Zayda the horse to beat in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby | Horse Racing

With little doubt, Zayda, winner of the Pepsi Cola and Seattle Slew Handicaps, is the horse to beat Sunday in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby.

Trainer Dave Bennett, however, is confident that his gelding, Rainier Missile, is best horse heading into the 1-1/8-mile championship event.

“Zayda is a nice horse, but he’ll have to catch Rainier Missile, and I don’t know that he can,” Bennett said. “My horse is too sharp right now. He’s feeling great.”

The Beyer Speed Figures certainly affirm Bennett’s belief as Rainer Missile earned an 80 Beyer for his 4-¼-romp in a six-furlong $32,000 allowance optional claimer and Zayda received a 77 Beyer after both route-stakes victories. While Zayda seems to relish any added distance, can Rainier Missile hold his speed for an extra three furlongs? Bennett seems to think so, but said his horse will need the lead.

“He’s bred to go long and he finished second a route back in March at Turf Paradise after a rough trip,” Bennett said. “He’s already shown in his sprints where he wants to run. I don’t know how we’d keep him off the lead, even if we wanted to.”

 

The Emerald Downs Derby is race nine Sunday at 6:09 p.m.

The field for the 74th running of the Emerald Downs Derby carrying 122pounds –  Zayda, Leslie Mawing; Rainier Missile, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo; Kooky Saluki, Juan Gutierrez; Jebrica, Pedro Terrero; Couldabenthewhisky, Gallyn Mitchell; Winter Warlock, Kevin Krigger.

 

CARRABELLE HARBOR’S SIGHTS SET ON OAKS AND HONORS

Carrabelle Harbor has some unfinished business heading into the $65,000 Washington Oaks at 1-1/8 miles Saturday at Emerald Downs.

This time last season Carrabelle Harbor reigned supreme in the juvenile filly division. In fact, she had all but clinched her spot for the track’s top honors after capturing the division’s first two sprint stakes by a combined 10-½ lengths. But in her first route, as the 1-to-2 favorite in the Barbara Shinpoch, her bid was abruptly cut short.

“Carrabelle Harbor tweaked her ankle pretty good during the race,” Harwood said. “She came out of the race a little awkwardly, so I sent her home. That’s the best thing to do with nice horses like her.”

A healthy and fit Carrabelle Harbor has returned appearing better than ever. And is once again seeking the elusive end-of-the-year honors. Carrabelle Harbor comes into the Oaks razor sharp, winning back-to-back races including the 1-1/16-mile Kent Handicap. Harwood said Carrabelle Harbor has been full of herself since her last victory.

“She is absolutely doing as well as I could possibly have her,” Harwood said. “She worked five furlongs in :58 and change while gearing down. That time was about the slowest we could get her to go.”

 

The Washington Oaks is race seven Saturday at 5:09 p.m.

The field for the 32nd running of the Washington Oaks carrying 120 lbs.: Elusive Noise, Juan Gutierrez; Carrabelle Harbor, Gallyn Mitchell; Judging Mimi, Javier Matias; The Gang and I, Leonel Camacho-Flores; Class Included, Leslie Mawing; Playful Argument, Pedro Terrero; Soul in One, Joe Crispin.

 

A FULL FIELD EXPECTED FOR AUG. 21 LONGACRES MILE (G3)

With less than one week remaining until entries for the 76th Running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, Aug. 21, a full field is expected for the Northwest’s most prestigious race.

The local contingent, led by defending champion Noosa Beach, should be well-represented as five more stakes winners including two other Mile champions*Assessment and Wasserman*are expected to enter.  The list also includes multiple stakes winner Winning Machine and Hollywood Harbor, as well as last year’s Top 3-Year-Old Saratoga Boot and Davos.

Returning to Emerald Downs since finishing second in the ’09 Mile, Awesome Gem heads the list of probable California invaders. The 8-year-old by Awesome Again is a multiple graded-stakes winner and has earned over $2.5 million. Slew the Man, Posse Power-both Emerald Downs’ stakes winners*Honour the Deputy and JP Jammer are also expected to enter.

Hastings’ shippers could take three spots as 2011 stakes winners St Liams Halo, Crew Leader and Don’twaitforme are pointed for the Mile.

Handicap weights will be announced Saturday, Aug. 13. Entries will be taken Wednesday, Aug. 17, with high weights preferred. The winner will receive $110,000.

