For the Reporter
Barring a dead-heat between Mach One Rules and Barkley, at least one horse will no longer be undefeated following Sunday’s $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6½ furlongs.
Mach One Rules (4-4-0-0, $93,826) and Barkley (3-3-0-0, $49,775) enter the race unbeaten and are likely to be the top two betting choices. However, five worthy opponents – William Crotty, Viewingthegold, Seeking a Mystery, Cliff’s Turn and Access This – also figure to have a say in the outcome.
Mach One Rules makes his 2016 debut for owner Roy Schaefer and trainer Frank Lucarelli, and as Invested Prospect demonstrated last week in the Seattle Stakes, it’s quite possible for a layoff horse to lead gate-to-wire in a 6½-furlong stakes race at Emerald Downs. Moreover, Mach One Rules — like Invested Prospect — figures to have the early lead in Sunday’s race.
Asked if Mach One Rules is fit enough for the assignment, Lucarelli said, “I think so.” Any lingering doubts were squelched Monday when the son of Harbor the Gold breezed six furlongs in 1:12 4/5, capping a series of 10 works that began in February at Golden Gate Fields.
Still, Barkley figures to have some sort of a fitness edge when the gate opens Sunday. A Kentucky-bred by Munnings, Barkley returned to action last month with a big effort off the bench, rolling to a two-length allowance victory in 1:08.81 for six furlongs.
“He can go with any running style,” trainer Howard Belvoir said of Barkley. “Javier (Matias) thought the other day that he could’ve gone to the front after the last win, but I don’t think you’ll see that this week. Mach One Rules is the only real speed in the race.
“The pace is going to dictate a lot of what happens in this race,” Belvoir added. “You know, there are more horses than Mach One Rules in there. We have to beat some other nice horses as well.”
Access This (4-2-1-0-$37,225) makes his Emerald Downs debut for trainer Blaine Wright, who tops the trainer standings with 11 wins, a whopping 57.8 win percentage, and a stakes victory with Invested Prospect.
Julien Couton makes his 2016 Emerald Downs debut aboard Access This for Wright and owner Peter Redekop. The 2015 EmD Champion with 100 wins, Couton currently ranks seventh with 42 wins at Golden Gate Fields.
The 3-year-old colt & gelding division culminates July 31 with the $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby at 1 1/8 miles. As announced in February, any horse sweeping the Emerald Downs Derby and September 10 BC Derby at Hastings Racecourse earns a $25,000 (CDN) bonus.
The Auburn Stakes goes as Race 8 on a 10-race card. Post time is 5:39 p.m.
The field for the $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at 6½ furlongs: William Crotty, Joe Steiner, 117 pounds; Viewingthegold, Juan Gutierrez, 117; Seeking a Mystery, Ronald Richard, 117; Barkley, Javier Matias, 121; Cliff’s Turn, Rocco Bowen, 117; Mach One Rules, Leslie Mawing, 121; Access This, Julien Couton, 119.
Prolific Polish Dollar calls it a career
Polish Dollar, who was tied for most wins by an active Emerald Downs horse, has been retired and shipped to Allaire Farms in Poulsbo, trainer Bob Meeking said.
“He’s sound as a horse can be,” Meeking said. “He was always a difficult horse to train, but this year he became almost impossible. It was time to hang it up.”
A 10-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Polish Gift-Spediacci, Polish Dollar spent his entire 47-race career at Emerald Downs, compiling a 15-6-7 record with $150,872 in earnings for owner Sharon Radke. In 2012, he won four races and rose from $5,000 claiming to a four-length victory in an $18,000 allowance race.
Trained by Meeking from 2012-15, Polish Dollar also was conditioned by Brad Varner in 2009-10, and Debbie Van Horne in 2011.
With Polish Dollar retired, 9-year-old Chaching Pete, who scored his 15th Emerald Downs win last week, becomes the No. 1 winner among active horses. West Seattle Boy with 21 wins holds the all-time track record for wins.
Friday racing begins with Pick 7 carryover
The $0.20 Pick 7 continues to stymie the wagering public and will carry over $1,443 into Friday’s card.
