AUBURN — The race set up perfectly for the champ.

Class Included, last year's 3-year-old filly of the meet at Emerald Downs and at Hastings Park in Vancouver, B.C., returned to her winning ways Sunday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap, winning by 2 ½ lengths for her fifth career stakes victory.

With Elusive Noise and Carrabelle Harbor dueling for the lead in the first 6 furlongs, Class Included's jockey, Juan Gutierrez, was content to let her sit a few lengths behind. When he finally asked her to go, Class Included cruised to the lead easily, then comfortably held off her stablemate, Sweet Nellie Brown, in the 1-mile race.

Class Included was upset by front-running E Z Kitty in last month's Washington State Legislators Handicap, losing by three-quarters of a length in the 6 ½-furlong race. Sunday's race was different, as E Z Kitty was unable to get to the lead and was never a factor, finishing fifth as the second choice.

Still, there was enough early speed to suit Class Included's stalking style.

"When I asked her at the quarter(-mile) pole, she gave me everything she has," said Gutierrez, who rode four winners Sunday.

Class Included paid $4.20 to win as the favorite, and she ran the mile in 1 minute, 34.48 seconds.

Carrabelle Harbor hung on for third. Elusive Noise, the 4-year-old filly The Seattle Times has been chronicling this season at Emerald Downs, was fourth in the seven-horse field.

Class Included has seven wins and six second-place finishes in 13 career starts. Trainer Jim Penney said it was one of her best races.

"I've always said she was better at a route of ground, and this was the first route (this year)," Penney said. "She was tremendous."

Class Included is owned by Michael and Amy Feuerborn, who also bred the horse. Class Included's mother is A Classic Life, who was also owned by the Feuerborns and who had a great career at Emerald Downs.

"She has done everything her mom did and more," Michael Feuerborn said of Class Included.

Notes

• Hollywood Harbor, one of the top sprinters at Emerald Downs, ran 6 furlongs in 1:07.23 to win the $22,575 allowance race preceding the Boeing Handicap.

• Mario Gutierrez, who rode I'll Have Another to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, will return to Emerald Downs and pilot Regal Betty in the $50,000 Kent Handicap on Sunday.