From Emerald Downs Publicity
AUBURN, Wash. (June 26, 2022) – In the $50,000 Hastings Stakes for older fillies and mares, California-bred invader Maybe I Will outfinished 2021 Washington Horse of the Year Blazingbellablu and scored a neck victory in 1:08.38 for six furlongs at Emerald Downs.
With Kevin Orozco riding at 120 lbs. for trainer Blaine Wright and owner/breeder Tom Bachman, Maybe I Will paid $12, $6, and $4.40 as fourth betting choice in a field of seven.
Maybe I Will pressed the pace outside of fellow Cal-breds Ima Happy Cat and Daffodil Sweet through a half-mile in :44.21, took the lead into the lane, and then outfinished Blazingbellablu in an extended drive to the wire.
Blazingbellablu rallied into contention inside and just missed scoring a victory in her season debut for trainer/co-owner Charles Essex. Ridden by Alex Cruz at 119 lbs., Blazingbellablu paid $5.20 and $3.20.
Daffodil Sweet, the 9 to 5 favorite ridden by Juan Gutierrez at high weight of 123 lbs., was a half-length back in third and paid $2.60.
Dontkissntell, Ima Happy Cat, Ms Lynn, and Brilliant Bird rounded out the order of finish.
Ima Happy Cat, a two-time Hastings Stakes winner bidding for her fourth Emerald Downs stakes triumph overall, weakened slightly after leading the opening half-mile.
A 4-year-old California-bred filly by Will Take Charge, out of the Henny Hughes mare My Due Process, Maybe I Will earned $27,500 to boost her career total to $125,326. Her overall record is 4-1-1 from 12 starts including three wins over the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields.
Wright already has three stakes wins this season and jumped into fourth place on the track’s all-time list with 49 stakes wins.