Top Executive wins Muckleshoot, Bayakoas Image takes Washington Oaks
In a thriller, Top Executive edged Coastal Kid by a head in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs on Sunday, paying $5.80 for the game win in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.
Ridden by Kevin Orozco, Top Executive broke sharply and raced inside of Kowboykabin as they stalked Coastal Kid through a quick half-mile time of 45.58 seconds. Kowboykabin dropped back approaching the six-furlong mark and it became a two-horse race as Top Executive and Coastal Kid hooked up at the quarter-pole. They dueled the rest of the way with Top Executive edging clear in the last couple of strides.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz finished a fast-closing third.
The final time was 1:42.25.
“He wanted to go to the lead right out of the gate, so I had to reel him back,” Orozco said. “I knew we were going fast, but I just had to let him go.”
The Kentucky-bred gelding by Street Boss is trained by Blaine Wright. He races for John and Janene Maryanski and Riverbend Stable.
The Muckleshoot Derby wasn’t decided until the last few jumps, but the $50,000 Washington Oaks was pretty much over when Bayakoas Image took over the lead midway through the stretch turn. The final margin over Broad Approval was 5 3/4 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.
With Alex Marti hustling her out of the gate, Bayakoas Image sat just off Curious Sensation, who posted a half-mile time of 48.02 seconds. She loomed boldly at the six-furlong call, took over the lead soon after, and was never threatened while winning decisively. Broad Approval rallied to finish 2 3/4 lengths clear of Ms. Lynn,
Bayakoas Image paid $7.20 and posted a final time of 1:42.24.
“When I asked her at the quarter pole, she gave me everything and just flew home,” Marti said.
A daughter of Lent, Bayakoas Image is owned by Brian O’Connell (Nite & Day Stable) and his wife Joanne Todd. Bayakoas Image was bred by O’Connell, who is her trainer at Hastings. Her dam, Tempered Steel, won the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks at Hastings in 2013 for O’Connell and Todd.
Kay Cooper was the trainer of record for the Oaks.
“I was just happy they trusted me with their baby,” Cooper said. “She was on fire here all week.”