For the past six years it’s been all about the local horses in the Longacres Mile.

On Sunday, in the 76th running of the $200,000 Grade 3 race at Emerald Downs, it was all about Southern California-based Awesome Gem who held off last year’s winner Noosa Beach to grab the win.

Awesome Gem, ridden by David Flores at 122-pounds, was the 8-5 favorite coming into the race and managed to edge clear of Noosa Beach for a 1-½ length victory.

“The only horse I was concerned with was Noosa Beach,” Flores said. “Breaking out of the gate [at the 11 post-position] we had a huge advantage with the speed on the inside of us. I just followed Noosa Beach to the rail and settled behind the leaders. He’s such an easy horse to relax that if I let him relax too much, he’ll fall asleep. I wanted to keep my horse within range, with my eyes targeted on the leader. When I asked him to go, he started cruising. My horse was making such a big run that when we went by, I saw (Noosa Beach) fight back, but by that time it was too late. I never gave them a chance. I give all the credit to the horse. He shows up every time.”

Awesome Gem – an 8-year-old Kentucky-bred trained by Craig Dollase for Terry Finley’s West Point Thoroughbreds – tied Little Rollo, the 1951 Mile winner, and Gigantic, the 1958 champion, as the oldest horses to win the Longacres Mile. The well-traveled gelding has a lifetime mark of 46-9-14-5 with earnings of $2,688,270, including $110,000 for Sunday’s victory.

“We’ve got something in common,” said the Southern California-based Flores, 43. “We’re getting old, but we’re still ticking.”

Noosa Beach, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at high weight of 125 pounds, was second with Posse Power, ridden by Russell Baze at 117, grabbing third.

Crew Leader, Wasserman, J P Jammer, Winning Machine, Assessment, Slew the Man, Honour the Deputy and Saratoga Boot completed the order of finish.