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Miss Important Remains Unbeaten At Grants Pass Downs

Miss Important caught Jaded Tiger in the final strides for a half-length victory in Monday's $14,600 Siskiyou Stakes for older fillies and mares on opening night of the 18-day fall season at Grants Pass Downs.

Under a perfectly timed ride by David Martin, Miss Important ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:06.92 and paid $6.80 as the betting favorite. Billy Christian is the trainer for winning owner Bern Kent of Yakima, Wash.

A 4-year-old Graydar filly, Miss Important is now four for four at Grants Pass Downs including stakes scores in the Shady Cove Handicap, Jo Durham Memorial and Siskiyou Stakes. Kent claimed the bay filly for $10,000 out of her Grants Pass debut on May 24.

In seventh place early, Miss Important began passing horses on the backstretch, reached contention on the turn and reeled in Xtrafine Xtina and Jaded Tiger late for the victory.

Martin, now three for three on Miss Important, had the filly farther behind than normal Monday.

“She got bumped at the break, but she relaxed well and there was some speed in the race,” Martin said. “I was quiet on her early but when I asked her, she responded. (Miss Important) is a nice filly.”

Miss Important has demonstrated excellent versatility in her career, recording wins sprinting and routing, as well as on dirt, synthetic and wet racing surfaces. Her overall record is 6-1-2 in 16 starts with earnings of $92,388, including $8,030 for Monday's triumph.

Jaded Tiger nearly bagged her eighth victory of 2021. Ridden by Joree Scriver, the 4-year-old Smiling Tiger filly overhauled Xtrafine Xtina into the stretch run and just failed to last for the victory.

Xtrafine Xtina, ridden by James Wooten Jr., dueled with Hold That Smile through fractions of :21.61 and :46.46, gained a short lead on the turn, but weakened slightly in the stretch and finished third. Mean Sharon, Hold That Smile, Barbello, Chase the Music and Madigan Squeeze completed the order of finish.

On-track attendance was 475 and the total handle was $309,400.

NOTES: David Martin swept the late daily double on Miss Important ($6.80) and Shesaidshesperfect ($17.40). . .Alex Anaya also rode two winners—one Quarter Horse and one Thoroughbred. . .Anaya currently ranks sixth with 23 wins at Emerald Downs. . . Monday's first and third races were $8,000 allowances for older quarter horses at 300 yards. In race one, Warhock ($18.20) upset 2 to 5 favorite Cm Boom Shakalaka while running 300 yards in 15.23 seconds. Anaya rode the winner for trainer Benito Curiel and owner Malon Cowgill. In race three, Arizona Favorite ($4.40) and jockey Martin Osuna prevailed in 15.31 seconds for trainer Hector Magallanes and owners Kevin and Robin Allred. . .2020 Grants Pass Mile champion Pulpits Power ($4.80) held off Shockazulu for a hard-fought victory in race five, with two-time defending riding champion Joree Scriver scoring her first win of the meet. . .Two-time defending training champ Quinn Howey went one for one opening night as Gray Gem ($5) rolled to an easy victory under Mckenzie King in race six. . .The 2021 spring/summer meet continues Tuesday with an eight-race program at 5:15 p.m. , including El Alto Hombre attempting to win his seventh straight race this year in the $14,600 Applegate Stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

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Optimism High Ahead Of Grants Pass Downs’ Fall Meet

It's nearly post time for the fall meeting at Grants Pass Downs.

Coming off a record-setting spring/summer meeting, optimism is high as Oregon's premier racing facility begins an 18-day fall meeting Monday, Sept. 20, extending through Tuesday, Nov. 9. The eight-week season features racing every Monday and Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., and Sunday racing programs on Sept. 26 and Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.

Last year's fall meet was enormously successful, establishing records for largest total handle, average handle, average field size, and total purses paid. The momentum carried into 2021, with the 17-day spring/summer meeting establishing new records for total handle ($6,919,434) and average handle ($407,026).

“By any measure, our spring/summer meet was a great success, and I am optimistic this fall will see even better results,” said Grants Pass Downs President Randy Evers. “The track is in beautiful condition and the horses are really enjoying their cool morning workouts. Race night sponsorships are at an all-time high and we look forward to providing fans with excellent customer service and a fun night at the races.”

Since the permanent closure of Portland Meadows in 2019, Grants Pass Downs has become the epicenter of Oregon racing, securing a 99-year lease agreement with the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

Under the leadership of Evers and CEO Travis Boersma, Grants Pass Downs has made substantial upgrades throughout the 64-acre facility located west of downtown Grants Pass:

• Installing a new state-of-the-art safety rail to ensure the welfare of riders and horses and raise the standard of the meet.

• Widening the track to improve conditions for racing, with an additional 800 tons of sand laid in anticipation of wet fall weather.

