Top Executive Completes Sweep Of Emerald Downs’ Sophomore Stakes

Top Executive outfought Coastal Kid in an epic stretch duel and notched a head victory Sunday in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Kevin Orozco at 123 lbs., Top Executive ran a mile and one-sixteenth in 1:42.25 and paid $5.80 as the betting favorite. With the victory, Top Executive completed a season sweep of the 3-year-old colts and geldings division at Emerald Downs, winning in order the Auburn Stakes at six furlongs, Irish Day Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs and Muckleshoot Derby at eight and a half furlongs.

A Kentucky-bred by Street Boss, Top Executive earned $27,500 to boost his career bankroll to $115,198. His overall record is 5-0-0 in eight starts including four stakes victories at Emerald Downs. Blaine Wright, now tied with Bud Klokstad for fourth all-time with 46 stakes wins at Emerald Downs, is the winning trainer.

Top Executive stalked Coastal Kid through fractions of :22.50, :45.58 and 1:09.53, swept to the lead into the lane and was fully extended to hold Coastal Kid at bay.

“(Top Executive) wanted to get to the lead and I had to kind of strangle him early,” Orozco said. “He was pulling me forward and I just let him go. It was a tough race, the other horse kept battling too.”

Coastal Kid, the 3 to 1 third choice ridden by Wayne Barnett at 123 lbs., did everything but win the race. Despite setting fast early fractions the son of Coast Guard was resilient through the lane, battling head and head with Top Executive every inch of the stretch run before settling for second.

Slew's Tiz Whiz, a 13 to 1 longshot ridden by Jose Zunino at 123 lbs., rallied late for third place, 1 ½ lengths behind Coastal Kid.

House of Lords finished fourth, followed by 5 to 2 second choice Bobby Brinkley, Naval Escort, Falsely Accused, Nationheart, Ididntseethatcomin and Kowboykabin.

John Loftus of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe presented the winning trophy to the owners in the winner's circle.

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Canadian shipper Bayakoas Image powered to the lead into the stretch and drew off for a 5 ¾-length victory in the $50,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Alexander Marti at 121 lbs. Bayakoas Image covered the mile and one-sixteenth in 1:42.74 and paid $7.80 as the second choice in the wagering. Kay Cooper handled saddling chores at Emerald Downs for owners Brian O'Connell and Joanne Todd of Vancouver, British Columbia.

The winner stalked Curious Sensation through six furlongs in 1:11.99, took command a quarter mile from home and drew off to win with complete authority.

“When I asked her at the quarter-pole, she flew home,” Marti said. “She's such a good filly.”

A British Columbia-bred by Lent, Bayakoas Image won three of four starts this summer at Hastings Racecourse including a recent allowance victory at Sunday's Oaks distance. Her overall record is 4-2-0 from seven starts with earnings of $71,994 including $27,500 for Sunday's triumph.

Broad Approval, the 2 to 1 favorite ridden by Leslie Mawing at 121 lbs., rallied from eighth to take second place for trainer Sandi Gann and owner Glen Todd. A Daughter of Carpe Diem, Broad Approval finished runner-up to Bayakoas Image twice this summer at Hastings and most recently second to Blazingbellablu in the Kent Stakes at Emerald Downs.

Ms Lynn, a 16 to 1 outsider ridden by Julien Couton at 121 lbs, edged Blazingbellablu for third place.

Blazingbellablu, co-second choice at 5 to 2, had her three-race winning streak snapped while settling for fourth. Rounding out the order of finish were Our Lyla Grace, Curious Sensation and Stellaczar (dead heat for seventh), La Una, Aquinas, and Street Shadow.

Tempered Steel, dam of Bayakoas Image, was a triple stakes winner at Hastings Racecourse while Marti currently ranks third with 31 wins at the Vancouver track.

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‘Still Doesn’t Feel Like It’s Real’: Bowen Riding High After Longacres Mile Win

The morning after the biggest victory of his riding career, jockey Rocco Bowen was still on an emotional high.

“It still doesn't feel like it's real,” Bowen said. “This is home for me. Being back at Emerald Downs and riding for guys like Alan Bozell and Tom Wenzel, seeing Sally (Steiner) in the kitchen, getting a big cheer from fans in the jockey introductions. And then winning the (Longacres) Mile, it's unbelievable.”

