Simply Seattle Takes Friday Feature

Jun 05, 2009 Gary Yunt

Tim Standafer and Rick Tipton’s Simply Seattle rallied in deep stretch to win Friday’s featured $51,245 CFW Mane Event Purse at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length over Kiawah’s Magic.

            Ridden by Corey Lanerie, Simply Seattle broke on top in the five-furlong sprint on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course but was shuffled back to fourth along the hedge leaving the backstretch. Lanerie angled Simply Seattle out three-wide at the head of the stretch for clear sailing which produced the victory in :57.86.

            Trained by Mike Orm, Simply Seattle returned $10.80, $5.20 and $3.80 in winning for the third time in 17 career starts. Kiawah’s Magic, ridden by Joe Johnson, returned $14.20 and $7.80 with Koka Kola Kitty finishing a nose back in third under Robby Albarado and paying $5 in the field of nine.

The victory was worth $32,105 and increased the career earnings for the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Chief Seattle to $116,366.

          Racing resumes Saturday with an 11-race card beginning at 12:45 p.m. (EDT). Highlighting the card as the 10^th race is the 33^rd running of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (Grade III) featuring such outstanding turf fillies as Pure Clan, Acoma and Tizaqueena.