Blaine Wright Takes Three Stakes at Emerald Downs

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Photo: Reed Palmer/Emerald Downs
Baja Sur wins the 2018 King County Express Stakes

Trainer Blaine Wright had a standout day on a stakes-heavy card at Emerald Downs July 15, highlighted by a 10 1/2-length romp by John Maryanski, Janene Maryanski, and Riverband Farm's Baja Sur in the $50,000 King County Express Stakes.

A 2-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Smiling Tiger , Baja Sur put in his second straight dominating performance in frontrunning fashion in the 5 1/2-furlong King County Express, which followed his 5 1/4-length debut score going five furlongs at Emerald June 17.

Under jockey Erick Lopez, the $67,000 purchase out of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Yearling and Mixed Sale in 2017 set fast fractions and extended his margin from 4 1/2 lengths at the furlong pole to finish off the distance in 1:03.13.

Despite the wide margin of victory, Wright indicated Baja Sur might be better suited to stay home than chase significantly tougher competition at Del Mar this summer.

"I won't make those decisions. The owners are local and a there's a lot of money for the taking up here, but it will be interesting to see where they want to go," Wright said. "And he beat some average Joes (in his first two races). I'm not rushing to send him down there. You either go to Del Mar or stay home, but right now there's a lot of money on the table and he could run for $100,000 beating up on horses up here."

Video: King County Express S. (BT)



Earlier in the card Chappell Alpine Farms' Riser won the first stakes of the day for Wright, the $50,000 Mt. Rainier. Under jockey Juan Hernandez the 4-year-old Ohio-bred Mizzen Mast  colt shot to the lead early and scored by 2 1/4 lengths to earn his second stakes win in his last three starts at Emerald. Wright said, if all goes well, Riser will head to the Aug. 12 Longacres Mile (G3) next.

"I'm just happy to have a fresh horse, who has raced four times this year, coming up on our signature race," the trainer said.

Video: Mt. Rainier S. (BT)



Wright capped the afternoon with a win by Top Quality in the $50,000 Boeing Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and older. The 4-year-old Quality Road  filly's 3 3/4-length victory Sunday was her second stakes win. Her first came in the 2017 Irish Day Stakes at Emerald.

Video: Boeing S. (BT)



How We Roll #4's Northwest Factor rounded out the stakes winners on the card with a three-quarter-length score in the $50,000 Angie C. Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. By The Factor , Northwest Factor finished off the 5 1/2-furlong test in 1:04.41 for trainer Steve Bullock.

Video: Angie C. S. (BT)