Something has to give Sunday when unbeaten 2-year-olds Trackattacker and Prime Engine face off in the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity, which at 1 1/16 miles is the longest race of the season for 2-year-olds and the final of 29 stakes this season at Emerald Downs.
The 2-year-old championship event has attracted six 2-year-olds, including Val De Saire, who seeks to become only the 10th filly to win the race in its storied 77-year history.
Each year the Gottstein produces several intriguing storylines, but the showdown of Trackattacker and Prime Engine is one of the meet’s most anticipated races.
Trackattacker, undefeated in four starts, has been a dominant force in the stakes division thus far while winning the Emerald Express, WTBOA Lads and DRF Dennis Dodge Stakes by an aggregate 27-¼ lengths. A victory by the Washington-bred gelding would easily clinch honors as the track’s Top 2-Old-Male and would keep him in contention for Horse of the Meeting, too.
Nevertheless, any hopes of a Gottstein walkover for Trackattacker were quickly dashed after Prime Engine’s sparkling debut just two weeks ago at Emerald Downs. The chestnut colt by Northern Afleet throttled his competition by 10-¼ lengths, running 5-½ furlongs in 1:03.55, the only sub-1:04 at the distance since August 24. As a reward, Prime Engine earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest for a 2-year-old since Gallant Son notched an 86 in 2009*and seven points higher than Trackattacker’s career-high in the Emerald Express.
Prime Engine’s trainer, Mike Puhich, said the horse has always had supreme potential.
“We’ve always liked him since day one,” Puhich said Thursday from owner Mark Dedomenico’s Pegasus Training Center in Redmond. “That goes back to when we first started breaking him. He’s always been a real professional.
“After we ran him the first time, he really proved it because I liked his stable mate Chief of Staff a whole lot, but Prime Engine beat him pretty handily.”
It’s hard to find a chink in the armor on a horse that looked invincible in his only career start. However, the cynics might question any 2-year-old’s ability to parlay a 5 ½-furlong win versus maidens into a victory against winners running 1 1/16 miles. Especially while facing the likes of Trackattacker.
While Puhich respects the competition, he swiftly quelled any doubts about Prime Engine stretching out while wheeling back in two weeks.
“I came from the old school working for a lot of old-time trainers,” Puhich said. “I personally wouldn’t be afraid to run a horse long in its first start if the horse is bred to do it.
“Prime Engine is bred to go two turns and he’s been training like he wants to go two turns,” Puhich said. “The quick turnaround won’t be an issue. He came out of that last race like it was a workout.”
The field, from the rail out, in the 77th Running of the Gottstein Futurity: Prime Engine (s), Isaias Enriquez, 120; Val De Saire; Old Fashioned Grit, Gallyn Mitchell, 120; Bolshoi’s Bluff, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 120; Trackattacker, Leslie Mawing, 120; Private Boss, Javier Matias, 120. (s) $7,500 supplemental nomination
$50,000 NWSS CAHILL ROAD STAKES ON TAP SUNDAY
In addition to the Gottstein Futurity, Emerald Downs offers a second stakes event for 2-year-olds Sunday, the $50,000 Northwest Stallion Series Cahill Road Stakes at six furlongs.
The NWSS Cahill Road is slotted as Race 8, directly ahead of the Gottstein Futurity, and featured a field of seven colts and geldings. The Roy Lumm-trained Moby, second and third to Trackattacker in the WTBOA Lads and DRF Dennis Dodge Stakes, bypasses the Gottstein to run in the Cahill Road.
Carson’s Start is an interesting entrant in at least two regards. By Abraaj-Miss Pixie, Carson’s Start scored an easy two-length victory in his only start vs. state-bred $12,500 maidens, and subsequently was sold privately to Sue and Tim Spooner and transferred to trainer Dan Markle, who lures Leslie Mawing to ride.
Mawing, who has clinched his second EmD riding title with 96 wins, has been especially good in stakes events this season. His 11-3-2 record in 22 stakes mounts is one of the great riding achievements in track history, and he still has a chance to tie Gallyn Litchell’s single-season record of 13 stakes wins set 14 years ago. Back-to-back victories on Carson’s Start and Trackattacker in the Gottsetin Futurity would do the trick.
The field for the NWSS Cahil Road stakes from the rail out: Daytona Beach, David G. Lopez, 120 lbs; Gavinator, Jose Zunino, 118; Eight Ball Parker, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 120; Ididn’taskforthis, Javier Matias, 118; Carson’s Start, Leslie Mawing, 120; Moby, Gallyn Mitchell, 120; Caddy Shack Cat, Natasha Coddington, 120.
