Challenge


Trainer Has Two Choices In $54,000 Bank Of America Emerald Challenge
Emerald Downs will host the Bank of America Emerald Challenge Championship final on Sunday.

© Emerald Downs
Trainer Has Two Choices In $54,000 Bank Of America Emerald Challenge

Courtesy auburn-reporter.com

AUBURN, WA—AUGUST 18, 2016— Trainer Roddina Barrett has dominated Quarter Horse racing this season at Emerald Downs, posting a 7-5-1 record in 19 starts. Her win total more than triples her closest challenger in the standings.

Sunday, when Emerald Downs presents the sixth running of the $54,000 Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge Stakes at 440 yards, Sorelli and Stella Corona represent Barrett in the meet's biggest race for Quarter Horses.

A triple winner at the meet, 4-year-old filly Sorelli was second fastest qualifier in the trials two weeks ago while 3-year-old filly Stella Corona, who has a win and two seconds at the meet, qualified fourth.

Trainer Mark Hanson and jockey Nakia Ramirez invaded from Idaho to sweep the both trials and appear to have big chances Sunday. James First Affair qualified fastest, winning the first trial in :21.926, while Rtm Mr Caccia prevailed in the second trial with the third-fastest qualifying time of :22.192.

It's interesting to note, however, that Ramirez rides Rtm Mr Caccia on Sunday while Eddie Aceves handles James First Affair.

"Mark Hanson's horses have been running really, really good," said Barrett, who also has 12 Thoroughbred wins at the meet. "The last race was Sorelli's first time ever going 440 yards and it was also the first time Eswan (Flores) ever been on her.

"So hopefully for the finals, Eswan knows her little tendencies and he can make it their first this time. She's been here training, jumping up and down, tearing down the walker. She's ready to go."

Either Sorelli or Stella Corona would be only the second filly or mare to win the race. Chicks Special Angel prevailed as a 6-year-old mare in 2014.

"Stella Corona has been a pleasure to have in the barn as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old," Barrett said. "She is a hard trying filly. She will give you everything she's got. She'll lay her life on the line."

Sorelli, an Oklahoma-bred daughter of Brookstone Bay, is owned by Tim Floyd's Warlock Stable and Kelly Dougan.

Washington-bred Stella Corona, a 3-year-old filly by Stel Corona, is owned and bred by Jeff Ray.

The Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge is Stakes is Race 8 at 5:15 p.m.

The field for the 6th running of the Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge Stakes at 440 yards with jockey and weight:

  1. Perhaps A Pie, Eswan Flores, 114
  2. Locket, Tyler Baze¸116
  3. Ole's Miss, Jennifer Whitaker, 115
  4. Princess Kennedy, Rocco Bowen, 115
  5. Alli Leigh, Isaias Enriquez, 113
  6. Curly Girly, Leslie Mawing, 116
  7. Chronologic'sghost, Anne Sanguinetti, 117
  8. Guinevere's Finale, Javier Matias, 120
  9. All Star Bub, Mario Gutierrez, 121