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A big late run from overwhelming favorite Preciousville keyed a big victory celebration in the Fonner Park winner's circle, as the 1-2 favorite caught Rachele R's Queen late to win the $15,000 added stake race for three-year-old fillies.
Owned by Craig Wulf, trained by Dan Coughlin and ridden capably by Luis Ranilla, Preciousville spotted her opponents seven lengths as they entered the backstretch before unfurling a huge kick on the Fonner Park backside.
Ranilla had passed four opponents at the head of the stretch but still had to overtake Rogr Rigg's Rachele R's Queen in the stretch.
Rachele R's Queen under the guidance of Mike Ziegler dug in hard on the rail, but Ranilla was just able to catch Ziegler in the last 50 yards to post a 3/4 length win in 1:15:80.
The favorite returned to the cheers of a raucous crowd in the winner's circle, drawing the attention of her veteran trainer.
"That's great, I love to see people celebrate at the races," Coughlin said. "That's what we need, seeing people have fun at the races. It really builds interest."
Preciousville paid $3.00 to win, keying a $10 exacta payoff with Rachele's R Queen and a $33.60 trifecta with third place finisher Mexican Time.
Wulf and Coughlin have made plans for Preciousville's future, distance wise and throughout the year.
"She looks like a mile or longer might fit her well," Wulf said.
The veteran trainer is looking at a possible stake races in Lincoln and Omaha for Preciousville.
"There's a stake race early in the meet at Lincoln where she should fit," Coughlin said. "Plus she'll be eligible for a nice race at Horsemen's Park in Omaha."
Coughlin, who captured his second feature race at Fonner in the last two days, once again downplayed his role with his horse.
"Give all the credit to Luis," Coughlin said. "I told him in the paddock, 'I've never ridden a winner, you know what to do.'"
Coughlin had great praise not only for his filly and rider but for the runner-up Rachele R's Queen.
"Roger (Riggs) told me that he thought she'd run big, and she did," Coughlin said. "It looks like both of our stables made good claims."
Preciousville earned $9,360 for her connections boosting her career money earned to over $20,000.
Hoofprints
* Leading rider Yuri Yaranga once again rode three winners on the card, as he had winners with Lamb Chopper in the second, Ben Won't Tell in the fifth and Shesaluckyflag in the sixth.
* Three trainers won their first race of the meet on Saturday. Richard Esquibel's first-time starter Johnny Five won the first race, Donald Cheloha's Lil Crafty scored in the third and Cheryl Legrande's Dazzling Seville won the eighth race.
* A. Preto Espindola rode his first winner of the meet on board Dazzling Seville, managing to win by surviving some major bumping on the first turn.
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