For the Reporter

The newcomer was impressive Sunday as Estellara sparkled in her Emerald Downs debut, rallying from slightly off the pace for a 2½-length victory in the $21,000 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for older fillies and mares.

Ridden by Erick Lopez, Estellara ran 5½ furlongs in 1:02.13 and paid $8, $3.60 and $2.60. Trainer Len Kasmerski and owner Roz Barclay – now a combined 5-for-10 at the meet – are the winning connections.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Henrythenavigator, Esterella’s previous 16 starts were in California, where she racked up four seconds and a third while competing in nine straight allowance races. Like most of the Kasmerski-Barclay horses to date, Estellara might have enjoyed a slight fitness edge with three races this year at Golden Gate Fields.

Sunday, she blew past Seeking the Light into the stretch and drew off for a convincing victory.

Estellara has an overall record of 2-5-2 in 17 starts with earnings of $63,535 including $11,550 for Sunday’s triumph.

Ethan’s Baby, the 2-1 second choice ridden by Joe Steiner, rallied nicely for second place and paid $3.60 and $2.80. Citizen Kitty, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, was a half-length back in third and paid $3.60.

Seeking the Light, the leader through fractions of :21.96 and :44.51, finished fourth and Perhaps a Pie and Guinevere’s Finale completed the order of finish.

Notes

92-year-old trainer Don Munger scored his first win of 2016 as Jima ($28.60) led gate-to-wire in race nine under Diego Sanchez. … Thanks in large part to Jima, a three-day carryover of $9,978 in the $0.20 Pick 7 is up for grabs when racing resumes Friday at 6:30 p.m. … Jockey Rocco Bowen was taken to Valley General Hospital following a mishap behind the gate for race six. The meet’s leading rider with 11 wins, Bowen complained of shoulder and knee pain but didn’t appear seriously injured. … In the meet’s biggest claim to date, 3-year-old gelding Packy’s Out was red-tagged for $25,000 from Sunday’s fifth race by trainer Doris Harwood for owners Michael Pollowitz and Jeff Wilson. … Mike Man’s Gold ($6.20) made a successful 2016 debut with a front-running victory in race seven under Javier Matias. Winner of four stakes and over $200,000 at Emerald Downs for owners/breeders Keith & Jan Swagerty, the 6-year-old gelding was claimed Sunday for $10,000 by trainer Jeff Metz. … Leslie Mawing and Erick Lopez rode two winners each Sunday. Lopez has made a good impression in his first three weeks at EmD, riding eight winners and is tied for third in the standings. … Trainer Mike Puhich, who had five straight seconds Saturday and nine in his first 16 starts at the meet, notched a victory Sunday as 4-year-old gelding Volume Twelve ($2.80) scored an easy maiden win in race two. … Trainer Michael Bullene is 2-for-2 at the meet including a victory by Badrock Canyon ($6.60) in Sunday’s first race. … Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:30 p.m.