For the Reporter
Mach One Rules – track and state champion as a 2-year-old – makes his 2016 debut in the $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Sunday, May 15 at Emerald Downs.
Undefeated in four starts, including three stakes, Mach One Rules earned $93,826 for owner Roy Schaefer and trainer Frank Lucarelli in 2015.
In the Sept. 13 Captain Condo Stakes, Mach One Rules ran the meet’s fastest six furlongs – 1:08.31 – while defeating Gold Rush Dancer by 4¾ lengths. His 83 Beyer was easily best by any 2-year-old here in 2015, and Gold Rush Dancer is no slouch with subsequent wins in the Gottstein Futurity and last week’s $200,000 Silky Sullivan at Golden Gate Fields.
Mach One Rules has nine workouts leading up to the Auburn, six at Golden Gate Fields and three at Emerald Downs, capped by a bullet six panels in 1:12 1/5 on May 2.
At 6½ furlongs, the Auburn is one of four open stakes for 3-year-old colts or geldings, the series culminating July 31 with the $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby at 1 1/8 miles. Also, any horse to sweep the Emerald Downs Derby and Sept. 10 B.C. Derby (Grade 3) receives a $25,000 (CDN) bonus.
Barkley also carries an undefeated record into the Auburn, a 3-for-3 mark that includes a half-length victory over Gold Rush Dancer in last year’s Emerald Express at six furlongs. In his 2016 debut last month, the Kentucky-bred colt raced to a two-length allowance victory over On Fire, running six furlongs in 1:08.81 and earning a career-high 74 Beyer.
Access This is 2-1-0 in four starts for trainer Blaine Wright and comes off a sharp neck victory in allowance company at Golden Gate, running six furlongs in 1:09.96 on the synthetic Tapeta surface and bagging an 80 Beyer.
Viewingthegold came closest to beating Mach One Rules last year, missing by a head in the WTBOA Lads Stakes, and ran well while finishing third to Barkley and On Fire in the April 17 allowance race.
$50,000 Auburn Stakes
Sunday, May 15
3-year-old colts and geldings, 6½ furlongs
Horse, owner, trainer
Access This (3-KY), Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd., Blaine Wright
Barkley (3-KY), Rising Star Stable or Howard Belvoir, Howard Belvoir
Cliff’s Turn (3-KY), John & Janene Maryanski, Blaine Wright
Face Valued (3-WA), One Horse Will Do Corporation, Chris Stenslie
Mach One Rules (3-WA), R.E.V. Racing LLC, Frank Lucarelli
Seeking a Mystery (3-CA), Valentin Picho Garcia, Robbie Baze
Viewingthegold (3-WA), Big Bill & Co., Clemans View Farm & B. Skeslien, Jose Navarro
William Crotty (3-KY), Sue & Tim Spooner, Glyn Kelly & Ann McLennan, Dan Markle
