Swank Comes Back For Win At Emerald

Horse racing

Dead last through four furlongs of Thursday’s $35,000 Independence Day Handicap at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., Swank shifted gears and won by four lengths.

With jockey Antonio Castanon up, the 5-year-old covered 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:18 over a fast track to pay $33, $13.80 and $8.80.

Jazz Haven held on for second to pay $13.80 and $7. Hafta Nafta beat odds-on favorite Lil Sneeker by a nose and paid $6.60 to show.

The feature race for 3-year-olds and up was seen by 10,347 statewide and was a major part of a $1,503,675 handle.

Vladivostok wins

They celebrated the Fourth at Arlington International Racecourse by running Chicago’s longest major race.

At the finish, a nostril separated the winner Vladivostok from second-place Raintrap.

Raintrap took the lead at the start and held it until Vladivostok came charging from behind. The fractional times were a study in slow motion - :25 4-5 for the quarter, :51 4-5 for the half, 1:17 2-5 for three quarters, 1:42 2-5 for the mile and 2:06 4-5 for 1-1/4 miles.