Riser scores impressive victory in Governor's Stakes

Riser broke sharply and never looked back while rolling to a 4 1/4-length win over Barkley in the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sunday. He paid $4.60 for his dominating victory in the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up.

With Juan Hernandez riding, Riser was a length clear of Dedicated to You after a quarter-mile in 22.23 seconds. He opened up a clear lead while posting a snappy half-mile time of 44.61 and drew off in the stretch. Barkley, last early, rallied late but was no threat to the winner. Mach One Rules finished a half-length behind Barkley. Mach One Rules, the champion older horse at Emerald in 2017, settled early and made a strong move while going four wide around the turn.

The final time was 1:08.23.

Riser, trained by Blaine Wright, was making his first start at Emerald since he won the Emerald Downs Derby last year. He started his 4-year-old season by going unplaced in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on May 4. Sunday’s win established him as the top older horse at Emerald and a serious contender for the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 12.

“The trip was good, and my horse was great,” said Hernandez. “He broke sharply, and when the other horses came to him, he really responded.”

Wright was pretty confident when he saw the first split.

“The babies went 21 and change in the race before,” he said. “When I saw the 22 quarter, I thought he was going to be tough to beat.”

An Ohio-bred son of Mizzen Mast, Riser is owned by Chappell Alpine Farms.