For the Reporter
Trainer Roddina Barrett has dominated Quarter Horse racing this season at Emerald Downs, posting a 7-5-1 record in 19 starts. Her win total more than triples her closest challenger in the standings.
Sunday, when Emerald Downs presents the sixth running of the $54,000 Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge Stakes at 440 yards, Sorelli and Stella Corona represent Barrett in the meet’s biggest race for Quarter Horses.
A triple winner at the meet, 4-year-old filly Sorelli was second fastest qualifier in the trials two weeks ago while 3-year-old filly Stella Corona, who has a win and two seconds at the meet, qualified fourth.
Trainer Mark Hanson and jockey Nakia Ramirez invaded from Idaho to sweep the both trials and appear to have big chances Sunday. James First Affair qualified No. 1, winning the first trial in :21.926, while Rtm Mr Caccia prevailed in the second trial with the third-fastest qualifying time of :22.192.
It’s interesting to note, however, that Ramirez rides Rtm Mr Caccia on Sunday while Eddie Aceves handles James First Affair.
“Mark Hanson’s horses have been running really, really good,” said Barrett, who also has 12 Thoroughbred wins at the meet. “The last race was Sorelli’s first time ever going 440 yards and it was also the first time Eswan (Flores) ever been on her.
“So hopefully for the finals, Eswan knows her little tendencies and he can make it their first this time. She’s been here training, jumping up and down, tearing down the walker. She’s ready to go.”
Either Sorelli or Stella Corona would be only the second filly or mare to win the race. Chicks Special Angel prevailed as a 6-year-old mare in 2014.
“Stella Corona has been a pleasure to have in the barn as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old,” Barrett said. “She is a hard trying filly. She will give you everything she’s got. She’ll lay her life on the line.”
Sorelli, an Oklahoma-bred, is owned by Tim Floyd’s Warlock Stable and Kelly Dougan. Dougan owns Sorelli Pizza of Mountlake Terrace.
Washington-bred Stella Corona is owned and bred by Jeff Ray.
2016 Qualifying Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge (August 6): 1-James First Affair, :21.926; 2-Sorelli, :21.959; 3-Rtm Mr Caccia, :22.192; 4-Stella Corona, :22.196; 5-Klassic Secret BR, :22.316; 6-Hes a Bugin, :22.376; 7-My Best Bunny Yet, :22.393; 8-Quematierras, :22.394; 9-Lebron 6, :22.457.
• The Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge is Stakes is Race 8 at 5:15 p.m.
• Bh Lisas Boy, winner of last year’s EmD Championship Challenge, scored a three-quarter-length victory as 5-2 second choice in Sunday’s $74,000 Bank of America Regional Challenge at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Jesus Ayala for owner/trainer Bill Hoburg, the 4-year-old Idaho-bred ran 440 yards in :21.456 seconds.
The field for the 6th running of the Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge Stakes at 440 yards with jockey and weight: 1-Perhaps a Pie, Eswan Flores, 114 pounds; 2-Locket, Tyler Baze¸116; 3-Ole’s Miss, Jennifer Whitaker, 115; 4-Princess Kennedy (3yo), Rocco Bowen, 115; 5-Alli Leigh, Isaias Enriquez, 113; 6-Curly Girly, Leslie Mawing, 116; 7-Chronologic’sghost, Anne Sanguinetti, 117; 8-Guinevere’s Finale, Javier Matias, 120; 9-All Star Bub, Mario Gutierrez, 121.
O B Harbor and Stryker Phd doing well post Mile
Top local horses – O B Harbor and Stryker Phd – came out of last Sunday’s $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3) in great shape, according to their respective trainers.
Conditioner Chris Stenslie said Thursday that O B Harbor would be turned out after earning his first career graded-stakes check with a third-place finish in The Mile. The 4-year-old Oregon-bred gelding won his first four races this season – setting the meet’s fastest times at each distance – including the older horse division’s first three stakes races.
“We’re so proud of him for what he’s done this year,” Stenslie said. “He came out of The Mile pretty tired but he’s doing great. He had to run hard the whole way.
“We’ll let him go relax for awhile and then bring him back for another shot at The Mile.”
The same goes for fourth-place finisher Alert Bay, whom trainer Blaine Wright said would get some time off as well and will be turned out for the time being.
Meanwhile two-time Mile winner Stryker Phd was back on the track Thursday training for his next start, which could be the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for Washington-breds on Aug. 28.
“He’s doing really, really well,” assistant trainer Sharon Ross said. “I told the owners that we’d nominate him for Washington Cup and if he does everything right until then, we’ll run him.
“It’s taken him awhile this season to get back up to his usual self, but I really think he’s there now. Who knows? Maybe he’ll try and get that third Mile as 8-year-old. It’s been done before.”
On side note, Stenslie did say that Emerald Distaff winner Perhaps a Pie could run in the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes (G3-C) on October 1 at Hastings Racecourse. The 4-year-old filly captured her first career stakes last Sunday with a 20-1 upset in the Distaff.
Also, there is a dandy choice shaping up for Horse of the Meeting between O B Harbor and 3-year-old Barkley. Each already have four wins and three stakes wins at the meet.