The track’s newest exotic wager will kick off the Friday card and include all seven of the day’s races with first post at approx. 6:35 p.m.
The average field size for Friday is more than eight horses per race headlined by an eight-horse field in the sixth and feature race, a $15,000-$12,500 claiming race for older horses racing 6½ furlongs.
Archie Graham, Emerald Racing Club set for Sunday
The Emerald Racing Club will make its 2016 debut Sunday when 4-year-old gelding Archie Graham takes on seven other older horses in a $10,000 claiming race at one mile.
With 200 members in tow, the Emerald Racing Club could be in line for a big season. After all, the syndicate has assembled a sparkling 5-3-1 record in 15 starts over the past two years.
As for Archie Graham, the gray son of Grazen has a 3-3-3 record in 18 career starts including a third-place effort on March 24 when trainer Larry Ross claimed the gelding for $8,000 at Golden Gate. Since his last race, Archie Graham has posted three workouts at Emerald Downs including a swift five-furlong breeze in :59 4/5 (5/32) on April 30.
Emerald AM kicks off Preakness Day
Whether Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist captures the second jewel of the Triple Crown remains to be seen.
However one thing is for certain, Preakness Pancakes will be at Emerald Downs on Saturday, May 21. From 9 to 11 a.m., “Preakness Pancakes” includes free admission, program, and a pancake and bacon breakfast.
Hosted by TV host Jacob Pollowitz and track announcer Matt Dinerman, Preakness Pancakes will feature an inside look at the inner workings at Emerald Downs including morning training by several local horses on the racetrack. Fans also have an opportunity to hop aboard and take pictures with fan favorite and 2008 Longacres Mile winner Wasserman. Following the two-hour program, fans are invited to take a tour through the Emerald Downs backstretch.
As for the second leg of the Triple Crown, several of the nation’s top 3-year-olds look to dethrone likely prohibitive favorite Nyquist in the 141st running of The Preakness Stakes. The race is the featured event at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and is scheduled to go off at 3:18 p.m.
Live racing at Emerald Downs begins at approximately 2 p.m.
Finish lines
Jockey Jennifer Whitaker, has resumed galloping horses and hopes to be race-ready in a couple of weeks. No. 8 all-time with 457 wins at Emerald Downs, Whitaker sustained six broken ribs and a lacerated liver in a Feb. 18 training accident at Emerald Downs. … Sally Steiner enjoyed a great Mother’s Day as both sons won races: Joe Steiner swept the early double at Emerald Downs with victories aboard Cats Gulch and Whetstone, and Jack Steiner saddled 9-year-oldBarrel Knot to his 13th career victory at Golden Gate. … While Mach One Rules makes his 2016 debut Sunday in the Auburn Stakes, his half-brother debuts Friday in a $56,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita. Ninelives (Sixthirteen-Felice the Cat) sold for $50,000 at the 2015 WTBOA Summer Yearling & Mixed Sale. … Stryker Phd now has three works since arriving back from Golden Gate Fields. The 7-year-old gelding breezed four furlongs in :48 2/5 Monday. … Although Stryker Phd probably won’t run until the Budweiser Handicap on June 19, the older horse division begins May 22 with the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes at 6½ furlongs. … Meanwhile up at Hastings Racecourse, Modern led gate-to-wire for his second stakes win of the meet, scoring by 1½-lengths over Hollywood Angel in Saturday’s $50,000 George Royal Stakes. Modern ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.66 and earned an 84 Beyer. … Saturday’s feature race is a $25,000 claimer with a $16,600 purse for 3-year-olds and up which have never won two races: Daytona Beach, Party Pooper, My Chief, Raspberry Road, John’s Not Buffin, Perfect Night, Cantcatchme, Fooled Again and Westley. … Fooled Again ran the fastest 6½ furlongs of the meet – 1:14.28 – winning an April 23 race for non-winners of three lifetime. … Cousin Wheelz, tied for most wins by a Quarter Horse at the 2015 meet with three, is among nine entered in Sunday’s $5,000 allowance opener at 350 yards. … Congratulations to trainer Tom Wenzel and wife Melissa, expecting their second child in late July. …Trainer Howard Belvoir celebrates his 72nd birthday Friday.
