Time for Gold, Top Executive win first stakes of meet

Time for Gold broke alertly from the rail and never looked back while dominating the $36,000 Angie C. for 2-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs Thursday evening. The Angie C. was the first stakes held at Emerald this year and was quickly followed by the $36,000 King County Express where Top Executive beat Seattleesbestsecret by a nose in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for juvenile colts and geldings.

Time for Gold paid $27.40 for her nine-length romp in the Angie C. With Javier Maties riding she dueled with heavily favored Anothersunnyday while posting a quick quarter-mile time of 21.45. She took command at the quarter pole and was ridden out while drawing off to win the 5 1/2-furlong sprint decisively. Magaginbrianna came from a stalking position to finish second. La Panzanella came from last in the seven-horse field to pick up third.

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Anothersunnyday, who shipped down from Hastings was sent off as the 1-2 favorite. After dueling with the winner, she finished last.

The final time of 1:02.72 equaled the stakes record set by Karula in 2016.

The daughter of Harbor the Gold is trained by Frank Lucarelli. Harbor the Gold is the all-time leading sire of stakes winners at Emerald.

Time for Gold races for Chad Christensen and Josh Mckee.

The Angie C. was part of the pick 4, which which paid a record $29,571.40 for a 50 cent ticket. It easily bested the previous record of $16,892.50 set on July 5, 2016.

Heribert Martinez rode Top Executive to his narrow victory in the King County. He came from a stalking position in the 10 -horse field. He paid $28.60.

Seattlesbestsecret was sent off as the 1.30-1 favorite and may have been best but lost some momentum when he steadied nearing the three sixteenth pole. Coastal Jazz set the pace before tiring to finish third. He was ridden by Alex Cruz who claimed foul against the winner for causing the interference. The stewards ruled that Coastal Jazz was the culprit and let the result stand.

The final time was 1:03.86.

A son of Street Boss, Top Executive races for John and Janene Maryanski and Riverbend Stables. He is trained by Blaine Wright.

The start of the race was delayed when Dutton and Luke’s Place were scratched at the gate.