Stryker Phd can extend streak in $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap | Emerald Downs

Published 10:32 am Friday, July 17, 2015

For the Reporter

Stryker Phd, all but invincible at Emerald Downs, heads a field of 11 older handicap runners in Sunday’s $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

A winner of five straight races at Emerald Downs – all stakes – Stryker Phd carries high weight of 122 pounds with regular rider Leslie Mawing up for trainer Larry Ross.

The race features the last two Longacres Mile winners: 2014 champion Stryker Phd and 2013 winner Herbie D, whose comeback took a step forward with an allowance win here two weeks ago.

Stryker Phd is climbing into rarified air at Emerald Downs. The 6-year-old Washington-bred is attempting to run the older stakes division for a second straight year, and also has a chance to become the first two-time Mile winner at Emerald Downs.

In his 2015 Emerald Downs debut last month, Stryker Phd used his customary late kick and notched a neck victory over a resilient Noosito, running one mile in 1:35.57.

“He came out of the race real good,” said assistant trainer Sharon Ross. “He’s happy. Everything seems to be good with him.

“You know, he’s a more mature horse this year,” she added. “His works reflect it, and just the way he’s training, eating and acting around the barn. He’s just a nice older horse right now.”

Ross said it helps to be able to train toward specific races on specific dates, a perk when training stakes runners.

“Larry’s had him on this work schedule that he’s getting fitter, stronger, fitter stronger. For the last race we were hoping we had him fit enough to go a mile.

“When you have a schedule like the stakes schedule here, you know how to prepare a horse for them because you know the race will go. Training for the rest of the book is harder than training for the stakes.”

In last year’s Mt. Rainier, Stryker Phd rallied from eighth to win the race in a stakes record 1:40.20, breaking the mark of 1:40.52 set by Herbie D in 2013. Sunday, the Mile winners square off for the first time since August 18, 2013, when Herbie D defeated Stryker Phd by 1½ lengths in 1:35.12.

The Seattle Slew Handicap is Race 9 at 5:58 p.m.

The 11-horse field is the largest for the Mt. Rainier since 2000, when Bold Words prevailed as 2-to-1 favorite.

With a victory, Stryker Phd would become the fourth horse to win the Mt. Rainier twice: Poker Brad (2003-04), Flamethrowintexan (2005-06), Noosa Beach (2010-11).

Through 10 stakes, average field size is 9.2 horses and average win payoff is soaring at $24.60.

Favorites are only 2-for-10, with $2 win payoffs of: $19, $81.40, $19, $8.20, $3.60, $3.40, $18.40, $8.40, $10.60 and $68.60.

The field for the 20th running of the Mt. Rainier Handicap: Mike Man’s Gold, Javier Matias, 116 pounds; Prohibition, Natasha Coddington,116; Mebossman, Jake Barton, 116; Absolutely Cool, Rocco Bowen,118; Noosito, Juan Gutierrez, 117; Stryker Phd, Leslie Mawing,122; Herbie D, Amadeo Perez, 118; Grinder Sparksaglo, Joe Steiner, 115; Remembertobreathe, Gallyn Mitchell,115; Del Rio Harbor, Julien Couton,116; Scat Daddybaby, Francisco Duran, 115.

$50,000 Emerald Express also Sunday

Sunday’s card also features the $50,000 Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings at six furlongs. The Emerald Express marks the first of eight stakes for 2-year-olds at the meet, culminating with the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27.

Trainer Howard Belvoir has had great success in the Emerald Express, winning the race four times, and appears to have another good chance for victory Sunday. Barkley, co-owned by Belvoir and Rising Star Stable III, overcame a slow start to win his June 20 debut by 3¼ lengths in :52.29 for 4½ furlongs.

A chestnut colt by Munnings-Numero d’Oro, Barkley drew the No. 3 post-position and is one of only two winners in the race. The other is Gold Rush Dancer, a Private Gold colt that drew off for a three-length victory in :58.63 for five furlongs on July 4.

Belvoir is 3-0-0 in four starts this year with 2-year-olds.

Belvoir won the Emerald Express four straight years: Sundance Circle, 2003; Seattles Best Joe, 2004; Tusko T, 2005; Immigration, 2006.

The field for the 20th running of the Emerald Express: Packy’s Out, Rocco Bowen 118 pounds; Wando Cat, Joe Steiner, 118; Barkley, Javier Matias, 120; Ryan Walt, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 118; Gold Rush Dancer, Julien Couton, 120.

Belle Hill tops $50,000 Kent Handicap

Belle Hill, a four-length winner of the Irish Day Handicap last month, heads six 3-year-old fillies Saturday in the $50,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

Belle Hill (4-2-0-1-$49,970) is the 7-to-5 favorite on the morning line, with Suva Harbor (3-to-1) and Ethan’s Baby (7-to-2) rounding out the top three choices. In her first try around two turns, Belle Hill rallied from seven lengths back for a four-length victory over Seeking the Light in 1:36.67 for one mile.

