AUBURN, Wash. (July 11, 2021) – Back on track after a rare misfire in the Hastings Stakes last month, Daffodil Sweet overhauled fellow California-bred Ima Happy Cat in the stretch and scored a 2 ½-length victory over Dontkissntell in Sunday’s $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes for older fillies and mares.
Ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 119 pounds, Daffodil Sweet covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.19 and paid $8.80 as third choice in the wagering. Chris Stenslie is the winning trainer for owners Jody Peetz of Issaquah and Steve Shimizu of Bellevue.
A 4-year-old daughter of Ministers Wild Cat bred by Michael Terry, Daffodil Sweet earned $27,500 and is 5-0-1 in seven career starts with earnings of $91,545. Her only losses were a second in the mile and a sixteenth in the 2020 Washington Oaks and a seventh in the Hastings, when she completely missed the break and never was involved as the 9 to 10 favorite.
Daffodil Sweet got away cleanly Sunday, stalking Ima Happy Cat through fractions of :21.81 and :43.88, gaining command a quarter mile from home and drawing off through the lane.
Dontkissntell, a 25 to1 outsider ridden by Ryan Barber at 119 lbs, finished strongly to take second place while Squan’s Kingdom, ridden by Javier Matias, also closed late to take third.
Ima Happy Cat, the 5 to 2 betting favorite ridden by Julien Couton at high weight of 123 lbs, weakened slightly to finish fourth. The 6-year-old gray was bidding for a second straight stakes victory and her fourth overall at Emerald Downs.
Killarney Lass, Getting Sideways, Miss Important, Coco Bee and Eyes Open completed the order of finish.
The $50,000 Emerald Distaff at 1 1/16 miles is next for older fillies and mares on Sunday, Aug. 15.