Courtesy of Emerald Downs Auburn, WA (July 11, 2021) – Back on track after a rare misfire in the Hastings Stakes last month, Daffodil Sweet overhauled Ima Happy Cat in the stretch and scored a 2 ½-length victory over Dontkissntell in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes for older fillies and mares.

Ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 119 lbs, Daffodil Sweet covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.19 and paid $8.80 as third choice in the wagering. Chris Stenslie is the winning trainer for owners Jody Peetz of Issaquah and Steve Shimizu of Bellevue.

A 4-year-old California-bred by Ministers Wild Cat, Daffodil Sweet earned $27,500 and is 5-0-1 in seven career starts with earnings of $91,545. Her only losses were a second in the mile and a sixteenth in the 2020 Washington Oaks and a seventh in the Hastings, when she completely missed the break and never was involved as the 9 to 10 favorite.

Daffodil Sweet got away cleanly Sunday, stalking Ima Happy Cat through fractions of :21.81 and :43.88, gaining command a quarter mile from home and drawing off through the lane.

Dontkissntell, a 25 to 1 outsider ridden by Ryan Barber at 119 lbs, finished strongly to take second place while Squan’s Kingdom, ridden by Javier Matias, also closed late to take third.