Just three weeks removed from the Irish Day Handicap, the Kent is a relatively quick turnaround for the sophomore fillies. Belle Hill seems to be just fine, thank you, drilling a bullet five furlongs in :58 4/5 last Saturday.

“She had one good work since her last race and that’s all she needs,” Sharon Ross said. “She’s a big, long strider like Stryker Phd. She trains good and hard every day just like Stryker. She out there bucking and playing. She feels pretty good about herself right now. She’s a very nice filly.”

Owned by Aithon Stables, Belle Hill was a $250,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 2014 Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. By Sky Mesa-Sealy Hill, she began her career this spring at Golden Gate Fields, breaking her maiden May 2 and then shipping to Emerald Downs.

The field for the 19th running of the Kent Handicap: Ethan’s Baby, Julien Couton, 118 pounds; Belle Hill, Leslie Mawing, 120; Suva Harbor, Joe Steiner, 119; Seeking the Light, Juan Gutierrez, 118; Perhaps a Pie, Javier Matias, 116; Pippa Bou Peep, Eliska Kubinova, 115.

Breakfast at the Wire Saturday

Emerald Downs kicks off last year’s biggest hit – Breakfast at the Wire – starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday near the winner’s circle on Track Level.

The 2-hour program, hosted by Dean Mazzuca, is the perfect opportunity to commiserate with trainers, owners and jockeys during the morning work hours. Sponsored by Rad Roasting Company, Breakfast at the Wire features three different menu items all priced at $6. The event runs every Saturday through July and August and includes parking and entry through the paddock gate from 8-9 a.m.

On Sunday, Emerald Downs celebrates Fiesta Premio Esmeralda, an annual favorite by the Hispanic community at the racetrack.

Fiesta Premio Esmeralda includes Mariachis, Traditional Mexican Dancers, and the famous dancing horses.

Emerald Racing Club’s Dancing Yodeler retires

Dancing Yodeler, Emerald Racing Club’s first horse, has been officially retired by his ownership group – Left Coast Thoroughbreds.

After winning two races last year for the Emerald Racing Club, “Yodeler” was purchased by Left Coast Thoroughbreds, formed by a group of former racing club members. He spent the winter at Larry & Sharon Ross’ farm before returning to training in January.

In his first start this season, he was claimed for $5,000. Two starts later, Left Coast Thoroughbreds re-claimed the gelding, but was found to have an injury that would keep him from competing soundly and the decision was made to retire him.

“Yodeler” made a lot of new racing fans very happy and set the standard for the Emerald Racing Club for the future. He will be honored in a retirement ceremony on the race track on a date to be announced and will go forward into his new career.

Finish lines

Weekly Honors #13: Jockey – Leonel Camacho-Flores; Trainer – Joe Toye; Owner – Emerald Racing Club; Groom – Victor Hernandez (David Martinez); WTBOA Washington -bred – Betrbegone (Howard Maggard); Exercise Rider – Abbie Johnson (Doris Harwood). … Betrbegone’s stunning win in the Seattle Slew Handicap was the first Emerald Downs stakes winner sired by Parker’s Storm Cat. … Sunday’s eighth race for older $25,000 claimers is a doozy. Five of the nine runners already have wins at the meet including razor-sharp Heza Witch Doctor, an 8-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding with a two-for-two mark this season and three straight wins overall. … Julien Couton begins the second half of the meet owning a 54-42 lead over Juan Gutierrez atop the Thoroughbred riders’ standings, with defending champion Leslie Mawing third with 39 wins. Couton narrowly leads Mawing in earnings $559-720 to $552,850. … In the trainers’ race, Jeff Metz owns a 31-17 lead over both Frank Lucarelli and Blaine Wright. Metz also leads in earnings with $272,088, followed by Lucarelli, $239,435, and Belvoir, $205,812. … In the Quarter Horse jockeys’ standings, Leonel Camacho-Flores, Luis Flores-Gonzalez and Ruben Camacho are all tied for first with three wins apiece. Pablo Madrigal is the top Quarter Horse trainer with four wins. … My Palmilla, $57,000 sales topper at the 2014 WTBOA yearling sale, prevailed in a $70,000 maiden special weight Thursday on opening day at Del Mar. My Palmilla ($21.20) is a Washington-bred by Tribal Rule-Bella Campana, bred by Mr. and Mrs. William T. Griffin. … The summer heat continues. The forecast: Friday, 81 and clear; Saturday 90 and clear; and Sunday 91 and clear.