For the Reporter
A victory in Sunday’s $65,000 Gottstein Futurity would cap a glorious season for owner/breeder John Parker of Lake Bay.
Heading into closing weekend, Parker ranks second in the owners’ standings with a 12-14-10 record in 60 starts, and also ranks second in owner earnings with $153,742.
Gold Rush Dancer has lived up to his considerable pre-season hype, earning three stakes placings and over $38,000.
Trained by Bill Tollett, the Private Gold homebred finished runner-up to Barkley in the Emerald Express, third to Mach One Rules in the WTBOA Lads, and second to Mach One Rules in the Captain Condo Stakes. With Mach One Rules passing the 1 1/16-mile Gottstein in favor of the six-furlong Cahill Road Stakes, the door is wide open for Gold Rush Dancer in Sunday’s route test.
Besides Gold Rush Dancer, the only other stakes-placed colt or gelding in the field is Wando Cat, who finished a distant third in the Emerald Express. In fact, the top threats for Gold Rush Dancer might be a pair of fillies, Cape Grace and My Heart Goes On, who both have been competitive with the top juvenile fillies on the grounds.
Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, Parker already has proven to be a sportsman, paying a $7,500 supplemental nomination to make Gold Rush Dancer eligible for the Gottstein.
The Gottstein Futurity is Race 10 at 6:39 p.m.
Cape Grace and My Heart Goes On, both trained by David Martinez, attempt to become the 13th filly to win the Gottstein Futurity. At Emerald Downs, two fillies have won the Gottstein: Smarty Deb (2007) and Talk to My Lawyer (2011)
Betting favorites are only 4-for-19 in the Gottstein at Emerald Downs. In 2014, Trackattacker – with over $143,000 wagered on him in the show pool – finished sixth, and winner Prime Engine paid $4.80, $3.60 and $29.80.
The field for the 78th running of the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity: En Avant, Juan Gutierrez, 120 pounds; Love the Lion, Gallyn Mitchell, 120; Wando Cat, Joe Steiner, 120; Gold Rush Dancer (s), Julien Couton, 120; Cape Grace (f), Leslie Mawing, 117; Packy’s Out, Rocco Bowen, 120; My Heart Goes On (f), 117. (f) filly (s) supplemental nomination
Mach One Rules opts for Cahill Road
Considering six furlongs is the most common distance run at Emerald Downs, it’s unusual for a 2-year-old to have the meet’s fastest time at the distance.
That is the case, however, Mach One Rules zipped six panels in 1:08.31 in his 4¾-length romp in the Captain Condo Stakes two weeks ago. The 83 Beyer tied the highest by a 2-year-old here in the last two years.
So suffice it to say, Mach One Rules will be a prohibitive favorite Sunday in the $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. Unbeaten in three starts with earnings of $68,450, the Harbor the Gold gelding is improving with racing, his Beyers leaping from 65 in his maiden victory, to 72 in the WTBOA Lads Stakes, to the 83 in the Captain Condo.
“He was kind of a slow developer, but he was one of those horses that every work, through his progression, he got better and better,” said Dennis Snowden, chief assistant to Frank Lucarelli and the man who regularly exercises Mach One Rules. “When he got ready to run, he ran a very, very exciting first maiden race. Then his second race was better and his last race was phenomenal.”
Owned by Roy Schaefer’s R.E.V Racing, Mach One Rules could be headed to California after the Emerald Downs season concludes Sunday. In fact, that might have been a major consideration for running in the Cahill Road rather than the Gottstein.
“I believe there’s a race in Santa Anita in three weeks and this race would really set him up for that race,” Snowden said. “This will kind of be a good tightener for that race.”
Lucarelli, R.E.V. Racing and jockey Leslie Mawing dominated last year’s 2-year-old ranks with Trackattacker, another son of Harbor the Gold who debuted with a track record at 4 ½ furlongs and reeled off three stakes wins before faltering in the Gottstein.
“Trackattacker was a great horse right away, he was Trackattacker from day one,” Snowden said. “Mach One Rules has gotten better and better but was a later developer.”
The NWSS Cahill Road is Race 3 at 3:05 p.m.
Favorites have won 14-of-19 runnings of the Gottsetin at Emerald Downs.
The field for the 65th running of the $50,000 NWSS Cahill Road Stakes: Ryan Walt, Rocco Bowen, 120 pounds; Mach One Rules, Leslie Mawing, 120; Two Pt Conversion, Joe Steiner, 120; Rally Wave, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 118; Possible Spider, Julien Couton,120.
Finish lines
Weekly Honors #23, Jockey – Rocco Bowen ; Trainer- Craig Walters; Owner- Rick Pasko; Groom – Les Shannon ( Alan Bozell ); WTBOA Washington-bred – G’s Gold ( Elliott Simkins). … Trainer Jeff Metz heads into closing weekend with a lock on his third straight training title, and needs five wins to set a single-season record of 67 wins. Metz has 19 horses entered the final three days including multiple entries in four races. . .Metz said Chinook Pass Sprints Stakes winner Redsolocup makes his next start in the $35,000 Bienvenidos Stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday, Oct. 17, with Jose Zunino retaining the mount. … Julien Couton has clinched the riding title and needs four wins to reach the 100-win mark. … All winning trainers Saturday at Emerald Downs receive free blankets courtesy of the Washington HBPA. … Longacres Mile runner-up Sammy Mandeville is 10-to-1 on the morning line in Saturday’s $300,000 Awesome Again (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds and up at Santa Anita. The Awesome Again is one of five stakes on the opening day card that includes the $300,000 Zenyatta (G1) for older fillies and mares with Beholder the 2-to-5 morning line favorite. … Longacres Mile runner-up Alert Bay runs in Sunday’s $200,000 City of Hope Handicap on turf at Santa Anita.
