Howard Belvoir could become the first trainer to win three consecutive Longacres Miles, as he plans to enter defending champ Assessment and 2008 winner Wasserman for Sunday’s 75th Running of the Mile.

Assessment overcame an unfavorable post, when he broke from the 12-hole to win last year’s Mile over Awesome Gem. The Kentucky-bred sustained an ankle-chip injury shortly after that kept him out of competition until May. Assessment returned to winning-form when he captured the Governor’s Handicap on July 11.

Belvoir said he expects a big effort from his Jump Start gelding.

“He always seems to find trouble, but then he always overcomes it,” Belvoir said. “He’ll run huge.”

Regular rider Gallyn Mitchell, the all-time leader in wins at Emerald Downs, has the mount.

Wasserman became the all-time leading purse-earner at Washington racetracks with $505,562 after a fifth-place finish in the Mt. Rainier Handicap on Aug. 1

The 8-year-old gelding will run in his fourth straight Mile (3rd, 2007; 1st, 2008, 4th, 2009). Wasserman gave one of the most memorable Mile performances in 2008, when he scored a neck victory making Jennifer Whitaker the first female jockey to win the Mile. The Snohomish-native will ride Wasserman for the 28th straight time in Sunday’s featured stakes.

Sabertooth (2002) and Adreamisborn (2004) were the last two previous Mile winners to compete in a later Mile, when they faced off in 2005.

Probable Starters for the 75th Longacres Mile

(Horse, Trainer, Jockey, Weight)

Gallant Son, Frank Lucarelli, Leslie Mawing, 121;

Noosa Beach, Doris Harwood, Ricky Frazier, 120;

Teide, Dino Condilenios, Chad Hoverson, 120;

Almost Time, Dino Condilenios, Frank Fuentes, 119;

Assessment, Howard Belvoir, Gallyn Mitchell, 118;

Jersey Town, Tim McCanna, Kevin Krigger, 116;

Winning Machine, Frank Lucarelli, Francisco Duran, 116;

Burj Dubai, Dino Condilenios, Alex Solis, 115;

Gallon, Jim Penney, Juan Gutierrez, 115;

Senor Rojo, David Forster, Miguel Perez, 115;

Davos, Junior Coffey, TBA, 114;

Wasserman, Howard Belvoir, Jennifer Whitaker, 114; and

Dixie Meister, Michael Puhich, TBA, 113.

Notes:

• Rooster City is out of The Mile, according to trainer Tim McCanna. McCanna didn’t specify but said Rooster City wasn’t 100 percent coming into the race. McCanna will look to get his first Mile win with Jersey Town.

• The field is limited to 12 horses, high weights preferred. A $20,000 Longacres Mile consolation will be run Sunday if entries warrant.

• Entries for the Longacres Mile will be drawn 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Emerald Room.

• Mile probable starters Gallant Son and Noosa Beach will both work Wednesday morning in preparation for the Mile.

• Trainer David Forster said Mt. Rainier Handicap runner-up Senor Rojo is doing great and will most likely ship Friday in advance of the 75th Mile.

• Alex Solis (Burj Dubai) made one previous appearance at Emerald Downs, Aug. 22, 2000, finishing second on Big Ten in the Longacres Mile and fifth aboard Ignite the Passion in the Emerald Distaff. Solis, who has 4,748 career wins and $217,643,946 in purses, also rode in two Miles at Longacres, finishing second on Ibero in 1992 and second aboard M. Double M. in 1985.

TVG/FSN/KJR will broadcast Longacres Mile

The $250,000 Longacres Mile (GIII) will have extensive television & radio coverage.

FSN Northwest and TVG will simulcast The Mile from 4-6 p.m. with Bob Rondeau, Joe Withee and Mike Joyce providing the coverage, analysis and commentary.

KJR Sports Radio 950 also will broadcast the race from 4-6 p.m. Mike Gastineau, who has anchored coverage of the handicap division throughout the season, broadcasts live from his box overlooking the finish line.

Track announcer Robert Geller’s call of The Mile will be used on both radio and television.

Longacres Mile iPad giveaway

In celebration of the 75th Longacres Mile, Emerald Downs is giving away the coveted iPad* mobile digital device, on Sunday, August 22. Fifty iPads will be given away to lucky fans, five after each race. Each iPad features a multi-touch screen and Wi-Fi. However, Winners must be 18 years or older and be in attendance to claim their prize.

The Longacres Mile again is proud to be affiliated with the Breeders’ Cup Challenge. The winner of the 2010 Mile qualifies for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Nov. 6, at Churchill Downs.