WA-Breds show plenty of talent in Bud Handicap | Emerald Downs
Published 12:55 pm Friday, June 19, 2015
In case it escaped notice, Sunday’s $50,000 Budweiser Handicap was a showcase of the highest order for Washington-bred talent.
The top three finishers—Stryker Phd, Noosito and Absolutely Cool—are all WA-bred, and the trio couldn’t have picked a better time to strut their stuff.
The Budweiser Handicap, after all, is part of the track’s glamour division—older handicap horses—and an important prep for the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, August 16.
Before Sunday, Washington-breds were pitching a shutout in stakes at the meeting—0-for-5—as Kentucky-breds Fleet Eagle, Fooled Again and Kikisoblu (twice) all scored stakes wins, as did California-bred Deb’s Wildcard.
Stryker Phd bucked the trend, scoring a hard-earned neck victory over Noosito, running one mile in 1:35.57, with Absolutely Cool 2 ½ lengths back in third. Stryker Phd, Noosito and Absolutely Cool earned Beyers of 97, 97 and 92—the three largest figures of the 25-day-old meeting.
Incidentally, Stryker Phd (6yo), Noosito (4yo), and Absolutely Cool (8yo) are all Washington champions, and their combined record is 19-16-18 in 66 starts and earnings of $801,072. Stryker Phd is defending Horse of the Meeting and defending Longacres Mile champ, and now has five straight wins at Emerald Downs.