Washington Racing Hall of Fame announces Class of 2016
Trainers Larry and Sharon Ross, along with jockey Jack Leonard, breeder Robert L. Edwards and equine stars Flamme and Loto Canada have been elected to the Washington Racing Hall of Fame as the Class of 2016.
The 14th annual induction ceremony is Sunday, Aug. 28 on Washington Cup Day, with inductees to be honored between races in the Winner’s Circle.
A look at the 2016 winners as voted by representatives of the Washington HBPA, WTBOA, Emerald Downs and media:
Trainer — Larry and Sharon Ross: East coast transplants have made a profound impact in Washington, training many of the state’s biggest stars—including Longacres Mile winners Chum Salmon and Stryker Phd—and rank near the top of the all-time standings both at Longacres and Emerald Downs.
Jockey — Jack Leonard: A native of Renton, captured riding titles at Longacres, Aqueduct, and the Bay Area and ranked among the national leaders in the late 1950s and early 60s while riding meets in New Jersey, New York, Florida and California. A two-time Longacres Mile winner, including 1961 victory on two-time Washington Horse of the Year Sparrow Castle.
Breeder — Robert L. Edwards: Bred Washington champions Sprink (1982 handicap male), Unpossible (1978 3YO filly) and Question (1980 2YO colt/gelding). Also bred stakes winners Bal de Lune, Balanced Reigh, Eyes Six, Hay Power, Malert, Maxwell’s Power, One Never Nose, Power Bea, Power Reigh, Powerette, Silver Daddy, Wading Power and Whoop Up.
Male Horse — Loto Canada: Washington’s Champion 2-Year-Old Male in 1979 and 3-Year-Old Male in 1980, is one of the great stories in Washington racing lore. Patti and Lee Brauer won a $1 million Canadian lottery, and used $5,000 of the winnings to by a Saltville yearling that would become one of the hottest horses on the West Coast, winning six stakes overall including the 1979 Gottstein Futurity. Also finished second in the 1980 Longacres Derby and third in the 1981 Longacres Mile.
Filly or Mare — Flamme: Washington Champion 2-Year-old Filly of 1977 and Champion Older Filly or Mare of 1982, she ranks No. 2 All-Time in Washington stakes wins with 13, including seven at Longacres, five at Yakima Meadows and one at Playfair. She defeated males in the 1977 Spokane Futurity and 1980 Yakima Mile and finished second vs. older fillies and mares in the 1978 Belle Roberts.
Carryovers galore Friday
The $.50 Pick 5 and $0.20 Pick 7 will sport giant carryovers on Friday after both bets were unsuccessfully tried on Longacres Mile Day.
Starting in race three, the $.50 Pick 5 will begin with $15,154 in the pool and includes five races averaging more than eight horses per contest. Meanwhile. the $.20 Pick 7 covers every race on Friday’s card and will start in race one with a $1,772 carryover.
First post time is at approximately 6:40 p.m.
Finish lines
Weather is a scorcher this weekend with temperatures expected to reach the mid 90s Friday and Saturday, followed by a slight cooling trend Sunday with temperature about 80 degrees. … Nominations close Saturday for the 2016 Washington Cup featuring six stakes exclusively for Washington-breds worth $300,000 in purses. … Trainer Chris Stenslie is buying coffee on the house all morning Friday at the Quarter Chute Café and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is picking up the tab for coffee Saturday at the Quarter Chute. Stenslie and Hollendorfer were the big winners Sunday as Stenslie sent out Perhaps a Pie for a 20-1 upset in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff while Hollendorfer finished first and second with Point Piper and Cyrus Alexander in the $200,000 Longacres Mile. … Speaking of Hollendorfer, he was right back at it Wednesday as Tara’s Tango ($10.60) scored by a half-length in the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares at Del Mar. A 4-year-old Unbridled’s Song filly, Tara’s Tango races for Stonestreet Stables, co-owner of Cyrus Alexander. … And Saturday at Saratoga, Hollendorfer-trained Songbird (9-9-0-0-$2,402,000) is the 1-5 favorite in the $600,000 Alabama (Grade 1) at 1¼ miles. Post time is 3:18 p.m. (pacific). … Saturday simulcasts also feature the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic with California Chrome and Dortmund heading up a nine-horse field that includes 2015 winner Beholder again taking on the boys at 1 1/4 mile. Post time is 6:15 p.m. (pacific). … Jake Samuels and Kassie Guglielmino tied for the riding championship at Tillamook with seven wins apiece while Shawna Whiteside and Rolland Fergason tied for the training title with four wins each. … At Emerald Downs, Rocco Bowen has all but clinched his first riding title with a 91-58 lead on Leslie Mawing and is on pace to finish with 114 wins. With at least one win the next seven racing days Bowen would tie the Emerald Downs record 30 straight winning days. … Jeff Metz, bidding for a fourth straight training title, clings to a 33-32 lead over Blaine Wright with Frank Lucarelli also in striking distance with 29 wins. …Access This, third to Barkley and Mach One Rules in a pair of stakes this season at Emerald Downs this season, is 4-1 in Saturday’s $150,000 Canadian Derby (G3-C) at Northlands Park.
