Handsome Hero Wins Feature

7/12/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2007
Contact: Cory Wray
(253) 288-7723
coryw@emeralddowns.com

HANDSOME HERO WINS FEATURE

Handsome Hero won Thursday night's feature in gate-to-wire fashion
AUBURN, Wash. – Handsome Hero ran a beautiful race in Thursday night's feature at Emerald Downs as he went gate-to-wire for the victory.

The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Rick Lukenbill and owned by Seven Oaks Farm with Seth Oliver, broke from the three-hole with Gallyn Mitchell in the irons in the $25,000 claiming race.

With the tracks' all-time leading rider up, Handsome Hero raced to the lead, setting fractions of 22 seconds in the quarter-mile and 44 in the half.

“This horse has really matured since last year,” Mitchell said. He's pretty rateable now. He'd do just about anything I wanted.”

Handsome Hero held off a late charge from Timbercamp to stop the clock at 1:15 4/5 in the six and one-half furlong sprint.

“It depends on how he breaks,” Lukenbill said of his charge. "He's been doing good this year."

Handsome Hero paid $8.40, $5.60, $3.60 for the win. Timbercamp finished second, paying $7.40 and $3.40. Country Cop rang up $3.20 for third.

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