Coming off a relatively flat fourth-place effort in the Mt. Rainier Handicap last month, Noosito figures to be a big price Sunday in the $200,000 Longacres Mile Grade 3 at Emerald Downs.

It would be a mistake, however, for handicappers to simply toss out the 4-year-old colt. At 10-to-1 on the morning line, Noosito could prove a bargain in a crowded 12-horse field in which Stryker Phd—bidding for a second straight Mile win—is 9-to-5 on the morning line. Noosito has several factor in his favor:

Beginning with the obvious—he’s a very talented horse, the state and track champion 3-year-old in 2014, and a lifetime mark of 5-2-3 in 12 starts with earnings of $172,153.

His connections, trainer Doris Harwood and jockey Juan Gutierrez, are practically peerless at Emerald Downs. Harwood is the track’s all-time leading stakes trainer and Gutierrez ranks second in wins and third in stakes wins. Moreover, both are previous Mile winners, well aware of the race’s notoriously fast pace and often troublesome traffic problems.

Noosito’s full brother, Noosa Beach, won the 2010 Longacres Mile and generally is considered the finest horse in track history. For her part, Harwood occasionally compares Noosito to his big brother.

Noosito adds blinkers for The Mile, and his camp was extremely pleased with the five-furlong breeze in :59.40 last Sunday with the hood.

Noosito drew the No. 2 post, a fine position for a tactical speedster, and the post has yielded 20 winners from 100 starts in routes this year at Emerald Downs.

Most promising of all, Noosito almost beat Stryker Phd two races back, dropping a neck decision to the champ in the one-mile Budweiser Handicap.

While Harwood would never predict a victory, she feels the additions of Gutierrez and blinkers are positives. The blinkers, she said, could help her horse’s tendency to shy from a right-hand stick, and also make the colt more aggressive early in the race.

“I’m still waiting for the perfect connection between horse and rider,” Harwood said. “I’m hoping Juan Gutierrez will be the best rider for Noosito.”

A Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, comparisons between Noosito and Noosa Beach are inevitable. Harwood had both horses from the beginning of their careers, and said they are similar.

“They both prefer to be near the front,” Harwood said. “They are aggressive horses, but I think Noosa Beach was a little more aggressive than Noosito. Noosito is kind of a mellow colt. They both have a lot of talent with those big, long strides.”

The field for the 80th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3)

 

 

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	WGT	ML
1	Del Rio Harbor	Julien Couton	Marshall Allen	116	30
2	Noosito	Juan Gutierrez	Doris Harwood	116	10
3	Fleet Eagle	Diego Sanchez	Paula Capestro	118	10
4	Taylors Deal	David G. Lopez	Troy Taylor	116	12
5	Majestic City	E. Maldonado	Richard Baltas	118	10
6	Absolutely Cool	Rocco Bowen	Tom Wenzel	118	15
7	Stryker Phd	Leslie Mawing	Larry Ross	123	9/5
8	Alert Bay	Rico Walcott	Blaine Wright	122	4
9	Sammy Mandeville	Alex Solis	Alex Solis	117	9/2
10	Prohibition	Tiago Periera	Vann Belvoir	115	20
11	Solemnly Swear	Joe Steiner	Mike Puhich	115	20
12	Modern	Richard Hamel	D. Condilenios	118	20

 

Longacres Mile notes:

The Southern California contingent of Sammy Mandeville , Majestic City and Prohibition arrived 5 a.m. Thursday morning.

 

 

For the third straight year and the seventh time in 10 years, the Longacres Mile has a full field of 12 horses. Average field is 11.6 runners over the last decade.

The all-time Longacres Mile average field size is 11.0 runners (881 horses, 80 runnings).

Rico Walcott , rider on 4-1 second choice Alert Bay , is the dominant jockey at Northlands Park, riding nearly 30 percent winners with an 80-for-267 mark through Wednesday. A native of Barbados, Walcott is 3-for-3 on Alert Bay, winning the BC Derby and BC Premiers at Hastings Racecourse and the Zia Park Derby in New Mexico.

Muckleshoot Chairman John Daniels will serve as The Mile’s honorary steward.

Sunday’s 10th race, the $25,000 Pete Pedersen Memorial Purse for 3-year-olds and up at one mile, features Scat Daddybaby , Botch , Remembertobreathe ,Westley , Trick Or Retreat and Grinder Sparksaglo . Scat Daddybaby and Botch were entered in the Longacres Mile but, with 14 horses entered for 12 spots, excluded on weights.

 

 

Longacres Mile Facts & Figures

What: 80th Running $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3)

When: Sunday, August 16, 5:35 p.m. (Race 8)

Where: Emerald Downs

TV: Emerald Downs Live on CSN (CSN-179) 2-6 p.m.

Co-Feature: $65,000 Emerald Distaff (Race 7, 4:50 p.m.)

Giveaway Item: American Pharoah T-shirts

First Post: 2 p.m.

