Ten older horses led by defending champion Slew's Tiz Whiz square off in Sunday's 88th running of the $150,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash.
The Mile goes as race 8 on a 10-race card with first post 2 p.m. PT.
Slew's Tiz Whiz drew the No. 9 post and was made 9-5 morning line favorite as he bids to become only the fifth two-time Mile winner and just the second at Emerald Downs.
Elttaes Stable's Five Star General is 2-1 on the morning line with California invader Il Bellator, owned by Theresa and Edward DeNike of Kent, third at 6-1.
Trained by Tom Wenzel, owned by Slew's Crew Racing and ridden by Jose Zunino, Slew's Tiz Whiz can join Amble In (1946, 1948), Trooper Seven (1980-1981), Simply Majestic (1988-1989), and Stryker Phd (2014-2015) as repeat winners of Washington's most historic race. The lone Washington-bred in this year's lineup, Slew's Tiz Whiz rallied from eight lengths back to prevail by 2 ¾ lengths last year, surging past Papa's Golden Boy late and stopping the teletimer in 1:34.46.
The 5-year-old bay gelding is 1-1-0 from two starts in 2023, including a sparkling score in the 6 ½-furlong Governor's Stakes three weeks ago. Slew's Tiz Whiz life mark is 7-3-2 from 17 starts with earnings of $222,857.
Five Star General also can make Mile history. The well-traveled 7-year-old could become the first horse to finish in the money in four straight Miles, having finished second in 2020 and third in 2021 and 2022. This year's race marks his fourth different trainer in the Mile, with Grant Forster succeeding Doris Harwood, who took over from Sandi Gann, who succeeded the late Glen Todd.
Purchased by Ken Alhadeff from the Glen Todd dispersal, Five Star General has improved with age and changed to a front-running style that netted a win and two seconds this year at Fair Grounds, Evangeline Downs, and Horseshoe Indianapolis. Five Star General is 9 for 29 lifetime with earnings of $520,269, but 0-2-3 in seven starts at Emerald Downs.
Joe Bravo, winner of over 5,600 races and nearly $200,000 million in purses, makes his first Emerald Downs appearance to ride Five Star General.
Il Bellator is a wildcard. Trained by Jose Bautista, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Shackleford has a sparkling resume this year on turf—finishing fourth beaten 2 ½ lengths at 68-1 in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile and third beaten a half-length at 56-1 in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. Il Bellator also captured the 2022 California Derby on synthetic, but is winless in two starts on dirt, most recently finishing a distant third in the Pleasanton Mile.
Seattle Bold steps up in class following consecutive dirt route wins at Pleasanton and Sacramento and was claimed for $40,000 from the latter by trainer Dan Markle and owner Craig Peerenboom. A 5-year-old California-bred, Seattle Bold figures to add to Sunday's early pace.
The top earner and graybeard in this year's field is Zestful, an 8-year-old Ghostzapper gelding stretching out after a fourth and third in the Budweiser Stakes and Governor's Stakes. Earner of $706,780 in a 55-race career, Zestful is trained by Justin Evans, currently the meet leader with 36 wins through Sunday.
Trainer Blaine Wright has been in the thick of the Longacres Mile the last five years, compiling a win and three seconds, and saddles Top Executive this year. The 2021 Emerald Downs' Horse of the Meeting, Top Executive tuned up with a 6 ½-furlong allowance win July 23 and is 6 for 11 lifetime at Emerald Downs.
A Man's Man, owned by 102-year-old Howard Hammer, tries to regain the form that saw the California-bred son of Mucho Macho Man win 7 of 13 starts and $169,984 in 2022. Arma d'Oro tries two turns and moves up to stakes company following three good allowance sprints. Exclusive Speaker raced in a $6,250 claimer as recently as May but has fared well in routes including a track record of 1:38.20 for 1 mile & 70 yards.
You're the Cause authored one of the biggest upsets in track history in the 2022 Muckleshoot Derby, rallying from last for a $115.60 stunner. Javier Matias, winner of the 2018 Mile on Barkley, has the mount for trainer Debbie Van Horne.
Entries were also drawn for the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $50,000 Washington Oaks. Emerald Downs offers a special Championship Sunday all stakes $0.50 Pick 4 on races 5-8; last year's produced a mammoth $67,847.05 payout with victories by Zippin Sevenz ($49), Tiz a Macho Girl ($45), You're the Cause ($115.60), and Slew's Tiz Whiz ($8.80).
$150,000 Longacres Mile (Race 8, 5:45 p.m.)
1: A Man's Man, Alex Cruz, 118 lbs., 20/1
2: Arma d'Oro, Alexander Chavez, 118, 20/1
3: Zestful, Alexis Valdes, 124, 12/1
4: You're the Cause, Javier Matias, 118, 30/1
5: Seattle Bold, Rocco Bowen, 118, 8/1
6: Il Bellator, Alejandro Gomez, 118, 6/1
7: Five Star General, Joe Bravo, 124, 2/1
8: Top Executive, Silvio Amador, 118, 15/1
9: Slew's Tiz Whiz, Jose Zunino, 124, 9/5
10: Exclusive Speaker, Kevin Orozco, 118, 20/1
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