For the Reporter

According to Gary Fellers, fans are in for a treat this weekend at Emerald Downs.

“Indian relay racing is the most exciting sport anyone has ever seen,” said Fellers, director of the Professional Indian Horse Racing Association. “It is the first American sport, and the first extreme sport.”

The Battle Of The Horse Nations at Emerald Downs features three relay races Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with some 72 participants and 48 horses competing for $35,000 in purse money. It’s the first of 15 sanctioned PIHRA events in 2015, a series that culminates in Billings, Mont., with the All Nations Indian Relay Championships Sept. 17-20.

At Emerald Downs, four regional groups are represented with competitors from 15 different tribes. “The best teams in the world are here this weekend,” Feller said.

How does it work?

Each race is two miles, consisting of four half-mile stages.

The same rider covers the entire two miles, but on four different horses.

The race begins in front of the grandstand, and each rider changes horses three times— at the half-mile pole on the backstretch, the finish line, and again at the half-mile pole.

In addition to a rider, each team has three “holders” and two “muggers” who ready and catch horses during the race.

Ashton Old Elk, one of the riders competing at Emerald Downs, said Indian Relay Racing has been a big crowd pleaser at other Thoroughbred racing venues, particularly Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota.

“It’s very exciting for fans,” he said. “At Canterbury, we had over 12,000 people.”

Some of the horses competing include He’s a Goblin, Our Eagle Boy and Untilifindyou, who all raced at Emerald Downs.

Stryker Phd returns Sunday in Bud ‘Cap

Stryker Phd pretty much is the defending everything this year at Emerald Downs: Defending Horse of the Meeting, defending Longacres Mile champion, defending Top Older Horse, defending Top Washington-bred.

The title defenses begin Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at one mile. In the Budweiser — you guessed it — Stryker Phd also is the defending champion, having won last year’s race in a stakes-record 1:34.15 on a sloppy oval. The now 6-year-old gelding carries high weight of 122 pounds, with regular rider Leslie Mawing aboard.

A full field of 12 entered the Budweiser, next-to-last stop before the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3) on Aug. 16. The field is deep and competitive, including a trio of Canadian shippers, but all eyes will be on Stryker Phd, making his first start since a third in the Berkeley Handicap (Grade 3) last November at Golden Gate Fields.

“He’s been training really good,” said assistant trainer Sharon Ross. “He had a real nice work last weekend for his final prep.

“He was happy today. We stood him in the gate and he was perfect going to the gate. He’s going to pull his usual stuff but he’s on track for Sunday.”

Assistant trainer Sharon Ross giving Stryker Phd a little TLC in his stall Thursday.

Like last year, Stryker Phd skipped the 6½-furlong Governor’s Handicap to prepare for the three routes of the four-race series.

“I do think it was easier getting him fit this year versus last year because he’s a bigger, stronger horse,” Ross added. “Hopefully we got him fit enough. He really didn’t miss any works because of the weather or anything.

“I think he’s a very, very, very nice horse. I would love to see him repeat what he did last year. Whether he could be better than that, I don’t know. He’s got one patented move, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.

“He’s always going to need pace to run at, and a clear route to run through. I don’t even worry about the post-position because he’s going to get whatever he’s going to get. I just want Leslie (Mawing) to be able to save ground without having to eat a lot of dirt.”

Race at a glance

• The Budweiser Handicap is Race 8 at 5:39 p.m.

• Sunday’s weather forecast is for clear and 80 degrees.

• Average field size through six stakes is 9.33 horses. Average $2 win payoff is $26.200.

• If all 12 horses run, it would be the first full stakes field since the 2014 Longacres Mile.

• The field for the 20th running of the Budweiser Handicap: Scat Daddybaby, Juan Gutierrez, 115 pounds; Prohibition, Joe Steiner, 116; Twistgrips, Jake Barton, 115; Mebossman, David G. Lopez, 117; Noosito, Diego R. Sanchez, 118; Mike Man’s Gold, Javier Matias, 118; Until You, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 115′ Trick Or Retreat, Francisco Duran 117; Stryker Phd, Leslie Mawing, 122; Absolutely Cool, Rocco Bowen, 119; Shooting Jacket, Gallyn Mitchell, 115; Del Rio Harbor, Julien Couton, 117.

Emerald Racing Club debuts new horse

Tribal Waters makes his first start for 188-member Emerald Racing Club in Sunday’s 10th race, a $12,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up which have never won three races lifetime at six furlongs. Joe Steiner has the mount for trainer Larry Ross.

A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Tribal Rule-Rio Tejo, Tribal Waters is 2-1-1 in 10 starts with earnings of $38,827. His last race was May 2 at Golden Gate Fields, a gate-to-wire win vs. $6,250 claimers non-winner of two lifetime.

In Sunday’s ninth race, former ERC horse Charlie Thomas makes his first start for Sabers Drawn Racing and trainer Frank Lucarelli. Claimed for $15,000 May 30, Charlie Thomas stretches out to one mile Sunday, but remains at the $15,000 claiming level.

Finish lines

Weekly Honors #8-Trainer – Robbie Baze; Jockey – Rocco Bowen; Owner – Three Springs R & R; Groom – Carlos Suarez (Bill Tollett); WTBOA Washington-bred – Grinder Sparksaglo (Marvin Lynd & Richard Sena); Exercise Rider – Juan Madrigal (Tom Wenzel). … The 2-year-olds are ready to roll. Saturday’s second race features five geldings, one colt and one filly for a $12,5000 claiming price at 4½ furlongs. Sunday, the big guns debut in race four a $20,500 maiden special weight at five furlongs. The race drew six colts and three geldings. … Through eight weeks and 22 days of racing, Calculated Chaos remains the meet’s lone three-time winner, while 27 horses have won two races. Kikisoblu leads in stakes wins, two, and also is first in earnings, $55,000. … 4-year-old Cast in Silver, nominated to the Washington State Legislators Stakes, instead runs Saturday against Beholder in Santa Anita’s $100,000 Adoration Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. The card also features the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G3) on turf. … Jockey Alexis Batista has packed his tack and is riding at Louisiana Downs. … Golden Gate Fields concludes its 2014-15 meeting Sunday. The Northern California Fairs begin next Thursday at Pleasanton.