 

OUR LITTLE HEN TAKES MOMENTUM TO DISTAFF

 

On paper, Sunday’s $65,000 Emerald Distaff appears to be a one-horse race. After all, Lady Rosberg has won three straight races–all stakes–including a 5 1/2-length romp in last month’s Boeing Handicap.

 

If anything, the Boeing might have been the one time to catch 5-year-old Lady Rosberg napping. It was her first start at Emerald Downs for trainer Tom Wenzel since 2013 and she hadn’t raced in more than three months. Nevertheless, Lady Rosberg earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 93 while beating three of her Distaff rivals in the process.

However, one of those rivals–Our Little Hen–may have had a legitimate excuse. She simply was not right in the Boeing Handicap and lagged double-digit lengths behind the field from the opening bell. Since the Boeing though, Our Little Hen has had a complete form reversal.

Racing for new trainer Doris Harwood under Julien Couton, Roger Hicks’ Our Little Hen cruised to the easiest of one-length victories. And according to Harwood, she’s been a beast in the morning ever since.

“She is so serious about training,” Harwood said. “After her last race, she absolutely drug my exercise rider around the track.”

Aside from a pair of puzzling efforts, Our Little Hen has mostly been a dependable racehorse. In 25 career starts, she’s won 10 races and is six-for-13 on a dirt fast track.

Furthermore, if you take out Lady Rosberg’s career-best number from the Boeing, the speed figures across the board for the two runners is comparable. At the very least, the Harwood camp is enjoying their time with the new arrival.

“In a wonderful way, she’s spoiled,” Harwood said. “I always tease the owners that she used to be a bay horse but now she’s a red horse because they feed her so many carrots.”

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	WT	ML
1	Our Little Hen	Julien Couton	Doris Harwood	117	TBD
2	Sarahline	Leslie Mawing	Jerry Hollendorfer	115	TBD
3	Madame Pele	Juan Gutierrez	Jim Penney	116	TBD
4	Alli Leigh	Javier Matias	Diane Garrison	113	TBD
5	Among the Stars	Joe Steiner	Candi Tollett	114	TBD
6	Lady Rosberg	Gallyn Mitchell	Tom Wenzel	121	TBD

 

SATURDAY STAKES TWINBILL FEATURES WTBOA LADS & BARBARA SHINPOCH

 

Although the Longacres Mile and Emerald Distaff take center stage, those races only represent half of the weekend stakes activity at Emerald Downs.

Saturday’s 10-race card features a pair of stakes for 2-year-olds: $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for colts and geldings and $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes for fillies. Both races are 6 ½ furlongs.

Gold Rush Dancer is the 9-to-5 morning line favorite for the Lads, with Mach One Rules second choice at 5-to-2. A Private Gold colt trained by Bill Tollett and owned by John Parker, Gold Rush Dancer is 1-1-0 in two starts including after a hard-fought half-length loss to Barkley in the Emerald Express last month.

Mach One Rules attempts to become the third straight progeny of Harbor the Gold and fifth in seven years to win the Lads. Trained by Frank Lucarelli and owned by Roy Schaefer, the Washington-bred gelding drew clear for a 3 ¾-length maiden victory in :58.23 for five furlongs. The 65 Beyer is largest of any horse in the eight-horse field and two points higher than Gold Rush Dancer earned in the Emerald Express.

The Barbara Shinpoch is rematch of the top three finishers in last month’s Angie C Stakes—My Heart Goes On, Princess Kennedy and Kiss My Lulu. Unbeaten in two starts for trainer David Martinez and Coal Creek Farm, My Heart Goes On held off a flying Princess Kennedy to prevail by a head in 1:11.25 for six furlongs, with Kiss My Lulu two lengths back in third.

The WTBOA Lads Stakes is Race 8 at 5:22 p.m., and the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes is Race 9 at 5:52 p.m.

The field for the $50,000 WTBOA Lads ,2YO colts & geldings, 6 ½ furlongs: Cross Creek, Francisco Duran, 15-1; Wando Cat, Joe Steiner, 10-1; Noble Nick, Juan Gutierrez, 8-1; Gold Rush Dancer, Julien Couton, 9-5; Huya, Rocco Bowen, 8-1; Mach One Rules, Leslie Mawing, 5-2; Endangered, Gallyn Mitchell, 9-2; Viewingthegold, Javier Matias, 12-1. Winners carry 116 lbs, maidens 114

The field for the $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes , 2YO fillies, 6 ½ furlongs: Princess Kennedy, Gallyn Mitchell, 4-1; Jerre to Carrie, Rocco Bowen, 10-1; Freaky Kiki, Joe Steiner, 8-1; Kiss My Lulu, Javier Matias, 3-1; Cape Grace, Julien Couton, 12-1; Two Pt Conversion, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 20-1; It’s My Knight, Francisco Duran, 12-1; My Heart Goes On, Juan Gutierrez, 5-2; Say It Slow, Leslie Mawing, 9-2. Winners 115 lbs, maidens 113

 

RAILBIRD RALLY ON MILE SUNDAY

To kick off the 80th Running of the Longacres Mile (G3), Emerald Downs will put on its annual Railbird Rally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday in the North Park.