• Adding a new chute making possible six-furlong thoroughbred races and 440-yard quarter horse races.

• Installing lights for evening racing.

• Building the Flying Lark restaurant and entertainment venue on the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds.

Ladies have dominated the jockeys' ranks at recent meets with Joree Scriver edging Mckenzie King for both the 2020 fall title and 2021 spring/summer crown. In fact, women jockeys finished first, second and fifth (Taylor Smith) at the 2021 spring/summer meet.

Amongst trainers, Quinn Howey has operated the track's most successful outfit, capturing last year's fall title 12-9 over Jorge Rosales and the 2021 spring/summer crown 13-9 over Billy Christian.

Several important stakes races enhance the action with the $25,000 guaranteed Grants Pass Mile—the state's richest and most prestigious event for Thoroughbreds—set for Monday, Nov. 9. Quarter Horses also are prominent at Grants Pass Downs, with the $40,000-added Far West Futurity scheduled Monday, Nov. 8.

Two stakes are scheduled opening week—$14,600 Siskiyou Stakes for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up Monday and $13,000-added Applegate Stakes for 3-year-olds and up Tuesday. Both are 5 ½ furlongs.

Monday's opener features eight races, five Thoroughbred and three Quarter Horse.

2021 fall racing dates: Monday, Sept. 20, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 21, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 27, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 28, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 4, 5:15. P.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 5, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 11, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 12, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 18, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 25, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 1, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 2, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 8, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 9, 5:15 p.m.

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Jockey Killed in Fall at Oregon Fair

Jockey Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa, who rode primarily on the mixed-meet circuit in the Pacific Northwest, was killed in the first race of the season at the Crooked River Roundup July 14 when his Quarter Horse mount hit the inner rail and catapulted Gutierrez-Sosa headfirst into the infield, possibly after first hitting the rail.

The Central Oregonian news outlet reported that the fairgrounds grandstand was packed with enthusiastic fans cheering on the return of racing, which had been cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Most were at first unaware that a fatality had occurred. The second race proceeded after a delay of 51 minutes.

But then, according to the Oregonian, the fair's racing director, Doug Smith, took to the public address system to inform the crowd of what had happened, announcing that the remainder of the card would be cancelled out of respect.

Gutierrez-Sosa began riding in Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races in 2013. In Thoroughbred races, he rode 194 winners from 1,592 starts. He was recently seventh in the standings at Grants Pass Downs for each breed at the Oregon's lone mixed meet at a commercial track.

The horse Gutierrez-Sosa was riding got walked off the track after the incident, according to the Equibase chart.

Crooked River Roundup is also called Prineville Turf Club (the city of Prineville is where the fairgrounds is located). It hosts a four-date evening meet that is scheduled to continue through Saturday.

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Oregon’s Grants Pass Downs Completes Record-Breaking Season

Continuing its upward trajectory as Oregon's premier horse racing track, Grants Pass Downs established a new record for total handle during the 17-day spring/summer meeting that concluded Monday, July 6.

Total handle for the spring/summer meeting was a record $6,919,434, with a daily average handle of $407,026. The meet, which featured 138 total races, paid out $1,130,916 in purses and a $66,524 daily average. Average field size was 7.34.

Grants Pass Downs President Randy Evers cited the support of horsemen, the return of fans, and the nationwide support of horseplayers as highlights.

“I am so grateful for the support of our fans both locally and across the country as Grants Pass Downs continues to grow and set wagering records,” Evers said. “It was very special to welcome back all of our great fans at Grants Pass Downs as Covid restrictions were relaxed.

“To hear the roar of the crowd as the horses left the starting gate, well it was something I really missed and brought a huge smile to my face. Our entire team is working hard to prepare for our fall race meet. I have every confidence it will be another giant step forward on our incredible adventure!”

There were numerous on-track achievements during the 17-day spring/summer season:

• Joree Scriver with 23 wins and Quinn Howey with 13 wins each captured their second straight riding and training crowns at Grants Pass Downs.

• 6-year-old gelding El Alto Hombre reeled off four consecutive wins including three stakes triumphs for trainer Liz Kowalski and owner Anthony Hoover; 4-year-old filly Jaded Tiger also won four races including two stakes for owner/trainer Jaqueline Smith.

• 2-year-old gelding Five Bars Blazin scored a $34.80 upset in the $90,000 Firecracker Futurity—the richest race in the history of Grants Pass Downs—before a season-high 3,130 fans.

• 7-year-old gelding Capes Hot Rocket swept all three legs of the inaugural O B Harbor Sprint Series sponsored by Jody Peetz and the Oregon HBPA.

Grants Pass Downs resumes live racing Monday, Sept. 20, with opening day of the 18-day Fall meeting.

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