JOCKEY ELISKA KUBINOVA WINS 2014 LINDY AWARD,
ALAN BOZELL, DORIS HARWOOD WIN DURKAN AWARD
Jockey Eliska Kubinova and trainers Alan Bozell and Doris Harwood will receive special awards when Emerald Downs completes its 19th season of Thoroughbred racing this weekend.
Kubinova is to receive the Lindy Award, named in honor of the legendary Clerk of Scales Lindy Aliment, while Bozell and Harwood are co-honorees of the Martin Durkan Award, named in honor of the late state senator and longtime proponent for Thoroughbred racing in Washington.
The awards will be presented Saturday and Sunday, as the track honors the season’s top equine and human achievements throughout the 73-day meeting.
Voted by the jockeys, the Lindy Award honors accomplishment and sportsmanship throughout the 2014 meeting, at which the 25-year-old Kubinova has ridden 51 winners worth $519,594 in purse earnings.
A native of Jesenik, Czech Republic, Kubinova is one of only two riders with at least 50 wins in each of the last three seasons at Emerald Downs, including a single-season apprentice mark of 76 wins in 2012. Kubinova recently began a leave of absence from riding after announcing her first child is due this winter.
The Martin Durkan Award, chosen by Director of Racing Bret Anderson and staff, honors trainers that exhibit leadership, cooperation, sportsmanship and excellence on and off the track throughout the 2014 meet.
Harwood has enjoyed another fine season, conditioning Noosito to three stakes wins and probable honors as the meet’s Top 3-Year-Old Male. Originally from Kentucky, Harwood, a former jockey, has blossomed the last two decades at Emerald Downs. Her 65 stakes wins rank No. 1 all-time, including a track record 11 stakes wins by Noosa Beach, older brother of Noosito.
A 61-year-old native of Buckley, Bozell is a popular backstretch figure and has had a career-year in 2014, saddling 18 winners from 91 starters and maintaining a .640 in-the-money percentage. Originally from Tacoma, “Boz” is noted for an affable personality and a tremendous worth ethic, owning and exercising most of the runners in his barn.
Lindy Award
2014*Eliska Kubinova 2013*Connie Doll 2012*Javier Matias
2011*Lance Bullock 2010*Gallyn Mitchell 2009*Jose Zunino
2008*Travis Cunningham 2007*J.C. Estrada 2006*Ricky Frazier
2005*Kevin Krigger 2004*Debbie Hoonan 2003*Scott Saito
2002*Kevin Radke 2001*Jay Conklin 2000*Gary Baze
1999*Dan Brock 1998*David Nuesch 1997*Geoffrey Cooper
1996*Vann Belvoir 1995*Vince Ward 1994*Mike Ardis
1993*Ken Doll 1992*Deborah Hoonan 1991*Gary Baze
1990*Vann Belvoir 1989*Gary Baze 1988*Vicky Aragon
1987*Chad Hoverson 1986*Bryson Cooper 1985*Frank Gonsalves
Martin Durkan Award
2014*Alan Bozell, Doris Harwood 2013*David Martinez, Martin Pimentel
2012*Dan Markle 2011*D. Munger, B. Christian2010*Howard Belvoir
2009*Charles Essex 2008*Roy Lumm 2007*Chris Stenslie
2006*Steve Koler 2005*Robbie Baze 2004*H.R. Pat Mullens
2003*Rick Terry 2002*Debbie Van Horne 2001*H.R. Pat Mullens
2000*Pete Axmaker 1999*Tom Wenzel 1998*Doris Harwood
1997*Tim McCanna 1996*Steve Bullock 1995*Les Merritt
1994*Dennis Ward 1993*Roy Lumm 1992*T. Burlingame, F. Lucarelli
1991*M. Chambers, T. McCanna 1990*Marion L. Smith 1989*Bill Tollett
1988*Mike McCann 1987*Junior Coffey 1986*Claude Gibson
1985*Bob McMeans 1984*Larry Ross 1983*A. D. Hoksbergen
1982*Kay Vaughan 1981*Hump Roberts 1980*Ben Harris
1979*Kathy Walsh 1978*Clint Roberts 1977*Martin Kenney
ALFONSO VELADOR NAMED EXERCISE RIDER OF YEAR
Congratulations to Alfonso Velador of the Tim McCanna stable for being selected Emerald Downs Exercise Rider of the Year for 2014.