Hosted by Doug “The Goat” Cocke, the track’s pregame party includes beer, brats, interviews with Mile connections and giveaways. At noon, KIRO FM’s Dori Monson will join the Railbird Rally for a handicapping seminar.

Tickets to the Railbird Rally are $5 and include admission to the day’s races. For more information, call Customer Service at (253) 288-7711.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 18: WTBOA Sale

August 21: Fabulous Friday

August 22: Emerald AM/Breakfast at the Wire

August 29: Final Breakfast at the Wire

August 30: Italian Day

September 4: No Racing

September 7: Labor Day Racing

September 14: Washington Cup Day & Beer Festival

 

 

MATCH-UP OF THE WEEK: SCATDADDY BABY & BOTCH

The $25,000 Pete Pedersen Memorial is Sunday’s sub-feature race and matches up a solid six-pack of older horses. The one-mile event spotlights top runners Scatdaddy Baby and Botch in the Media Matchup of the Week!

 

 

Scatdaddy Baby (left) might be the fastest horse pole-to-pole on the grounds. He’s had to roll too fast too early against tougher horses all season but he gets a big class relief in here. His speed can’t be matched with this group and is always a real threat to lead gate-to-wire.

 

Botch (right) has had a banner 5-year-old campaign. In five starts, the gelding has three wins by a combined nine lengths with each win at a different distance. His latest victory, a five-length score at one mile, may have been his most impressive yet. Look for Botch to keep Scatdaddy Baby in his sights and reel him in late!

Also entered: Remembertobreathe, Westley, Trick or Retreat and Grinder Sparksaglo.

 

 

THE PRESS BOX PODCAST IS BACK!

The 45-minute program will showcase every stakes race this season includingSaturday’s 2-year-old stakes double-header (WTBOA Lads & Barbara Shinpoch), Sunday’s Emerald Distaff and the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3). The podcast also features interviews with owner/breeder Karl Krieg who has two homebreds in Sunday’s championship races; Lady Rosberg in the Distaff and Absolutely Cool in The Mile. Trainer Doris Harwood also stopped by for an interview to talk about Our Little Hen in the Distaff and Noosito in The Mile.

Hosted by Jacob Pollowitz (Professor Pollowitz) and Vince Bruun (Mr. Media), The Press Box Podcast usually starts approx. 30 minutes before post time before each stakes and includes horsemen interviews, handicapping, Matt Dinerman’s live race call, the Winner’s Circle interview and a comprehensive look at the race’s history

** However, this week is a special preview edition that will be recorded at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

You can listen to the show live or recorded just by going to the track website at emeralddowns.com or atmixlr.com/emerald-downs.

 

 

FAST TIMES & FIGURES: WEEK 17

 

Friday, August 7

Race 1: Cadenza-59*

Race 2: Lord Calezaar-68

Race 3: Toccet’s Charm-80

Race 4: Pippa Bou Peep-65*

Race 5: Westley-75*

Race 6: Camille-75

Race 7: Remember Benghazi-36

 

Saturday, August 8

Race 1: Just a Rumor (qh)

Race 2: Zim N the Mailman-69*

Race 3: Passion Cat-51*

Race 4 Stuck River-30

Race 5: Nearlycocktailtime-51

Race 6: Vertical Lift-64

Race 7: I’m Shootin High-58**

Race 8: Coach Royal-80

Race 9: Belle Hill-84*

Race 10: Gavinator-56*

 

Sunday, August 9

Race 1: Alexa Alexa-42*

Race 2: Perfect Night-77**

Race 3: Wickedizaswickeduz-66

Race 4: Trinni-37#

Race 5: Touch of Danzig-66

Race 6: Dare Me Devil-76

Race 7: Wanagi-58

Race 8: Prime Engine-83**

Race 9: Kabraaj-73*

Race 10: Silly Streak-49

*career high

**ties career-high

#first-time starter

 

 

2015 Fastest Times

4 1/2 Furlongs :51.25 Kiss My Lulu, June 27

5 Furlongs :56.70 Power Fleet, May 16

5-½ Furlongs 1:02.39 O B Harbor, April 18

6 Furlongs 1:08.33 Dare Me Devil, August 9

6-½ Furlongs 1:14.27 Fleet Eagle, May 17

1 Mile 1:35.26 Toccet’s Charm, August 7

1 1/16 Mile 1:42.79 Betrbegone, July 12

870 Yards :45.85 Grand Move, May 30

 

 

2-MINUTE CLIP: JOCKEY FRANCISCO DURAN

Jockey Francisco Duran rode three winners last week en route to honors as The Gift Horse Jockey of the Week and is this week’s “2-Minute Clip!

 

FINISH LINES: Weekly Honors #17-Jockey- Francisco Duran ; Trainer- Mike Puhich ; Owner- Vince Gibson ; Groom- Ramon Fernandez ; WTBOA Washington-bred- Dare Me Devil ; Exercise Rider- Victor Miranda . . .Gallyn Mitchell , No. 1 all-time with 1,409 wins at Emerald Downs, celebrates his 53rd birthday Saturday.