The only jockey to win three straight riding titles at Emerald Downs, Bowen rode three winners in his first appearance here since 2018. The biggest victory, of course, was a desperate head triumph aboard 2 to 1 favorite Background in the 86th running of the $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3).

Showing resilience and tenacity in a grueling stretch run, Background nailed long shot Windribbon in the final jump, completing the mile in 1:36.67.

With the victory, Bowen, a 32-year-old native of Barbados, became the first black jockey to win the Longacres Mile. It also was his first graded stakes victory.

While the post-race winner's circle scene with trainer Mike Puhich, owners Bob and Molly Rondeau and a tearful Bowen was exuberant, the rider said he spent a quiet Sunday evening dining at Applebee's. Rocco plans to trail-ride around Enumclaw with friends the next couple days before returning to Chicago to finish out Arlington Park and ride the first two weeks at Hawthorne. After that comes vacation with family in Barbados and then back to Oaklawn Park for that track's earliest ever opening Dec. 3.

Background, meanwhile, was relaxing at Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond, where he was about to enjoy a salt-water spa.

“We'll give him a little break at Pegasus,” Puhich said. “(Background) hasn't had an easy race all year, so he deserves a little time off. We'll get him ready for the same program next year, starting off at Oaklawn Park.”

A 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Khozan, Background is 3-2-1 in seven starts this year with earnings of $208,536. With Bowen riding, Background won two rich allowance races at Oaklawn Park ($106,000 and $88,000) and the $100,000 Longacres Mile. Background has an overall mark of 4-2-4 in 14 starts with earnings of $287,532.

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Fivestargeneral Favored Over Anyportinastorm For Sunday’s Longacres Mile

Anyportinastorm and Five Star General, runners-up the last two years, head a field of 11 older horse entered in Sunday's $100,000 Longacres Mile (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

Papa's Golden Boy, the dominant handicap horse this year at Emerald Downs, and Background, a Midwest shipper with 2021 earnings of over $150,000, are other top contenders in this year's Mile, which goes as race eight on a 10-race card that begins at 2:30 p.m.

Anyportinastorm and Five Star General, owned by Vancouverites Peter Redekop and Glen Todd, respectively, carry high weight of 123 and 122 lbs.

Five Star General is the morning line favorite at 5-2. A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Distorted Humor, Five Star General finished second to Anothertwistafate in 2020 and has performed sharply this year with two wins and a third at Hastings Racecourse and gets the riding services two-time Kentucky Derby and two-time Longacres Mile winner Mario Gutierrez.

Anyportinastorm attempts to give Redekop his second straight Mile victory. Although based in California with Peter Miller, the 7-year-old full horse is no stranger to Emerald Downs, capturing 2019 Horse of the Meeting honors and missing by a head to Law Abidin Citizen in the 2019 Mile. The 3-1 second choice on the morning line, Anyportinastorm is ridden by three-time Longacres Mile winner Juan Gutierrez.

Papa's Golden Boy and Background both carry 121 lbs. and are 9-2 and 5-1 on the morning line.

Trained by Vince Gibson and owned by Gary, Deborah, Jeff and Peyton Lusk of Puyallup, Papa's Golden Boy is among the fastest sprinters in Emerald Downs history. Papa's Golden Boy is three for three this season and posted meet-fastest times scoring blowouts in the 5 ½-furlong Budweiser Stakes (1:02.11) and 6 ½- furlong Governor's Stakes (1:14.50). A 5-year-old Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold, Papa's Golden Boy bids to become the first Washington-bred since Stryker Phd in 2015 to win the Mile.

Papa's Golden Boy drew the No. 1 post-position with regular rider Julien Couton taking the mount. According to Gibson, the gameplan is no secret.

“He drew the No. 1 (post) in his last two races, so this is perfect for him,” Gibson said. “Being inside, we pretty much have to send him out of there, but that would have been the plan wherever he drew. I've trained him harder for this one and he's ready to go. Any horse that tries to put heat on us (early) is in trouble.”

