2010 Pepsi-Cola Handicap

The Pepsi-Cola Handicap is an annual event held at the Emerald Downs Racecourse and is hosted for horses that are three-years-old. It carries a purse amount of $50 000, and is an event that has become popular with local trainers and horse owners. Even though there were only six entrants into this year's race, it still provided spectators with a magnificent showdown of determination and endurance by competitors, which saw Koala Beach walk away victorious. Not only was it a wonderful day for the horse, but trainer Doris Harwood took exceptional pleasure in his winning performance.

Koala Beach was bred by friends of Doris Harwood, Pam Christopherson and K. Neal, and is owned by her husband, Jeff. As the starting gates for the 2010 Pepsi-Cola Handicap swung open, the entire Koala Beach camp was hoping for a victory. Koala Beach was up against fellow competitors Posse Power, Newfound Man, Micheal the Man, Bogachiel and Silk Street, and found he was rallying Posse Power for the leading position. Bogachiel took an early lead, but as soon as the field entered into the stretch, everyone began making a move. Koala Beach, ridden by Ricky Frazier, took over the lead from Bogachiel, but was quickly followed by Posse Power and Newfound Man. But Koala Beach was able to hold onto his lead, forcing Posse Power to be happy with a second place finish and Newfound Man in third. Both Doris Harwood and Ricky Frazier broke records with Koala Beach’s win, as Harwood knocked out Bud Klokstad with the most stakes victories at Emerald Downs, with Sunday’s win being her 43rd. Frazier took the lead in the jockeys division, by claiming his 65th. Being a part of a victory for her husband was also special to Harwood.

An elated Frazier praised Koala Beach's performances, commenting: "I knew if I kept riding him hard we would finish third, so I had no choice but to give him a breather. I let him get composed and then he fired right back. He loves the pressure." Sunday proved to be a very memorable day for Koala Beach, his jockey, trainer and owner.