Mile Preview Day became a showcase of speed as Washington-breds Noosa Beach and Clair Annette powered to front-running victories in the final tune-ups for the track’s biggest events.

Noosa Beach left no doubt that he is the top local hope for the $250,000 Longacres Mile Grade 3 Aug. 22 with an awesome 4 ½ -length victory in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap. The 7-year-old Clair Annette continued to disrespect her younger foes with a 1 ¼-length triumph in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap for fillies and mares. The Boeing was the final prep for the $75,000 Emerald Distaff at 1 1/8 miles, also on Aug. 22.

With regular rider Ricky Frazier aboard at high weight of 121 pounds, Noosa Beach ran 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48 seconds and paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.80. Doris Harwood is the trainer for owner/husband Jeff Harwood of Kent, Wash.

In winning his third stakes of the meeting, Noosa Beach stamped himself as a top contender for the 75th Mile (nominations close Aug. 8), and the 4-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding can follow the lead of Assessment (2009), The Great Face (2007) and Flamethrowintexan (2006), who all scored Longacres Mile triumphs following victories in the Mt. Rainier.

After turning back Gallon into the lane, Noosa Beach drew off with authority while turning the tables on Assessment, the defending Mile champion who had handed Noosa Beach his only 2010 defeat in the July 11 Governor’s Handicap.

“The most important thing was to make sure I had enough horse when Assessment made his run,” Frazier said. “I wasn’t worried about Noosa Beach’s fitness level. I was pretty sure Gallon would be close to the front end, and it didn’t bother me at all.

“I’ve ridden Gallon before; he’s a strong horse,” Frazier added. “I wasn’t really surprised that Assessment wasn’t there at the end. I was just happy he wasn’t there. Noosa Beach is just a classy horse. What more can you say? He just makes my job a whole lot easier.”

Canadian shipper Senor Rojo, ridden by Miguel Perez at 117 lbs, rallied inside for second place and paid $7.80 and $3.80. It was a neck back to Rooster City, ridden by Kevin Krigger at 117 lbs, and a $5.20 show payoff.

Gallon, a head in front of Noosa Beach after a half-mile in 47 1/5, weakened to finish fourth, followed by Wasserman, Assessment and Dixie Meister.

Assessment, the 11-to-10 betting favorite, moved into third place on the last turn, but weakened in the stretch.

“I didn’t think the leaders were going very fast. I felt like we were in the perfect position,” Mitchell said. “I had a little hold on him early, and I don’t think he liked it. I know he didn’t get tired, because he galloped out really strong.

“He towed me right up to the leaders, and when I asked him, he just wouldn’t give me anything. I might have upset him when I held him back. The (Longacres Mile) is when it really matters, and I know he’ll be ready to go.”

Noosa Beach is 8-3-2 in 14 starts overall with earnings of $244,340.

In the Boeing, Clair Annette rolled to her second straight stakes win and her fourth in the last two years by 1 ¼-lengths over Gadget Queen. The 7-year-old Washington-bred mare simply refused to yield the lead and has now won nine of 15 career starts at Emerald Downs for trainer Connie Bouslaugh and owner Nina Egbert of Enumclaw, Wash.

Ridden by Krigger at high weight of 122 pounds, Clair Annette 1 1/16 mile in 1:43 2/5 and paid $7.60, $4.40 and $3.20. Gadget Queen, Frazier riding at 119 lbs, took her best shot in the stretch, but couldn’t go by the winner and settled for second place. The runner-up paid $4 and $3. It was a neck back to Barbara’s Love, a 20-to-1 long shot ridden by Mitchell at 116 lbs, and a $4.80 show payoff. Kimmyv, the 2.60-to-1 betting favorite, finished fourth, followed by Pretty Katherine and Cliff’s Secret.

Barbara’s Love wrestled the lead from Clair Annette on the backstretch, setting fractions of: 23 3/5, :46 3/ and 1:10 3/5. But Clair Annette assumed control at the quarter-pole, kicked two lengths clear into the stretch and showed her resilience late while turning aside Gadget Queen for the money.

Voted Top Claimer in 2008, Clair Annette has 10-1-3 record in 20 starts overall with earnings of $173,883. The daughter of Beau Genius-Windsong Maria earned $27,500 for Sunday’s victory.

“I gallop this mare everyday, and my goal is to get her to relax,” Krigger said. “I told Connie (Bouslaugh), if she goes 23 seconds in the first quarter, start jumping up and down and counting the (money). I counted 23 seconds in my head, so it didn’t bother me that (Barbara’s Love) took the lead. I never doubted Clair Annette’s routing ability. She is just a pleasure to ride.”

News and Notes

Frazier leads jockeys in both 2010 stakes wins with six and all-time stakes wins with 68…Ditto for Harwood, who has five stakes wins in 2010 and 45 overall…Noosa Beach is the first triple stakes winner at the meet and only the 10th horse in track history with six stakes win…Noosa Beach and ninth-race winner Runaway Speed joined Polish Dollar and Bijou Barrister as four-time winners at the meet…Fourth race winner Roxy Skylar and jockey Pedro Terrero were disqualified and placed fifth for causing interference in the stretch run. Seattle Game ($10) and Juan Gutierrez were promoted to first place…Jockey Anne Von Rosen and trainer Mike Chambers combined for another winner as Cadet Blue ($3.40) prevailed in the seventh race. It was the third straight day Von Rosen and Chambers teamed for a victory…Live racing resumes Thursday with first post at 6 p.m. Emerald Downs is open for simulcast wagering every Wednesday-Sunday.