Riser much the best in Coca-Cola Stakes
Riser completely dominated his eight rivals while winning the $50,000 Coca-Cola Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sunday. He paid $3.80 for his 5 1/4-length win over his stablemate Aqua Frio in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.
Breaking sharply with Eswan Flores aboard, Riser coasted through a half-mile in 44.46 seconds. He held a 3 1/2-length lead over Aqua Frio at the eighth pole and was never threatened while being ridden out to the wire. Aqua Frio, sixth while Riser posted a 22.22-second quarter-mile time, rallied late but was no match for his stablemate. Sharkzilla ran evenly to finish third.
The final time was 1:15.26.
“Everything worked out good,” said Flores. “I was able to give him a breather and then he exploded down the lane. “
Riser and Aqua Frio are trained by Blaine Wright.
“They are both nice horses and I think Aqua Frio’s future is on turf,” he said.
Riser’s future is clearly on dirt. In his first start on the traditional surface at Emerald he won an optional $25,000 claiming race by seven lengths. His only other win in six starts came when he debuted in a maiden special weight race on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields last Sept. 11.
An Ohio-bred son of Mizzen Mast, Riser is owned by Chappell Alpine Farms LLC.