Barkley and Javier Matias victorious in the 2018 Longacres Mile
LONGACRES MILE CHAMP BARKLEY RETURNS!
One of the top horses in track history returns to action in Wednesday’s second race at Emerald Downs.
Barkley — winner of six stakes and over $363,000 — heads a field of six older horses racing 5 1/2 furlongs for a $21,000 purse. The allowance test serves as a prep for the $40,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes rescheduled for Thursday, August 13.
Barkley last raced 14 months ago, defeating 2018 Horse of the Meeting Sippin Fire at an identical condition to Wednesday’s, running 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.98 and earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. It remains Barkley’s only out since his victory over Alert Bay in the 2018 Longacres Mile. Barkley has been plagued by various minor ailments, but the 7-year-old son of Munnings has logged 19 workouts this spring/summer capped by a bullet half-mile in :46 4/5 from the gate last Thursday.
“(Barkley’s) been ready to go for a long time,” said trainer Howard Belvoir.
Owned by Rising Star Stable III, Barkley is 10 for 18 lifetime with six stakes wins. Javier Matias, aboard for all 18 career starts, has the mount again Wednesday.
Grinder Sparksaglo could be formidable on the front end. The 9-year-old Grindstone gelding has 15 wins and over $250,000 in earnings and comes off a good third in his season debut three weeks ago. Rally Cat makes his first start as an older horse following a three-win victory season in 2019, a campaign that included a runner-up finish in the Seattle Slew Stakes. Catfish Hunter was a solid sprinter in California and sports a strong worktab, but this is a tough comeback assignment. Take Charge Debuty captured the 2019 Portland Meadows Mile, but finished off the board in four subsequent starts and is 0 for 6 at Emerald Downs. Sky Confidential, a stable mate of Barkley’s, notched a pair of wins and earned over $30,000 last year at age 3.
Post time is 2:52 p.m.
The field with morning line (all carry 122 lbs): 1-Catfish Hunter, Eddie Martinez, 6/1; 2-Rally Cat, Juan Gutierrez, 7/2; 3-Barkley, Javier Matias, 6/5; 4-Grinder Sparksaglo, Gary Wales, 3/1; 5-Sky Confidential, Alex Cruz, 10/1; 6-Take Charge Deputy, Cerapio Figueroa, 8/1.
Noosa Beach
EMERALD DOWNS STAKES WINS
11-Noosa Beach
10-Handy N Bold
9-Fleet Pacific
9-Ropersandwranglers
9-Stryker Phd
8-Stopshoppingdebbie
7-Jumron Won
6-Barkley
6-Ladyledue
6-Mach One Rules
6-Name for Norm
6-Queenledo
6-Wasserman
Wasserman
EMERALD DOWNS EARNINGS
$575,024-Wasserman
$512,486-Stryker Phd
$472,744-Assessment
$465,305-Noosa Beach
$363,625-Barkley
RACING THIS WEEK
Wednesday, July 15
2:15 p.m. (10 races)
$13,822 Carryover $0.20 Jackpot Pick 7 (Races 4-10)
Thursday, July 16
5 p.m. (11 races)
WEEK 4 FEATURES 21 RACES OVER TWO DAYS
Total entries for 21 races is 166 horses, average 7.9 per race. The season total is 623 horses in eight days, 7.8 a race.
WEEK 4 FEATURES:
Wine At Nine
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, RACE 9 (6:31 P.M.), ALW/$15,000 CLG, 3YO & UP, 6F: In addition to the Barkley comeback race, Wednesday also features an interesting sprint for older horses. Wine At Nine has 17 career wins at Emerald Downs, comes off a useful comeback effort, and will be a handful on the front end. This Great Nation and Vicente’s Shadow exit the same heat as Wine At Nine and are proven at the class level. Raise the Woof was impressive in his only start and has trained brilliantly this spring and summer.
Ima Happy Cat
THURSDAY, JULY 16, RACE 9, (8:44 P.M.) $21,000 ALW, F&M 3YO & UP, 5 ½ F: This race features six Emerald Downs’ stakes winners plus one new shooter from the Midwest. Ima Happy Cat won stakes races in her Emerald Downs’ season debut in 2018 and 2019 and is 3 for 5 at the distance. Dontkissntell posted an 87 Beyer in her last try at 5 ½ panels and worked a strong six furlongs last week. This race is a prep for the $40,000 Boeing Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on Thursday, August 13.
