From Emerald Downs Publicity
AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 11, 2019) — Overcoming a poor start, My Grandpa out dueled the gutsy filly Alittlelesstalk in a prolonged drive and scored by 1-¼ lengths in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs.
My Grandpa, as Washington-bred son of California stallion Grazen, was ridden by Jorge Carreno at 123 lbs and paid $17, $6 and $4.20, Tom Wenzel is the trainer for owner Ron Crockett of Seattle. My Grandpa has two wins in six starts and earnings of $48,075.
Alittlelesstalk dug in gamely when challenged by My Grandpa at the five-sixteenths pole and yielded grudgingly in the final furlong. Ridden by Scott Stevens at 118 lbs, Alittlelesstalk paid $3.60 and $2.80.
Time ’n Time Again finished third and paid $6 to show, while Rally Cat, El Borracho, Sky Confidential and Todo Es Toro rounded out the order of finish.
Rally Cat and Alittlelesstalk were co-favored at 3 to 2, although Rally Cat had a tad more money in the win pool—$23,050 to $22,423.
Wenzel’s 42 stakes wins are No. 6 all-time at Emerald Downs while Crockett’s 18 stakes wins ranks No. 3 among owners.
For Carreno, it was his first Emerald Downs’ stakes victory. The veteran jockey rode My Grandpa to a third in the Seattle Slew Stakes last month at 34 to 1 odds, and said he pled with Wenzel for a return engagement in the Derby.
“Since I rode him last time, I’ve been asking Tom about riding him again,” Carreno said. “He has a tendency to break a little slow, but he’s very nice and it’s great to get a stakes win.
A Washington-bred gelding by Grazen-Creole Delights, My Grandpa earned $26,400 and is 2-1-1 in six career starts with a bankroll of $48,075.
Washington-breds took down the top three placings—My Grandpa, Alittlelesstalk and Time ’n Time Again.
Former Washington Husky great and long time Thoroughbred trainer Junior Coffey served as Honorary Steward for the 2019 Muckleshoot Derby. Coincidentally, Coffey trained 2006 Derby winner Raise the Bluff for owner Ron Crockett.