For the Reporter
Barkley did it yet again Sunday at Emerald Downs, nailing archrival Mach One Rules in the final jump for a head victory in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
It was the third straight thriller between the track’s two super sophs but in a virtual replay of the Auburn and Coca-Cola Stakes, Barkley prevailed narrowly. Ridden by Javier Matias at high weight of 124 pounds, Barkley ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.20 and paid $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Howard Belvoir is the winning trainer and co-owner with Vicki Potter’s Rising Star Stable III.
Now 6-for-6 with four stakes wins, Barkley earned another $27,500 to push his earnings to $132,275, including a 4-for-4 mark this season and a meet-leading $93,775 in earnings. Purchased for $21,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Barkley is a chestnut colt by Munnings-Numero d’Oro, and features a distinctive white blaze that might be causing nightmares for his opponents.
Mach One Rules, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 120 pounds, again ran gangbusters but couldn’t fend off Barkley, and paid $2.40 and $2.10 for place and show. The runner-up is now 4-3-0 in seven-lifetime starts – all three losses to Barkley by a combined head, neck and head – with earnings of $123,826 for Roy Schafer’s REV Racing LLC.
In a change of tactics, Mach One Rules was taken slightly off the pace as William Crotty led Barkley through fractions of :24.68 and :48.18 for the quarter and half-mile.
Mach One Rules glided to the lead past the half-mile pole, running six furlongs in a moderate 1:11.92, and extended the lead to two lengths past mid-stretch.
But Barkley was angled outside by Matias, accelerated strongly in the final furlong and caught Mach One Rules late for the victory.
“He always knows where the wire is,” said Matias, the rider for all six of Barkley’s wins. “At the eighth-pole, I thought we were going to lose and then he comes right back. I am lucky to ride him. He is so classy and a very good horse.”
Belvoir also said he had doubts whether Barkley could pull another rabbit out of the hat.
“I keep saying I think he’s beat, but then he gets outside and switches to his right lead and he wins the race,” Belvoir said. “He’s a tough little horse.”
Super Hawk finished a distant third while Party for One and William Crotty completed the order of finish.
Barkley bucked a couple of trends in with the victory, becoming the first betting favorite in 10 stakes to win this season at Emerald Downs (Mach One Rules was favored in both the Auburn Stakes and Coca-Cola Stakes). Barkley also was the first favorite since Alexandersrun in 2005 to capture the Seattle Slew Stales.
Next up for 3-year-olds is the $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Sunday, July 31.
Notes
Joe Steiner rode back-to-back double-digit winners—Swingshift Deputy ($12.20) in race eight and Caddy Shack Cat ($49.80) in race nine. … The late $0.50 Pick 4 of T.D.’s Gold ($9.60), Swingshift Deputy, Caddy Shack Cat and De Kafinator ($9.40) paid a track record $15,140. … There were no winning tickets in the $0.20 Pick 7, and the carryover to Friday is $4,839…Leslie Mawing also rode two winners Sunday. … Heza Flying Fast ($3.20) joined stable mate Sorelli as Quarter Horses with three wins at the meet, rallying to a half-length victory in Sunday’s opener at 350 yards. Winning trainer Roddina Barrett and winning rider Osvaldo Gonzalez continue their domination Quarter Horses with seven and six wins respectively. … Barrett also had a Thoroughbred win as 3-year-old filly Demonsdarlin ($10.60) notched her second route win of the meet. … Congratulations to Emerald Downs’ own Joe Withee, co-owner of Camano Comet ($10.20), a 2-year-old Council Member filly that prevailed narrowly over first-time starter Myladysabitshady in Sunday’s second race. … Emerald Downs is open for simulcasting Monday but there is no live racing on Fourth of July. Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:30 p.m.
