Jockey Gallyn Mitchell, right, on Edneator, looks back at Alex Solis, riding Big Ten, while crossing the finish line in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Sunday.
Homestretch Farm's locally based Washington-bred Edneator earned his third career victory by setting a blazing early pace and holding on to win the $250,000 Longacres Mile (gr. III) by 1 1/2 lengths over 2-1 favorite Big Ten Sunday at Emerald Downs. Edneator's previous wins came in an optional claiming race and a maiden race. Under jockey Gallyn Mitchell, Edneator completed the mile in 1:33 1/5. In April, he equaled the Emerald Downs track record for 6 1/2 furlongs, winning the optional claiming race in 1:14 2/5. Edneator returned $85.20, $23, and $9. The winning $1 exacta combination paid $232.70. Over a fast track, Edneator set fractions of :22 2/5 and :44 3/5 while dueling with Handy N Bold for the lead. He brushed off that rival and increased his lead on the turn for home, running six furlongs in a very fast 1:07 4/5. After the quick fractions the 4-year-old gelding had every reason to tire in the stretch, but he continued on gamely, racing seven furlongs in 1:20 1/5 en route to his first stakes victory. Crafty Boy finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Big Ten. Robynhood was fourth, followed by Thetruthisoutthere, Handy N Bold, Radar Contact, Zanetti, Bold Words, Koslanin, and Commitisize. 1997 Longacres Mile winner Kid Katabatic was scratched. Edneator (Delineator--Rainbow Writer, by Staff Writer) earned $137,500 for the win, bringing his career earnings to $188,465. He is trained by Jim Penney and was bred by Jill Fabulich and Kay Cooper. Edneator finished third in stakes races on three prior occasions, including the listed $100,000 Gottstein Futurity, in which Arlington Million (gr. I) third-place finisher Mula Gula finshed second. (Chart, Equibase)
