Barkley (left) edges Mach One Rules in the 2017 Governor’s Stakes

GOVERNOR’S FEATURES BARKLEY, MACH ONE RULES

AUBURN, Wash. (May 28, 2018) – One of the greatest rivalries in track history continues Sunday when 5-year-olds Barkley and Mach One Rules meet in the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

The 79th renewal of the Governor’s is the first stakes for older horses in 2018, and first stop on the road to the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, August 12. The older horse series also features the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, June 24, and the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Sunday, July 15.

The Governor’s will mark the 11th time that Barkley and Mach One Rules have met at Emerald Downs. Barkley has finished ahead of his archrival in seven of 10 meetings, including a neck victory over Mach One Rules in the 2017 Governor’s and a three-quarter-length triumph over Mach One Rules in a May 13 allowance race at 5 ½ furlongs.

Barkley is 8-2-1 in 13 career starts with five stakes wins and earnings of $219,150.

Although he dropped a tough decision to Barkley in last year’s Governor’s, Mach One Rules emerged from that defeat to score victories in the Budweiser Stakes, Mt. Rainier Stakes and Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. Runner-up to Gold Rush Dancer in the 2017 Longacres Mile, Mach One Rules was voted Horse of the Meeting and Washington Horse of the Year.

Mach One Rules is 7-8-2 in 20 starts with six stakes wins and earnings of $291,026.

The speedy Riser, Emerald Downs’ champion 3-year-old of 2017, made his first start vs. older horses with an eighth in the $200,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) May 4 at Churchill Downs. A gray Mizzen Mast colt, Riser is 3-1-0 in four starts at Emerald Downs, with victories at 5 ½ furlongs, 6 ½ furlongs and 1 1/8 mile.

Dedicated to You finished 2017 in sharp form, running third at 82-1 in the Longacres Mile and second to Mach One Rules in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.

$50,000 Governor’s Stakes 6F, Sunday, June 3
Horse. . . . .Owner. . . . .Trainer
Barkley (5/KY) Rising Star Stable III Howard Belvoir
Dedicated to You (6/WA) Coal Creek Farm David Martinez
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) Muddy Waters Stables LLC Mike Puhich

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