Filler and was ridden on Sunday by Ricky Frazier.

It was the first stakes win for Karis Makaw, who has now won four of nine starts for just over $80,000 in earnings.