The 48-year-old Velador is completing his 14th season with the track’s all-time leading trainer, for whom he exercises some 10 horses daily.
Donny Smith, whose duties as head outrider afford him a close-up view of morning training at Emerald Downs, chooses the award.
“He gets on a lot of tough horses, and he always comes back smiling,” Smith said of Velador.
Velador will be recognized in the Winner’s Circle after Friday’s third race.
NOTES: Weekly Honors #24: Jockey-Ronald Richard (16-5-4-0); Trainer-Roy Lumm (6-2-1-1); Owner-Northwest Farms & Debbie Paxton (1-1-0-0); Groom-Alonzo Mora Salas (Bill Tollett); Washington-bred-Poly Squat (breeders Mr. & Mrs. William T. Griffin). . .Southern Solution earned a whopping 91 Beyer for his 9 ¾-length victory in last week’s $3,500 starter allowance in 1:42.92 for 1 1/16 miles. A 4-year-old Southern Africa gelding, Southern Solution is wheeled back in a $15,000 claiming race Saturday for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The eight-horse field includes recent winners Spot of Salt and Star of the Dia, and triple 2014 winner Songandabullet. . .Dare Me Devil earned an 89 Beyer, one point off his career best, for his 2 ¼-length victory over Fist Full of Green at 6 ½ furlongs last weekend. Dare Me Devil is 4-1-0 in his last five starts, compiling four wins at 6 ½ furlongs and a runner-up effort at 1 1/16 miles in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. . .Blueberry Smoothie isn’t retired after all! She’ll have one more race for trainer Tom Wenzel, competing against Chu and You, Hetty, Finding More, Timeless Pleasure and I Thought So in Sunday’s 10th race for $21,000 allowance/optional claimers at 6 ½ furlongs. . .As for Stopshoppingdebbie, Wenzel said the unbeaten 4-year-old filly probably will work next week at Santa Anita in preparation for the $100,000 L A Woman on Saturday, October 4. Nominations for the Grade 3 at 6 ½ furlongs close today. . .Longacres Mile winner Stryker Phd is scheduled to work Sunday and ship to Golden Gate Fields Tuesday, assistant trainer Sharon Ross said. A possible next start would be a one-mile overnight stakes on dirt at Santa Anita in late October. . .Friday’s third race has a Seahawk theme, with Twelfth Fan the 3-to-1 second choice and first-time starter Shehawk 8-to-1 in the seven-horse field. . .Heading into closing weekend, R.E.V. Racing leads in owners’ earnings with $170,578, and could up the total with Trackattacker in the Gottstein Futurity. . .In total wins, Saratoga West owns a 19-10 lead over both Homestretch Farms and Ron Crockett Inc. . .In 2014 earnings by Washington-breds, Longacres Mile winner Stryker Phd ranks No. 1 with $165,000, with Noosito second with $105,525. . .2008 Gottstein Futurity winner Gallant Son is 6-to-1 in Friday’s opening day feature at Santa Anita, the $100,000 Eddie D (G3) at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Tyler Baze has the mount for trainer Frank Lucarelli. . .Oldtimers Vision, fifth in last month’s Emerald Downs Derby, is 12-to-1 in Saturday’s $50,000 Asparagus Stakes at Stockton. Owned by Neil Knapp, Oldtimers Vision will race under trainer Jeff Metz at Stockton. . .Speaking of Metz, the 47-year-old conditioner has all but locked up a second straight Emerald Downs title. Metz enters closing weekend with a 48-41 lead over Lucarelli, who would need wins from all seven horses entered the final three days just to gain a tie. And even that would assume Metz goes winless with his eight runners the final three days. Translation, put a ring around Metz. . .Sunday’s 11-race card begins with the meet’s final Quarter Horse event, a 400-yard allowance race for 3-year-olds and up. Sissis Little Nipper and Mr Speedygonzalez, both double winners at the meet, head the field of six horses. Leonel Camacho-Flores, currently tied with Luis Flores-Gonzalez for most QH wins at the meet with four each, rides Sissis Little Nipper. Juan Sanguino already has clinched his second straight QH training title with four wins. . .Dontmesswithkitten, ninth in the Longacres Mile, is entered Sunday at Hastings Racecourse in a $18,000 allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles. . .With a win in Sunday’sseventh race, Marvin’s Magic would become the meet’s only six-time winner. The 6-year-old gelding enters closing weekend tied with He’s a Cruiser and Poly Squat for most wins at five apiece.
