Sippin Fire takes Seattle Slew Stakes

Sippin Fire was an impressive winner over 44-1 longshot Smoothee Lee in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes at Emerald Downs Sunday. He paid $4.60 for his two and three-quarter length victory in the mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-olds and posted a final time of 1:41.78.

Sippin Fire broke on top from post 6, but leading rider Rocco Bowen eased him into a stalking position behind Freiburg, who was chased by Boundary Bay through a half-mile in 46.56 seconds. Boundary Bay took over the lead at the six-furlong mark, and under urging from Bowen Sippin Fire made his presence known while going five-wide on the stretch turn. He took over the lead at the eighth-pole and drew off from Smothee Lee who stalked the pace before taking over the lead mid-stretch. Boundary Bay held on to finish a neck in front of Elliot Bay who looked like a serious threat at the top of the stretch but flattened out.

“This is a special horse and I was just along for the ride,” said Bowen, who had five wins on the 9-race card. “I just stay out of his way and try to keep him out of trouble. I lost a lot of sleep wondering if he could go a mile and a sixteenth. He passed a big test today.”

It was the second-straight stakes win for the Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold who is trained by Steve Bullock and owned by How We Roll 4. Joe Withee, director of publicity at Emerald, is part of the stable.

Withee reported that jockey Patrick Henry, who came off Shopping Tizzy when she ducked in just before she crossed the finish line in the fifth race, appears to be okay. Shopping Tizzy was going to easily wint the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies but veered sideways just before the wire, and it looked like she stepped on Henry. He was taken to a local hospital, and according to Withee the x-rays didn’t show any major injuries.

“It sounds like he will be released tonight,” he said.