The older handicap division gets its first two-turn test Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. Defending champion Noosa Beach was assigned a record 125 pounds for the next-to-last steppingstone to the $200,000 Longacres Mile, grade 3, on Sunday Aug. 21.

Both Noosa Beach in 2010 and Assessment in 2009 swept the Budweiser Handicap and Longacres Mile en route to Horse of the Meeting honors. And both geldings, coming off a one-two finish in the May 22 Governor’s Handicap at 6-½ furlongs, are entered in the Budweiser.

With a victory, Noosa Beach would tie the track record of 10 stakes victories set by Handy N Bold from 1999-2003. Over the last two seasons Noosa Beach at Emerald Downs is 8-7-1-0 with earnings of $257,382.

Trainer Doris Harwood, however, said she and husband/owner Jeff Harwood haven’t committed to running Noosa Beach in the Budweiser, adding the July 1 Lt. Governors at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver remains an option.

Wednesday, Noosa Beach worked four furlongs in a bullet :47 1/5 and Harwood was pleased after drawing the No. 4 post-position.

“I like the fact the speed is inside of us, and Noosa Beach can do whatever he needs to do,” she said. “Gallyn (Mitchell) doesn’t know him all that well yet, but that’s one of the things about this horse, he can be wherever he needs to be.”

Noosa Beach ran away and hid in last year’s Budweiser, setting fractions of :23 1/5, :46 1/5 and 1:10 1/5 en route to final time of 1:35 on a sloppy track. Those splits are typical over the 15-year history of the race.

“(Jockey) Ricky Frazier said it best: if they’re in front of (Noosa Beach), they’re going too fast, and if they’re behind him, they’ll never catch him,” Harwood said.

• The Budweiser Handicap is Race 8 at 5:39 p.m.
• KJR Sports Radio 950 AM will broadcast live with Mike Gastineau, track announcer Robert Geller and guests.
• Mike Iammarino, rider on California invader All Saint, has 1,136 career victories riding mainly in Arizona and western Canada. Sunday marks his first appearance at Emerald Downs. All Saint also will be trainer Lou Bradvica’s first starter at Emerald Downs.
• Nationhood in 2008 was the last horse to win the Budweiser on a fast track. Assessment won on a wet-fast surface in 2009 and Noosa Beach won on a sloppy track last year.
• If all eight horses start, average field size will be 9.1 horses thru six stakes in 2011; avg. $2 win payoff is $31.50 thru five stakes.

The field for the 16th running of the Budweiser Handicap: Cat On Base, Javier Matias, 115 lbs.; All Saint, Michael Iammarino, 122; Tequila Gold, Robert Skelly, 116; Noosa Beach, Gallyn Mitchell, 125; Assessment, Juan Gutierrez, 120; Davos, Pedro Terrero, 116; Winning Machine, Leslie Mawing, 118; Saratoga Boot, Joe Crispin, 117.

SPOILER ALERT: SARATOGA BOOT BACK IN FORM

Trainer Tim McCanna, first all-time with 785 wins and 10 training titles at Emerald Downs, said Thursday that 2010 Top 3-Year-Old Saratoga Boot would be a factor in Sunday’s Budweiser Handicap. That could leave handicappers salivating as Saratoga Boot will likely go off at big odds.

Returning from a six-month layoff, Saratoga Boot finished sixth at 35-to-1 in the 6-½-furlong Governor’s Handicap on May 22. The final placing, however, does not tell all. Saratoga Boot hesitated at the start, falling 8-½ lengths back at first call*a :21 4/5 opening fraction. By the second call, the 4-year-old Arkansas-bred had remarkably closed 5-¼ lengths into a :22 split and then continued evenly to the wire. McCanna said he was encouraged by his horse’s effort in the Governor’s and expects a big attempt in the one-mile Budweiser.

“He’s always been a bit of a hard-luck horse,” McCanna said. “I know he’s ready for this race on Sunday. He’s been training really well.”

Part of Saratoga Boot’s conditioning includes three blistering works including a seven-furlong workout in 1:25 3/5 on June 12. The 2010 Emerald Derby winner will break from post No. 8 with veteran rider Joe Crispin aboard.

