The 3-year-old division for colts and geldings has been arguably the most competitive group of horses this season at Emerald Downs. Heading into Sunday’s $75,000 Emerald Derby, the championship event, it is nearly impossible to find a clear selection in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Newfound Man made his case to be in the discussion for Top 3-Year-Old honors when he captured last month’s Seattle Slew Handicap with a wire-to-wire victory over betting-favorite Posse Power. The Newfoundland gelding is lightly raced but has been force in each of his three starts this season. Trainer Blaine Wright said his Newfound Man still has some catching up to do, but is doing well leading up to Sunday’s race.
“He’s still behind the eight-ball a little bit, because he doesn’t have as many races as some of the other horses, but he’s doing really good,” Wright said.
Auburn Handicap winner Posse Power hopes to avenge two heart-breaking losses earlier this season with a score in Sunday’s event. The Posse colt missed a second consecutive stakes win after Koala Beach re-rallied for a nose victory. Entering the Seattle Slew, Posse Power again appeared the horse to beat. The Kentucky-bred gained ground, but it wasn’t enough to out-finish Newfound Man. Posse Power could be the favorite, since he is the only entrant with experience at nine furlongs.
Koala Beach, who returned from a two-month layoff to score an impressive victory in the Pepsi-Cola, will need to bounce back after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Seattle Slew.
California shippers Majestic Peak and Slew the Man will be tough to deny as they make their first local start. Lone Star Park’s leading rider Chris Landeros, who entered the week with 101 wins, will ride Majestic Peak for trainer Vann Belvoir. The Pico Central gelding scored his only career victory on a dirt track, but has yet to race around two turns.
Trainer Mike Chambers will saddle Slew the Man, who finished third against older horses in last month’s Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton. Formerly trained by Jeff Bonde, Slew the Man is a Washington-bred by Slewdledo purchased for $47,000 in the 2008 Washington September yearling sale.
The field for the 73rd running of the Emerald Derby all carry 122 lbs: Clear to Canada, Miguel Perez; Slew the Man, Anne Von Rosen; Koala Beach, Frazier; Ain, Gallyn Mitchell; Majestic Peak, Landeros; Newfound Man, Inoel Beato; Mr. Mad Max, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo; Posse Power, Francisco Duran; Saratoga Boot, Kevin Krigger.
Rewritten and Sis’s Sis in Washington Oaks
Rewritten and Sis’s Sis will have to contend with Hastings Racecourse shipper Otero and seven other 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $75,000 Washington Oaks at 1-1/8 miles.
Rewritten has shown tremendous potential dating back to her 2-year-old campaign. Added distance and a new jockey appear to be the winning recipe, as Rewritten scored a 4 ½-length victory in a maiden special weight at 6 ½ furlongs on June 20. The Kentucky-bred upped the ante even further when she went off at 8-1 and beat Sis’s Sis by 1-½ lengths in last month’s Washington’s Lottery Handicap 1-1/16 miles. Her $18.40 mutuel is the largest in the 18 stakes run this season.
Prepped for a rematch, Sis’s Sis appears to be on edge for the Jim Penney-barn after posting a bullet :58 workout going five furlongs earlier this week. The daughter of Cahill Road has had a superb start this season with three straight wins, including the Irish Day Handicap at 1-1/16 miles on June 16.
The local representatives must beware of multiple-stakes winner Otero, who has yet to finish off the board in her six-race career. Otero’s most notable triumph came when she snagged her second career stakes victory in the Emerald Downs Stakes at Hastings on May 24. The Kentucky-bred by Honour and Glory recently finished third against older horses in last month’s Strawberry Morn Handicap at Hastings.
The field for the 31st running of the Washington Oaks all carry 120 pounds: Runaway Speed, Gallyn Mitchell; Soul Custody, Kevin Krigger; My Untamed Heart; Sky Tribute, Pedro Terrero; Rewritten, Francisco Duran; Zenovit, Ricky Frazier; Sis’s Sis, Juan Gutierrez; Lilly’s a Jewel, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo; Otero, Frank Fuentes; Private Fortune, Troy Stillwell.
News and Notes
Week 18 honors: Jockey-Miguel Perez (3 wins); Trainer-Terry Gillihan (2 wins); Owner-Crystal Ridge Farm (2 wins); Groom-Oscar Garcia (Bonnie Jenne)*Apprentice Pedro Terrero has appealed his two-day suspension originally scheduled to be served Saturday & Sunday (Aug. 14-15), and will ride this weekend. The appeal will be heard Sept. 17 at the Washington Horse Racing Commission meeting*Blaine Wright-trainee Salty Le Mousse will face an eight others Friday at Hastings Racecourse in a $50,000 allowance optional claimer* Gallant Son has arrived from Del Mar in advance of the Longacres Mile, trainer Frank Lucarelli said. Lucarelli also plans to enter Winning Machine in the Longacres Mile. Given a brief respite after a seventh place finish in the July 11 Governor’s Handicap, Winning Machine breezed four furlongs in :48 Sunday*Defending Longacres Mile champion Assessment breezed four furlongs in :48 4/5 Monday*Also Monday, Mile nominee Jersey Town worked six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 for trainer Tim McCanna*Alex Solis will ride Burj Dubai if the lightly-raced Distorted Humor 4-year-old makes it into the Longacres Mile, agent Brian Beach said. The Mile is limited to 12 starters, with weights released Saturday.
