The last two Longacres Mile winners—Stryker Phd and Herbie D—head a list of 14 older horses nominated to the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap on Sunday, July 19.
The Mt. Rainier, final prep for the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3), is one of three stakes scheduled next weekend at Emerald Downs. On Saturday, Belle Hill aims for another victory in the $50,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies, the final tune-up for the $65,000 Washington Oaks on Saturday, August 8.
Stryker Phd has been unbeatable the last two seasons at Emerald Downs, winning five straight stakes races with his patented stretch rallies. In his 2015 debut last month, the 6-year-old gelding rallied from last to edge Noosito by a neck in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. Trained by Larry Ross, Stryker Phd is the defending Mt. Rainier champion and could become the first two-time Longacres Mile winner at Emerald Downs.
Herbie D has been plagued with injuries since winning the 2013 Longacres Mile, but the speedy 7-year-old Canadian gelding led gate-to-wire in a six-furlong allowance race here July 4. Herbie D is 3-for-3 at Emerald Downs and 4-for-5 at 1 1/16 miles.
Belle Hill, also conditioned by Ross, struck gold in the Irish Day Handicap last month, drawing clear for a four-length victory over Seeking the Light. Belle Hill figures to relish the added sixteenth of a mile in the Kent Handicap.
A third stakes is the $50,000 Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts & geldings. The six-furlong Emerald Express is half of a stakes doubleheader with the Mt. Rainier Handicap.
$50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap, Sunday, July 19
3-Years-Old & Up, 1 1/16 Mile
Horse. . . . .Owner. . . . .Trainer
Absolutely Cool (8-WA) Karl Krieg Tom Wenzel
Del Rio Harbor (4-WA) Desert Rose Racing & Bar C Racing Marshall Allen
Grinder Sparksaglo (4-WA) Les Lynd & Richard Sena Robbie Baze
Herbie D (7-BC) George Robbins & Darcia Doman Robert Gilker
Mebossman (4-WA) Dedomenico & North American Tbred Mike Puhich
Mike Man’s Gold (4-WA) Swag Stables & Gallo Stables David Martinez
Mr. Bowling (6-KY) Dedomenico & North American Tbred Mike Puhich
Noosito (4-WA) Last Rose Stable Doris Harwood
Prohibition (5-NY) Dedomenico & North American Tbred Mike Puhich
Remembertobreathe (4-FLA) David Gregory Robbie Baze
Scat Daddybaby (5-KY) Mike & Amy Feuerborn Robbie Baze
Solemnnly Swear (4-KY) Dedomenico & N American Tbred M Puhich
Southern Freedom (4-KY) Dang, Dedomenico, Todaro J Hollendorfer
Stryker Phd (6-WA) Jim & Mona Hour Larry Ross
$50,000 Kent Handicap, Saturday, July 18
3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Mile
Horse. . . . .Owner. . . . .Trainer
Belle Hill (3-KY) Aithon Stable LLC Larry Ross
Citizen Kitty (3-WA) Highlander Racing Stable LLC Jeff Metz
Ethan’s Baby (3-WA) Todd & Shawn Hansen Howard Belvoir
Herculette (3-KY) Herculette Syndicate Tom Wenzel
Perhaps a Pie (3-FLA) One Horse Will Do, Brewer & Stenslie C Stenslie
Pippa Bou Peep (3-WA) Essex & Dave & The Little Lady Stable C Essex
Rastanora (3-KY) Paymaster Racing Mike Puhich
Seeking the Light (3-KY) John & Janene Maryanski Blaine Wright
Suva Harbor (3-KY) Gary Barber Mike Puhich
Wickedizaswickeduz (3-WA) 2-6-10 Stable Larry Ross
