Title defender Slew's Tiz Whiz appears the horse to beat when Emerald Downs presents the 88th renewal of the $150,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday, Aug. 13.
Seventeen horses, including two 3-year-olds, are nominated to the region's most famous race, which anchors a Championship Sunday quadruple-header also featuring the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $50,000 Washington Oaks.
Slew's Tiz Whiz bids to become only the fifth two-time Mile winner and join Stryker Phd (2014-15) as double winners at Emerald Downs. Trained by Tom Wenzel, the stretch running 5-year-old just won his second straight Governor's Stakes, and has racked up four wins, two seconds, and a third in his last seven starts. A Washington-bred by Slew's Tiznow, Slew's Tiz Whiz is 2 for 2 lifetime at the mile distance.
Last year, Slew's Tiz Whiz exploded in the final furlong to collar Papa's Golden Boy and win going away in 1:34.46. With Papa's Golden Boy finishing second, it marked the first Washington-bred exacta in a Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.
Five Star General, scheduled to be ridden by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez, is one of only two horses to finish top three in three straight Miles—2nd in 2020, 3rd in 2021, 3rd in 2022. A well-traveled 7-year-old with starts at 14 different tracks, Five Star General is razor sharp this year with a win and two seconds from three starts including a front-running score in the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile. Trainer Grant Forster authored the biggest upset in Mile history with 60-1 No Giveaway in 2005.
Trainer Blaine Wright nominated Top Executive, fourth-place finisher last year as the 3 to 1 betting favorite, along with 3-year-olds Abeliefinthislivin and Prince Abu Dhabi, the latter two also nominated to the Muckleshoot Derby. Winner of the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields, Prince Abu Dhabi has a 4-0-2 record in six starts with earnings of $139,200. Wright has been a key figure in recent Miles, compiling a win, three seconds and two thirds in the last five runnings.
Owner John Parker won in 2017 with Gold Rush Dancer and recently claimed Dirt Road Red for this year's race. A 6-year-old gelding, Dirt Road Red has reeled off five straight wins this season at Emerald Downs but jumps way up in class Sunday.
Justin Evans nominated $706,700 earner Zestful, a stretch-running 8-year-old that finished third in the Governor's Stakes and figures to improve around two turns.
Katonah and Il Bellator, first and third in the $150,000 Pleasanton Mile, were nominated by trainers Doug O'Neil and Jose Bautista, respectively.
Others include million-dollar earner Restrainedvengence, a close third in the 2019 Mile, Seattle Bold, claimed for $40,000 out of his gate to wire victory last week at Sacramento, and You're the Cause, last year's Top 3-Year-Old at Emerald Downs and 56 to 1 victor of the 2022 Muckleshoot Derby.
Emerald Downs again offers a special Championship Sunday all stakes $0.50 Pick Four. Last year's Pick 4 produced a record $67,847.05 payout to two winning tickets, following victories by Zippin Sevenz ($49), Tiz a Macho Girl ($45), You're the Cause ($115.60), and Slew's Tiz Whiz ($8.80).
Entries for all four Championship Sunday stakes will be drawn Wednesday morning.
$150,000 Longacres Mile, Sunday, August 13, 2023
Horse. . . . . . . . .Owner. . . . . . . .Trainer
Abeliefinthislivin (3c/KY) Peter Redekop BC Ltd. Blaine Wright
A Man's Man (7g/CA) Remmah racing Inc. Jorge Rosales
Arma d'Oro (5g/KY) A MacLennan, L Strandley, Estate of G Kelly Dan Markle
Dirt Road Red (6g/KY) John Parker Candi Cryderman
Exclusive Speaker (6g/KY) Michael Radovich Jorge Rosales
Five Star General (7h/KY) Elttaes Stable Grant Forster
Gold Crusher (6g/WA) Josh Dieringer and Frank Ortiz Justin Evans
Harmon (7g/KY) Michael Bean and Donna Perrone Monty Meier
Il Bellator (4g/KY) Theresa & Edward DeNike Jose Bautista
Katonah (4g/KY) R3 Racing LLC Doug O'Neill
Prince Abu Dhabi (3g/KY) Lance Kinross and Steve Kinross Blaine Wright
Restrainedvengence (8g/KY) Kelly Brinkerhoff and Bob Grayson Jr. Val Brinkerhoff
Seattle Bold (5h/CA) Peerenboom Racing Stables Dan Markle
Slew's Tiz Whiz (5g/WA) Slew's Crew Racing Tom Wenzel
Top Executive (5g/KY) John & Janene Maryanski & Riverbend Stable Blaine Wright
You're the Cause (4g/KY) WilWin Stable Debbie Van Horne
Zestful (8g/KY) Stable H.M.A. Justin Evans
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