Background scored a pair of allowance victories this spring at the tough Oaklawn Park meeting and leads the field in 2021 earnings with $153,536. Three-time Emerald Downs riding champion Rocco Bowen returns and takes the mount for trainer Mike Puhich and owners Bob and Molly Rondeau of Normandy Park.

The longtime voice of University of Washington football and basketball, Bob Rondeau and Puhich have had horses together since 1984 but never a Mile starter.

“It's an absolute thrill to get to run in the Longacres Mile,” Rondeau said. “(Background) isn't a superstar but he's a really honest horse, and he seems to really be enjoying the Northwest.”

Background dropped a heartbreaker in his most recent start June 26, missing by a head to Guest Suite in the $100,000 Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park, and completed preparation for the Mile with a six-furlong breeze in 1:12 2/5 at the Pegasus Training Center in Redmond.

Seamist Racing's Windribbon, 10-1 on the line, could give trainer Blaine Wright a second straight Mile victory. A 5-year-old California-bred by Sway Away, Windribbon ran the fastest six furlongs of the meet, 1:07.53, and adds fuel to the early pace. Like Papa's Golden Boy, Windribbon must prove he can get the mile distance.

Forest Fire, a newcomer from the east coast, attempts to give owner John Parker his second Mile victory. A 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred now trained by Candi Cryderman, Forest Fire is 10 for 28 lifetime with earnings of $379,518.

Hard to Deny, winner of two straight mile allowances at Emerald Downs, and Unmachable, winner of stakes each of the last two seasons at Emerald Downs, are both 15 to 1.

Canadian shipper Sir Bregovic is 4 for 4 in 2021, all sprints at Hastings Racecourse, and adds even more speed to what promises to be a fast early pace.

Reelfoot and Muncey are both 30 to 1. Reelfoot is a four-time winner in 2021, albeit at lower class levels, and Muncey hails from the barn of three-time Longacres Mile-winning trainer Howard Belvoir.

In the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, local sensation Daffodil Sweet heads a field of eight older fillies and mares at a mile and one-sixteenth. Trained by Chris Stenslie for One Horse Will Do Corp. and Steve Shimizu, Daffodil Sweet is a triple winner at the meet and 6-1-0 in eight starts overall including two stakes wins.

Canadian shipper Princess of Cairo, who upended Daffodil Sweet in the 2020 Washington Oaks, and multiple stakes winner Killarney Lass are top contenders in the Distaff.

$100,000 Longacres Mile (G3), Sunday, Aug. 15, Race 8
1: Papa's Golden Boy, Julien Couton, 9/2
2: Forest Fire, Erick Lopez, 12/1
3: Windribbon, Kevin Orozco, 10/1
4: Hard to Deny, Alex Cruz, 15/1
5: Anyportinastorm, Juan Gutierrez, 3/1
6: Muncey, Jennifer Whitaker, 30/1
7: Background, Rocco Bowen, 5/1
8: Five Star General, Mario Gutierrez, 5/2
9: Unmachable, Javier Matias, 15/1
10: Sir Bregovic, Leslie Mawing, 20/1
11: Reelfoot, Jose Zunino, 30/1

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Papa’s Golden Boy Tops 20 Nominees To Longacres Mile

Papa's Golden Boy, unbeaten in three starts this season including two stakes, heads a list of 20 horses nominated to the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, Aug. 15 at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash.

The 86th renewal of the Northwest's premier event shares billing with the $50,000 Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

The speedy Papa's Golden Boy is virtually untested this season at Emerald Downs, scoring daylight victories in all three starts including easy gate to wire scores in the Budweiser Stakes and Governor's Stakes at 6 and 6 ½ furlongs. The 5-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding must prove he can get the distance, however, after finishing fifth in the 2020 Longacres Mile. In the 2020 Mile, Papa's Golden Boy set fractions of :22 3/5, :45 1/5 and 1:08 3/5 before fading to fifth as Anothertwistafate prevailed by 4 ½ lengths in 1:34.

Peter Redekop, owner of Anothertwistafate, could make it two straight Miles as his Anyportinastorm is among a strong contingent of Southern California based runners nominated. The 7-year-old Florida-bred was 2019 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting, compiling a 2-1-0 record in three stakes starts capped by a gallant head defeat to Law Abidin Citizen in the Mile.

