For the Reporter

Stryker Phd returned to action Sunday with a victory at Emerald Downs, but it wasn’t an easy one.

In a thrilling finish, the 2014 Washington Horse of the Year held off Noosito by a neck to win the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

Under regular rider Leslie Mawing at high weight of 122 pounds, Stryker Phd rallied from last place for the victory, running one mile in 1:35.57 on a fast track. Trained by Larry Ross for Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash., Stryker Phd paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20.

A 6-year-old Washington-bred by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, Stryker Phd has won his last five starts at Emerald Downs—all stakes races—and is 6-5-5 in 19 starts lifetime with earnings of $348,151, including $27,500 for Sunday’s victory.

Noosito, ridden by Diego Sanchez at 118 pounds, was clearly second best and paid $4.40 and $3.40. Last year’s state champion 3-year-old is 5-2-3 in 11 career starts with earnings of $168,403.

Absolutely Cool, with Rocco Bowen riding at 119 pounds, was 2½ lengths back in third and paid $5.

Stryker Phd joined Noosa Beach (2010-2011) as horses to win back-to-back runnings of the Budweiser. Noosa Beach, coincidentally, is the older brother of the 4-year-old colt that nearly denied Stryker Phd on Sunday.

“It was all horse today, I was just along for the ride,” Mawing said. “I just had to place the horse in the perfect position, which I was able to. There was a lot of speed. When we hit the five-sixteenths pole, we were just on cruise control.

“He knows where the finish line is,” Mawing added. “He has his quirks, but I just like to ride the horse. I don’t like to change his style.”

While Stryker Phd unleashed a powerful wide rally on the last turn, Noosito kicked into high gear on the rail, and the two state champions hooked up past mid-stretch in a nip and tuck battle to the wire with Stryker Phd narrowly best.

“The trainer (Doris Harwood) told me he had good speed and he’ll go inside or outside, whatever I want him to do,” Sanchez said. “It was a little tight at the three-eighths pole but we got through on the inside. He saw that horse on the outside near the end and I could feel him fight back.”

Scat Daddybaby, the leader through fractions of :22.87, :45.83 and 1:10.01, relinquished command into the lane and finished fourth. Prohibition, Mebossman, Shooting Jacket, Mike Man’s Gold, Del Rio Harbor, Trick Or Retreat and Until You completed the order of finish. Twistgrips was a late scratch.

Washington-breds finished first, second and third, and the stirring stretch drive could signal a new rivalry between Stryker Phd and Noosito, with next stop the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Sunday, July 19.

Stryker Phd is on the same schedule as a year ago, when he reeled off last-to-first victories in the Budweiser Handicap, Mt. Rainier Handicap and Longacres Mile.

“It’s like Chum Salmon reborn,” Larry Ross, said comparing Stryker Phd to Washington Hall of Famer Chum Salmon, whose 1985 Longacres Mile win is considered among the top races in state history. “It’s like watching Chummer all over again.”

Indian relay racing: Day 3

Battle of the Horse Racing Nations concluded a three-day run at Emerald Downs Sunday, featuring the championship final won by Carlson, and two consolation heats.

Sunday’s winners:

Championship — Carlson (Blackfeet Nation), rider Chazz Racine, 3:36.03.
Consolation 1 — Old Elk Relay (Crow Nation), rider Ashton Old Elk, 4:02.97
Consolation 2 — Rides The Pretty Horse (Crow Nation), rider Clyde Jefferson, 4:00.42

Notes

Hey Ez Money ($12.40) rolled to an easy victory under Jake Barton in the first maiden special weight of the year for 2-year-olds. Trained by F.C. Frazier for Linden Hatch, Brent Stapley and Tamara Anderson, the Arizona-bred gelding ran five furlongs in :58.07. … Barton rode two winners—both double-digit payoffs—including a $21.40 score on Cinematic Cat in the 10th race finale. … Juan Gutierrez also rode two winners, both trained by Blaine Wright, and is making a bid for top spot in the riders’ standings. Through nine weeks, Julie Couton is No. 1 with 35 wins, followed by Gutierrez with 32 wins and defending champion Leslie Mawing is third with 26. … Jeff Metz holds a 21-13 lead over Wright stop the trainers’ standings, with Howard Belvoir third with 10 wins. … Pete’s Slew ($13.60) made it two straight wins at the $15,000 claiming level, edging past Rocky’s Quest to win the ninth race in 1:37.65 for one mile. A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Matty G, Pete’s Slew is 6-for-15 lifetime for Tim McCanna and Quadrun Farm LLC. … Also in the ninth, fourth-place finisher Charlie Thomas was re-claimed by Emerald Racing Club for $15,000. … In the 10th race, Tribal Waters debuted for Emerald Racing Club with a fourth-place finish. … Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:45 p.m. … In the interim, Santa Anita has a Pick 6 carryover Thursday of $113,343.