For the Reporter
Fooled Again, Gloria’s Angelo and Senna – the top three finishers in the Auburn Handicap – head a whopping list of 20 nominations to the $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Sunday.
The Coca-Cola Handicap at one mile is the second of four open stakes for sophomore colts and geldings en route to the championship Emerald Downs Derby run Sunday, Aug. 9. The 20 nominations are the most for any non-Longacres Mile stakes the last two seasons.
Fooled Again is undefeated in two starts for trainer Howard Belvoir, including a decisive 1¼-length victory in the $50,000 Auburn Handicap at 6½ furlongs. The Scat Daddy colt sat just off a :44.01 half-mile before powering home for the win.
Gloria’s Angelo and Senna, second and third in the Auburn, attempt to turn the tables on Fooled Again in the Coca-Cola. The same goes for O B Harbor, a quick Harbor the Gold gelding that ran the meet’s fastest 5½ furlongs, 1:02.39, before running fourth in the Auburn.
Arrom Bear, Betrbegone and Thetrailerguy all have recent wins and appear ready for stakes competition. Prime Engine, dominant winner of the 2014 Gottstein Futurity, looks to rebound after fading to a sixth-place finish in the Auburn. The Northern Afleet colt dueled through a :44.01 half-mile, helping set the stage for Fooled Again’s stretch run.
Desert Dynamo is a talented colt from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, and comes off a sharp 4 ½-length win vs. allowance runners at Santa Anita. Desert Dynamo ran one mile in 1:35.40, earning a 95 Beyer, and is an obvious contender if shipped to Emerald Downs.
$50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap, Sunday, June 21,
3-Year-Old colts & geldings, One Mile
Horse, owner, trainer
Arrom Bear (3-WA), Center Point Racing Stables, Frank Lucarelli
Awesome Indian (3-KY), Awesome Indian Syndicate, Tom Wenzel
Betrbegone (3-WA), H.E. Maggard, David Martinez
Brother Duster (3-BC), Ken Johnson, Taylor Anderson
Cash N Dash (3-WA), Karen Kirshne,r Robbie Baze
Chief of Staff (3-CAL), Mark Dedomenico, LLC J. Hollendorfer
Daytona Beach (3-WA), Vital Signs Stable & Jeff Harwood, Doris Harwood
Desert Dynamo (3-KY), Dedomenico, Durant & House, J. Hollendorfer
Fire the Trainer (3-KY,) Randall & Rossi LLC or Frank Lucarelli, Frank Lucarelli
Fooled Again (3-KY), Todd & Shawn Hansen, Howard Belvoir
Gloria’s Angelo (3-KY), Aithon Stable LLC, Larry Ross
It’s Little Richie (3-WA), C.E. & Ann Richardson, Charles Essex
Legion of Boom (3-WA), Mark Dedomenico & North American Tbred, Mike Puhich
O B Harbor (3-ORE), One Horse Will Do Corporation, Chris Stenslie
Percy Fawcett (3-KY), Randall & Rossi LLC, Frank Lucarelli
Private Boss (3-WA), Blue Diamond Stable, Del Kelly or Mort Robbins, Roy Lumm
Prime Engine (3-KY), Mark Dedomenico LLC, Mike Puhich
Relatively Fast (3-WA), Joe Crawford & Jingy Zhuang, Charles Essex
Senna (3-KY), Glyn Kelly & Anne MacLennan, Dan Markle
Thetrailerguy (3-KY), Nelson Family Racing, Monique Snowden