STALLION HARBOR THE GOLD STAYS BUSY IN 2011

Red-hot sire Harbor the Gold has quickly ascended to prominence as his early foal crops continue to produce outstanding results.

Standing at Pam and Neal Christopherson’s Bar C Racing Stables in Hermiston, Ore., the Northwest’s most intriguing sire tabbed 11 stakes wins last year at Emerald Downs by four different stakes winners including 2010 Horse of the Year Noosa Beach and 2010 Top 3-Year-Old Couldabenthewhisky.

Sunday* coincidentally, Father’s Day*Harbor the Gold foals Noosa Beach, Tequila Gold and Cat On Base will represent three of the eight runners in the Budweiser Handicap. Defending champion Noosa Beach hopes to give the proud papa another Budweiser victory and tie Handy N Bold’s track record for 10 career stakes wins.

Pam Christopherson said the future foal crops look promising.

“He’s been pretty busy,” she said. “We have him booked for 85 mares, and the mares are much better this year.”

First-time broodmares Clair Annette and Gadget Queen, both multiple stakes winners at Emerald Downs, were bred to Harbor the Gold this spring. Pam Christopherson confirmed that Clair Annette was in foal and that an update on Gadget Queen should come within the week. Christopherson also said that along with approx.10 other Harbor the Gold yearlings, that Noosa Beach’s full brother (out of Julia Rose) would be in the WTBOA Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale on Sept. 6

Since entering stud in 2005, Harbor the Gold’s progeny earnings have amassed more than $1,300,000 with 35 winners from 49 starters. The stallion’s stud fee is currently $4,500*up $1,000 from last year.

NOTES: Week 9 Honors*Jockey-Leonel Camacho-Flores (9-3-1-2); Trainer-Vann Belvoir (14-3-4-2); Owner-Sue & Tim Spooner (5-2-1-0); Groom-Cesar Guillen Sanchez (Vince Gibson)*.

Summers Peace earned an 82 Beyer for her 3-¼ length victory Sunday in the Washington State Legislators Stakes. By comparison No Flies On Doodle got a 78 for her victory in the 2010 running.

Dre’s K earned the biggest Beyer of the week, getting an 83 for his 11-¼ length triumph in Saturday’s featured NW2L for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

First-time starter Goldledue earned a 71 for his 13-¼ length romp in a maiden $7,500 claimer Friday.

Trainer Blaine Wright announced the retirement of the popular 10-year-old Washington-bred Skyrider, a winner of 13 races and $145,654 at Emerald Downs. The gelding’s final race was a fifth on Sunday, June 5.

West Seattle Boy, the track’s all-time leader with 18 wins, will face nine others at one mile in Sunday’s fourth race.

Owner Heidi Nelson said 4-year-old gelding Avram has been retired, but added promising 2-year-old D’honorable One will be shipped up from Golden Gate Fields. The $92,000 D’wildcat colt finished third in a $28,000 maiden special weight on June 10.

Washington-bred Special Holiday and Portland Meadows Oaks winner Alec’s Moon are both entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Stockton.

Double-stakes winner Carrabelle Harbor is entered in Sunday’s sub-feature, a $32,000 allowance optional claiming race for 3-year-old fillies. The Washington-bred filly, second in the Seattle Handicap on May 29, is eligible to be claimed for the first time in her career.

Top trainers Tim McCanna and Vann Belvoir each entered one horse on Saturday’s card at Hollywood Park. Belvoir will send Macho Dorado in the first race, a $25,000 allowance optional claiming race restricted to Cal-breds. Renowned jockey Joel Rosario, second in the jockey standings with 36 wins, will ride Ivanho, who is scheduled to face a 10-horse field in the ninth and final race, a maiden special weight at 1-1/16 miles*Shezahawk, winner of a May 30 Quarter horse race at Emerald Downs, competes Saturday in the $3,900 Mail Tribune at 350 yards on opening day of the 34th year of racing at Grants Pass.