Mr Makah Wins Muckleshoot Tribal Classic

L-R: Sabertooth, Best Game in Town, Mr. Makah, The Great Face and Skyrider break from the gate in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.

AUBURN, WA – Mr. Makah showed he was the class of the field winning the 63rd running of the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic on Washington Cup Day Sunday at Emerald Downs.

The 5-year-old son of Majesterian, trained by Bonnie Jenne, repeated his brother's feat when Colony Lane won the 2003 edition of the Classic.

“I love my brothers,” Jenne beamed.

Mr. Makah gives Jenne her second Classic WA Cup stakes win, and Mawing's second WA Cup stakes victory

Ridden by Leslie Mawing out of the third post in the 1 1/16 mile stakes, Mr. Makah was as far as 20 lengths back at the half-mile pole while Sabertooth and The Great Face were setting rapid fractions of 22 seconds and 44 1/5 seconds on the front end.

“Bonnie and I discussed how the race might set up,” Mawing said. “We thought Sabertooth and The Great Face would be on the lead. My only choice was to come from off the lead.”

Three-quarters of a mile into the race, Mr. Makah had trimmed the leaders advantage down to 11-lengths.

Around the turn, Mawing had moved Mr. Makah outside and took command at the head of the stretch. The drew clear by two lengths and looked like he was going to be the easiest of winners, judging by the move he made and the ground he covered late.

However, his stable mate, Best Game in Town and his rider, Gallyn Mitchell, sought to get the better of Mr. Makah.

“I knew he'd kick in about 3 ½ furlongs (to go),” Mawing said. “I could feel him (Best Game In Town) breathing down my throat. My main objective was to keep him (Mr. Makah) going.”

Best Game in Town had moved swiftly through the straight under serious urging by Mitchell.

Jenne's pair came to even terms at the sixteenth-pole. However Mr. Makah exhibited his stakes winning class and additional year of racing experience, and didn't allow his stable mate to pass him.

Mr. Makah is owned in partnership by Friendship Stable and Frank McDonald. He improves his record to 5-4-5 from 23 career starts with earnings of $178,386.

Best Game in Town is owned solely by McDonald.

Mr. Makah finished the race a neck ahead of Best Game in Town in 1:42 2/5 and paid $5, $3.60 to win.

Coupled entry Best Game in Town paid $5 and $3.60.

There was no show wagering.

When Jenne won the race in 2003, she also took third with Long On Pride.

It was Mawing's second WA Cup Stakes victory after winning the Belle Roberts aboard Halonator earlier in the afternoon.

Muckleshoot's elected Tribal Council Chair John Daniels, Jr. presents Frank McDonald, Wally & Bonnie Jenne with Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Trophy as a host of friends and family look on.

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