Longacres Mile winning trainers Doug O'Neill and Mark Glatt are well-represented in 2021. O'Neill nominated Grade 2-placed Parsimony while Glatt nominated Bold Endeavor and Zestful. Bold Endeavor has six consecutive 90-plus Beyers in main track routes while Zestful is multiple graded stakes-placed including a second in the 2019 Marathon Stakes (G2) on Breeders' Cup day at Santa Anita.

Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale nominated Majestic Eagle, a locally owned graded winner on turf coming off a second in the recent Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

Longacres Mile winning trainer Mike Puhich and renowned former UW football/basketball announcer Bob Rondeau are represented by Background, a 4-year-old Florida-bred with over $150,000 in earnings this year and a 2-1-1 record at a mile.

John Parker, whose Gold Rush Dancer dominated the 2017 Mile, recently acquired Forest Fire, a 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred with over $370,000 in earnings and a 4 for 7 record in one-mile races.

Five Star General, runner-up to Anothertwistafate in the 2020 Mile, heads a Canadian contingent that includes the stakes-winning Explode and the razor-sharp Sir Bregovic, unbeaten in four sprints this year in Vancouver.

A pair of 3-year-olds are on the list including Stillleto Boy, runaway winner of the $250,000 Iowa Derby at odds of 16 to 1 (95 Beyer).

Other locals include: Unmachable, track and state champion 3-year-old of 2020 and runner-up to Papa's Golden Boy in the Governor's Stakes; Hard to Deny, an improving 5-year-old with two straight allowance victories at one mile; and Windribbon, whose 1:07.53 in a June 30 allowance win is the fastest six-furlong clocking in North America in three years.

Handicap weights for the Mile will be announced Friday, August 6, with entries drawn Wednesday, August 11 at the Quarter Chute Cafe. If more than 12 horses are entered, the 12 highest weighted horses will be preferred.

The 26th running of the $50,000 Emerald Distaff at 1 1/16 miles is headlined by Daffodil Sweet, a 4-year-old Ministers Wild Cat filly with a 5 for 7 career record including a dominant score in the Washington State Legislators Stakes last month. In her lone try around two turns, Daffodil Sweet finished second to Princess of Cairo in the 2020 Washington Oaks. Conditioned by Sandi Gann, Princess of Cairo also is nominated to the Emerald Distaff.

$200,000 Longacres Mile (G3), Sunday, August 15, 2021
Horse. . . . .Owner. . . .Trainer
Adens Dream (8g/FLA) Johnny Taboada Ari Herbertson
Anyportinastorm (7h/FLA) Peter Redekop BC Ltd Peter Miller
Background (4g/FLA) Giddyup Stables LLC Mike Puhich
Bold Endeavor (5g/KY) William Branch, W Buster Jr. and Mark Cohen Mark Glatt
Coastal Kid (3g/WA) Steve Haahr and Letha Haahr Jeff Metz
Explode (5g/KY) Adam Isfeld Robert VanOverschot
Five Star General (5h/KY) North American Thoroughbred Racing Co. Sandi Gann
Forest Fire (6g/PA) John Parker Candi Cryderman
Hard to Deny (5g/KY) One Horse Will Do Corp. & Chris Stenslie Chris Stenslie
Majestic Eagle (6g/KY) Rave Green Racing Neil Drysdale
Muncey (4g/KY) Rising Star VII Howard Belvoir
Papa's Golden Boy (5g/WA) G Lusk, D Lusk, J Lusk and P Lusk Vince Gibson
Parsimony (5h/PA) Reddam Racing LLC Doug O'Neill
Reelfoot (5g/KY) Run Free Racing Edwin Cornier
Sir Bregovic (5g/BC) Shawn Strachan and Karen Strachan James Strachan
Stilleto Boy (3g/KY) Steve Moger Ed Moger
Take Charge Deputy (6g/CA) Rosales Racing F1 Jorge Rosales
Unmachable (4g/WA) Tawnja Elison Jack McCartney
Windribbon (5g/CA) Seamist Racing Blaine Wright
Zestful (6g/KY) Shanderella, Glatt, Haramota and Kawahara Mark Glatt

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