BEYERS & FAST TIMES
La Waun
Wednesday, July 8
Race 1: Remembertobreathe-70
Race 2: La Una-36+#
Race 3: On Purpose-62
Race 4: Rockandahardplace-67
Race 5: Sparkling Lute-43
Race 6: Waverly Way-46
Race 7: Sway Road-45
Race 8: Doctor Bruce S.-52
Race 9: La Waun-77
Race 10: Comradery-23
Fortune’s Freude
Thursday, July 9
Race 1: David Nose Best-30+#
Race 2: Omache Kid-65
Race 3: Hard to Deny-71*
Race 4: Seattlesbestsecret-44+#
Race 5: Windribbon-85*
Race 6: Smarty Jeans-23
Race 7: National Browser-42
Race 8: Rocket Power-67
Race 9: Fortune’s Freude-63
Race 10: I Work for Carrots-54
* Career-high
# First-time starter
+2-Year-Old
Fastest Times
4 ½ Furlongs :51.75 Seattlesbestsecret (2g) July 9
5 Furlongs :57.65 Vroysky (3g) June 24
5 ½ Furlongs 1:02.11 Windribbon (4g) July 9
6 Furlongs 1:09.48 La Waun (5g) July 8
6 ½ Furlongs 1:18.60 Constant Craving (6m) June 25
1 Mile 1:37.54 Remembertobreathe (9g) July 8
Betting Favorites
Last Week: 9-20 (45%)
Season: 18-59 (30.5%)
Largest $2 Win: $49.40, Constant Craving (June 25)
$2 Place: $27.80, Invite Me (June 25)
$2 Show: $15.20, Alotmoreaction (July 2)
Largest Payout: $6,957.90 (Pick 4, June 25)
Gary Wales
Jockey Wins
11-Gary Wales
10-Juan Gutierrez
8-Alex Cruz
8-Cerapio Figueroa
5-Eddie Martinez
5-Javier Matias
3-Alex Anaya
3-Jennifer Whitaker
3-Jose Zunino
2-Lorenzo Lopez
1-Jake Samuels
Frank Lucarelli
Trainer Wins
6-Frank Lucarelli
4-Blaine Wright
3-Howard Belvoir
3-Kay Cooper
3-Candi Cryderman
3-Sam Dronen
3-Chris Stenslie
2-Steve Bullock
2-Vince Gibson
2-Bonnie Jenne
2-David Martinez
2-Tim McCanna
2-Jose Navarro
2-Jorge Rosales
2-Rosie Simkins
2-Joe Toye
2-Tom Wenzel
1-Roddina Barrett
1-Robbie Baze
1-Tena Birdwell
1-Alan Bozell
1-Michael Bullene
1-Ken Elison
1-Charles Essex
1-Nick Lowe
1-Dan Markle
1-Robert Meeking
1-Jeff Metz
1-Jose Raudales
1-Sharon Ross
1-Rigoberto Velasquez
Howard Belvoir
Owner Wins
3-John Parker
3-Chad and Josh
3-Carol Dronen
2-Howard Belvoir
1-48 tied
Remembertobreathe
Horse Wins
2-Omache Kid
1-Abraa Jabraa
1-Always Working
1-Benny the Jet
1-Bullet Drill
1-Cate’s Gold
1-Chris the Beaver
1-Coastal Tulips
1-Coilette
1-Comradery
1-Constant Craving
1-Daffodil Sweet
1-David Nose Best
1-Docktarri
1-Doctor Bruce S.
1-Doubleshotofheaven
1-Drizzy
1-Elliott Bay
1-Fortune’s Freude
1-Freestone
1-Frolic and Detour
1-Full Speed Ahead
1-Hard to Deny
1-Igottabooboo
1-I Work for Carrots
1-Kactus Kate
1-Known Value
1-Last One Standing
1-La Una
1-La Waun
1-Managing Brianna
1-Makah Lane
1-Miso Fast
1-Missed the Boat
1-National Browser
1-On Purpose
1-O’S So Serios
1-Papa’s Golden Boy
1-Pure Pursuit
1-Ri Pin Snap
1-Remembertobreathe
1-Rockandahardplace
1-Rocket Power
1-Rough Ride
1-Seattlesbestsecret
1-Smarty Jeans
1-So Figure It Out
1-Sophie’s Dream
1-Sparkling Lute
1-Spot On
1-Sway Road
1-Valid Prince
1-Vroysky
1-Waverly Way
1-Whata Flirt
1-Windribbon
1-Windy Point
1-Zippy Groom
Preachinatthebar
Sire Wins
5-Harbor the Gold
4-Coast Guard
4-Abraaj
3-Atta Boy Roy
3-Nationhood
2-Hard Spun
2-Polish Miner
2-Preachinatthebar
2-Sway Away
Harbor the Gold
Winner Bred
36-Washington
13-Kentucky
6-California
2-Florida
1-Arizona
1-Virginia
Alex Anaya
WEEKLY HONORS #3 (July 8-9): Jockey: Alex Anaya; Trainer: Sam Dronen; Owner: Big Bill and Company #1; WTBOA WA Bred: Seattlesbestsecret (David Israel, Charlie Clark, Al Adams breeders).
Northwest Factor
NOTES: Through six days of racing, 24 horses have been claimed for an aggregate $169,250. . .Juan Gutierrez is three wins shy of 2,000 for his career. . .2018 Gottstein Futurity champion Northwest Factor won a $25,000 claiming race Friday at Pleasanton and was claimed by trainer Manuel Badilla. A 4-year-old filly by The Factor. Northwest Factor is 5 for 17 with earnings of $150,897. . .Saratoga opens a 40-day meet Thursday with a 10-race card featuring the $100,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and $100,000 Peter Pan for 3-year-olds.
