For the Reporter
Heading into Sunday’s $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby, the 3-year-old colt and gelding division remains an unsolved puzzle. The first three stakes, won by Fooled Again, Thetrailerguy and Betrbegone, produced $2 win payoffs of $19, $18.40 and $68.60.
Sunday’s 1-1/8-mile race should decide the track’s best 3-year-old colt or gelding. A victory by either Thetrailerguy or Betrbegone would settle the issue once and for all, and the $41,000 first-place check wouldn’t be too bad either.
But what if Prime Engine prevails? Coming off seconds in the Coca-Cola and Seattle Slew handicaps, it would be difficult to deny the Northern Afleet colt the title.
Trained by Mike Puhich for Dr. Mark Dedomenico, Prime Engine adds blinkers and switches to jockey Joe Steiner for the Derby. In both the Coca-Cola and the Seattle Slew, Prime Engine relinquished the lead in deep stretch.
“He’s run very consistent, but quite honestly I’ve been pretty disappointed in all three of his starts,” Puhich said. “I’ve always thought he was the best horse every time I ran him. I’ve been disappointed with the outcomes but not with his efforts.
“We’re going to add blinkers and make a jockey change,” Puhich added. “It’s not anything that Leslie (Mawing) has done wrong. We just want to change things up a bit.
“(We’re adding blinkers) to get him a little more focused down the lane. It’s not like he’s getting tired at the end of the race. It’s more that he’s getting the lead and waiting. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sitting a little closer to the pace.”
The Emerald Downs Derby is Race 8 at 5:39 p.m.
Prime Engine recorded the fastest five-furlong work of the year, :57.20, Monday with Steiner aboard.
Nine of the last 10 winners of the Derby were subsequently voted Top 3-Year-Old Male.
Betting favorites are a lowly 2-for-19 in the Derby at Emerald Downs.
The field for the 78th running of the Emerald Downs Derby: Fire the Trainer, Leslie Mawing; Raspberry Road, Jake Barton; Senna, Rocco Bowen; Thetrailerguy, Julien Couton; Betrbegone, Leonel Camacho-Flores; Percy Fawcett, Gallyn Mitchell; Dedicated to You, Javier Matias; Prime Engine, Joe Steiner. All starters carry 122 pounds.
Belle Hill heads to $65,000 Washington Oaks
Unlike their male counterparts, the track’s 3-year-old filly division has offered few surprises.
Belle Hill reigns supreme, coming off wins in the Irish Day and Kent handicaps, and is the 7-to-5 morning line favorite. Ethan’s Baby, with seconds in the Seattle and Kent Handicaps, is second choice at 3-to-1, and Suva Harbor – third in all three stakes – is third choice at 5-to-1.
A daughter of Rockport Harbor owned by Gary Barber, Suva Harbor won a pair of two-turn events in Southern California and also won a one-mile stakes at Sunland Park.
“The farther she goes the better,” Puhich said of Suva Harbor. “She just has that one pace, and that should work well at a mile and an eighth.”
Puhich has two entrants in the Oaks. Rastanora, a daughter of Dyanformer, attempts to become the first maiden to win the Oaks. Owned by Paymaster Racing, began her career in England and comes to Emerald Downs following three off-the-board finishes at Churchill Downs.
The Washington Oaks is Race 9 at 5:52 p.m.
Through 13 stakes, average field size is 8.4 horses and average win payoff is $18.60. Favorites are 5-for-14 overall.
The Oaks has been among the track’s most formful events with odds-on winners in five of the last seven years: Lady Fifty Two (2014), Stopshoppingdebbie (2013), Class Included (2011), No Flies On Doodle (2009) and Elusive Horizon (2008).
The field for the 36th running of the Washington Oaks: Ambleside Park, Amadeo Perez, 10-1; Rastanora, Gallyn Mitchell, 8-1; Ethan’s Baby, Julien Couton, 3-1; Suite One, scratched; Cup of Soup, Juan Gutierrez, 12-1; Perhaps a Pie, Javier Matias, 8-1; Suva Harbor, Joe Steiner, 5-1; Belle Hill, Leslie Mawing, 7-5. All starters carry 120 pounds.
Hall of Fame banquet is Saturday
The Washington Racing Hall of Fame’s 13th annual induction ceremony Saturday in the Emerald Room following the day’s races.
With cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner starting at 7:30 p.m., the Hall of Fame banquet will honor Gary Boulanger (Jockey), Wesley Ward (Trainer), Herman Sarkowsky (Breeder), Travel Orb (Male Horse), Ropersandwranglers (Female Horse) and track announcer Robert Geller (Lifetime Acheivement).
Tickets are available for $20 and can be purchased by calling Customer Service at 253-288-7711.
Finish lines
Weekly Honors #16-Jockey – Julien Couton; Trainer – Jim Penney; Owner – Buffalo Stables; Groom – Martin Capasono (Manny Ortiz); WTBOA Washington-bred-Ryan Walt (Tim Donahue); Exercise Rider-Manuel Gonzalez. … Happy Birthday wishes to jockey Juan Gutierrez, who turns 46 today. Currently second in the standings with 55 wins, the ultra-consistent Gutierrez is on pace for a 14th straight top five finish at Emerald Downs. … The third annual EmD 3-On-3 takes place Saturday and Sunday in the north parking lot. Emerald Downs Vice President of Operations Bob Fraser reports that 216 teams in 30 divisions are signed up, and that NBA stars Jamal Crawford and Aaron Brooks will be on hand for the festivities. Also Sports Radio KJR 950 AM will broadcast a live remote from 9-11 a.m.
