Sippin Fire outduels Weekend Wizard in Muckleshoot

Sippin Fire and Weekend Wizard hooked up at the top of the stretch and, after a thrilling duel, Sippin Fire emerged the winner of the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs on Sunday.

He paid $4.00 for his 3/4-length win over a very game Weekend Wizard in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Leading rider Rocco Bowen allowed Sippin Fire to settle midpack while Weekend Wizard dueled with Freiburg through a snappy half-mile of 46 seconds flat. Weekend Wizard disposed of Freiburg and then opened up a clear lead on the stretch turn. Sippin Fire started to make his presence known with a strong four-wide move just past the quarter-pole, engaged the leader just after they turned for home, and after the lengthy battle edged clear late. Elliot Bay rallied to finish 9 3/4 lengths behind Weekend Wizard.

The final time was 1:48.54.

The Muckleshoot Derby is the first leg of the Northwest Triple, which also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sept. 8 and the $100,000 Getaway Stakes at Emerald on Sept. 23.

“Off to Canada, boys,” Bowen said. “This horse is so good and I just try to stay out of his way. Usually I have to ride him pretty hard at the three-eighths pole, but he was dragging me there today. He won a good battle with a good horse. “

A Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold, Sippin Fire is owned by How We Roll .4 and trained by Steve Bullock.