Riser and Juan Hernandez led gate-to-wire in the Governor’s Stakes

BUDWEISER STAKES ROUND TWO FOR OLDER HORSES

AUBURN, Wash. (June 17, 2018) – Chappell Alpine Farms’ Riser, 4 ¼-length winner of the Governor’s Stakes, heads a field of 10 older handicap horses nominated to the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes on Sunday, June 24.

At 6 ½ furlongs, the Governor’s is the final sprint for older horses en route to the 83rd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on August 12.

Riser has proven nearly unbeatable at Emerald Downs the last two seasons. The track’s top 3-year-old of 2017, the gray Mizzen Mast colt was sharp in his first Emerald Downs’ race as a 4-year-old with a 1:08.23 clocking in the Governor’s Stakes. It’s the fastest six furlongs of the meet, and the 92 Beyer also is a season-best at Emerald Downs.

Riser is 5-1-1 in 11 lifetime starts with earnings of $147,933.

Rising Star Stable’s Barkley and R.E.V. Racing’s Mach One Rules, second and third in the Governor’s, continue their rivalry in the Budweiser. The 5-year-olds have combined to win 11 stakes at Emerald Downs, and are in year three of a heated rivalry that has produced a series of epic stretch battles.

Barkley is 8-3-1 in 14 career starts with $229,150 in earnings and Mach One Rules is 7-8-3 in 21 starts with $298,526 in earnings. Mach One Rules captured the 2017 Budweiser in 1:13.94, one of his three stakes wins here last year.

Gold Rush Dancer, defending Longacres Mile champion, is nominated to the Budweiser but was entered in the June 17 Siren Lure Stakes at Santa Anita.

$50,000 Budweiser Stakes 6 ½ F, Sunday, June 24
Horse. . . . . . . .Owner. . . . . . . .Trainer
Barkley (5/KY) Rising Star Stable III Howard Belvoir
Bet the Harbor (6/CA) Mike Dale or Gary Borman Mary Pirone
Dedicated to You (6/WA) Coal Creek Farm David Martinez
Gold Rush Dancer (5/CA) John E. Parker Vann Belvoir
Ididaride Solo (5/KY) One Horse Will Do/Griffin Place/Saxwold Chris Stenslie
Mach One Rules (5/WA) R.E.V. Racing LLC Frank Lucarelli
Mah Gellin (8/CA) Joe & Lola Sample Blaine Wright
Riser (4/OH) Chappell Alpine Farms LLC Blaine Wright
So Lucky (4/WA) Pegasus Too & Rising Star Stable Howard Belvoir
Storminside (4/KY) Hollendorfer & Muddy Waters Stables Mike Puhich