ROAD TO THE MILE:

Possible Contenders That Have Worked Out This Week:

Saturday, Aug. 6-

Slew the Man worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 (1/1) at Pleasanton

Sunday, Aug. 7-

Hollywood Harbor worked one mile in 1:37 (1/1) at EmD

Winning Machine worked five furlongs in :59.80 (5/28) at EmD

Monday, Aug. 8-

Assessment breezed six furlongs in 1:12.80 (1/2) at EmD

Defending champion Noosa Beach worked five furlongs in :57.60 (1/17) at EmD

Wednesday, Aug. 10-

Honour the Deputy worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 (6/22) at Golden Gate

St Liams Halo worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 (1/6) at Hastings

Thursday, Aug. 11-

Awesome Gem worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 (3/16) at Del Mar

Posse Power breezed six furlongs in 1:12.40 (1/1) at EmD

Wasserman breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 (6/7) at EmD

 

WILLCOX INN COULD SWEEP MID-AMERICA TRIPLE

Willcox Inn, owned in part by Emerald Downs’ Vice President Jack Hodge, looks to become only the fourth horse*the first horse since 1997*to sweep Arlington’s Mid-America Triple Saturday in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds running 1-¼-miles on the turf.

In the next race, co-owner Hodge will run his 4-year-old Upperline in the $750,000 Beverly D.S. Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares. The 1-3/16-mile turf event is the sister race to the Arlington Million Stakes (G1)*the featured stakes for the track’s “Arlington Million Day.”

Willcox Inn , winner of the May 28 Arlington Classic and the July 9 American Derby (G2),  will break from the No. 9 post as the morning-line 9-to-2 third choice. Hodge said Willcox Inn has been training great and expects the Harlan Holiday colt to be forwardly placed.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he were the tactical speed of the race,” said Hodge, who left Thursday to attend the race. “I also expect that that he’ll move forward off his last race.”

Like her stablemate, Upperline comes off a stakes victory, winning the June 25 Trillium Stakes at Woodbine by 3-½ lengths. The Kentucky-bred by Maria’s Mon has won four stakes in her last seven starts. Breaking from the No. 4, Upperline is 20-to-1 on the morning line.

“She’s a nice filly and is coming into the race fit, sound and happy,” Hodge said. “This is a really deep race, but we think turf is her best surface. If she runs her best race, she’s got a shot.”

 

TRAINER LYNN TAKETA KILLED IN FREAK ACCIDENT

Trainer Charlynn “Lynn” Taketa died of “severe head trauma” after a freak accident Thursday morning in the Portland Meadows stable area. Taketa, 62, of Vancouver, Wash., was kicked in the head by a horse that had gotten loose from a mechanical hot-walker, according to a report on KGW-TV in Portland.

The wife of long-time jockey Jerry Taketa and for many years a member of the art committee for the Emerald Downs Equine Art Show, Lynn Taketa was extremely popular in the local horse community. She only recently had taken up training and saddled two winners from seven starters at the 2010-11 Portland Meadows meeting.

Portland Meadows General Manager Don Kohls said paramedics rushed administer CPR on Taketa, but were unable to revive her.

“It happened so quick, I don’t think she even knew what hit her,” Jerry Taketa told KGW Thursday. “It’s just a terrible tragedy, that’s all.”

NOTES: Week 15 Honors*Jockey-Jake Samuels (1st EmD win); Trainer-Dave Bennett (3-2-0-1); Owner-Michael & Amy Feuerborn (3-1-2-0); Groom-Omar Javier Zuniga & Irneo Camacho-Flores (Dave Bennett)* Jockey Matt Hagerty rode four winners in eight races Wednesday as the Tillamook County fair opened its four-day race meeting on the Oregon coast. Another familiar rider Shawna Whiteside, Jockey of the Week for May 13-15, captured two races.

Soul Custody, claimed from Tim McCanna for $32,000 in her last race at Golden Gate, rallied from last to score a ¾-length victory Wednesday in the second race at Del Mar. For You My Heart, third in the Irish Day Handicap, finished second in Del Mar’s fifth race Wednesday for trainer Vann Belvoir.

“Paddock Preview” begins this weekend from 1-1:20 p.m. at Emerald Downs. Hosted by Jacob Pollowitz from our media relation’s department, the show previews the day’s race card and featured stakes race. Saturday, jockey Gallyn Mitchell talks about his mount on Carrabelle Harbor in the $65,000 Washington Oaks. And Sunday, jockey Leslie Mawing discusses his upcoming ride on Zayda in the $65,000 Emerald Derby*Trainer Dino Condilenios said Thursday that Crew Leader and Kimmyv would likely ship from his Canada farm Friday, Aug. 19 for the Mile and Distaff, respectively.

Jockey agent Brian Beach confirmed Thursday that David Flores would ride Awesome Gem in the Mile. Flores consistently finishes in the top 10 in the Southern California circuit and has ridden Awesome Gem to multiple graded stakes victories.

2002 Horse of the Meeting Flying Notes will be on track after the sixth race Sunday to commemorate the Emerald Downs Derby. Flying Notes set the state and track record for 1-1/8 miles in 2002, when he captured the Derby in a winning time of 1:45 2/5.