Zenovit, the 2010 Washington Oaks and British Columbia Oaks winner, carries starting high-weight of 119 lbs. Saturday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap at one mile. A field of nine is entered in the division’s first two-turn test and final steppingstone to the $65,000 Emerald Distaff on Aug. 21., the 2010 Washington Oaks and British Columbia Oaks winner, carries starting high-weight of 119 lbs. Saturday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap at one mile. A field of nine is entered in the division’s first two-turn test and final steppingstone to the $65,000 Emerald Distaff on Aug. 21.
Coming off a sixth in the Washington Sate Legislators Stakes at 6-½ furlongs, Zenovit figures to improve while making her second start of the season in the Boeing. Even though she didn’t threaten, trainer Larry Ross said he was pleased with Zenovit’s effort in her 2011 debut.
“She really got a lot out of last start,” Ross said. “I think she’ll be much more competitive this weekend, especially with the added distance.”
The pace scenario, on paper, looks balanced with an assortment of front-runners, stalkers and closers. While handicappers might classify Zenovit as a closer, the numbers in her two-turn races say otherwise. In fact, in her four career routes Zenovit has given away only 3-½ lengths to the early leaders while never farther back than fifth place. Ross said he sees Zenovit staying close to the front end on Saturday.
“It’s hard to tell how exactly how much speed is in the race,” Ross said. “I don’t think (Zenovit) will be that far off the pace. I hope that she’ll get the first jump on the leaders.”
The Boeing Handicap is race seven Saturday at 5:09 p.m.
The first two races in the older fillies and mares division have been wide-open affairs: You Me and Ema B won the 10-horse Hastings Handicap at odds of 10.60-to1. Summers Peace won the 11-horse Washington State Legislators Stakes at odds of 10.30-to-1.
· Summers Peace was nominated to the Boeing, but instead will run Saturday in the $75,000 California State Fair Sprint Handicap at Sacramento.
The field from the rail out for the 16th running of the Boeing Handicap: You Me and Ema B, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, 117 lbs; Fifie’s Fantasy, Joe Crispin, 114; Sis’s Sis, Juan Gutierrez, 117; Hard Way Ten, Gallyn Mitchell, 113; Rewritten, Leslie Mawing, 117; Sweet Nellie Brown, Pedro Terrero, 116; Zenovit, Javier Matias, 119; Eyes On the Prize, Robert Skelly, 118; Dream Sweeper, Jose Zunino, 117.
COULDABENTHEWHISKY LOOKS TO REBOUND VS. LARGE FIELD IN SLEW
For the second straight season, 3-year-old colts and geldings are producing one of Emerald Downs’ most competitive stakes divisions.
Couldabenthewhisky—dominant as a 2-year-old—looks to regain momentum in a12-horse field Sunday in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap at one mile and one-sixteenth. It’s the last stop for sophomores before the $65,000 Emerald Derby on Aug. 14.
The 2010 Top Juvenile Male, Couldabenthewhisky was surprisingly flat as the 4-to-5 betting favorite in the May 30 Auburn Handicap. Afterward, trainer Bonnie Jenne said she felt there was something amiss with her Harbor the Gold gelding.
“He washed out pretty bad in the paddock that day, and didn’t run at all like I know he can,” Jenne said. “I had some blood work done, and he basically just tied up. I think he bounced after he ran so well in Canada.”
The veteran conditioner said she believes that Couldabenthewhisky will bounce back after watching him train the past few weeks. The Washington-bred has made regular rider Gallyn Mitchell a believer. The track’s all-time winningest jockey elected to ride Couldabenthewhisky instead of Rainier Ice, whom Mitchell finished first aboard in the Pepsi Cola Handicap. However, the pair were disqualified and placed fourth for interference in the stretch.
Jenne said her main concern with Couldabenthewhisky is his fitness level, because he didn’t run in the June 26 Pepsi-Cola.
“Hopefully, he’ll be ready,” Jenne said. “If I’ve done my job, I think we’ve got a good chance to win.”
The Seattle Slew Handicap is race nine Sunday at 6:09 p.m.
The 12-horse field is the largest in a stakes since the 2010 Longacres Mile, which also had a full field of 12.
2005 winner Alexandersrun was the last favorite to win the Seattle Slew Handicap. Thus far, longshots have been successful this season as Showmeyourfriends paid $102.40 to win in the Auburn Stakes, and Zayda produced an $18.60 win payout in the Pepsi Cola Handicap.
The field for the 35th running of the Seattle Slew Handicap: Codys a Bobcat, Javier Matias, 114 lbs; Zayda, Leslie Mawing, 119; Northern Indy, Hector Romero, 117; Showme Yourfriends, Deborah-Hoonan-Trujillo, 119; Couldabenthewhisky, Gallyn Mitchell, 121; Big Bad Brown, David G. Lopez, 114; Come Away Home, Pedro Terrero, 116; Dugan Bill, Robert Skelly, 113; El Gran Bebe, Kevin Krigger, 111; Jebrica, Francisco Duran, 117; Rainier Ice, Juan Gutierrez, 117; Winter Warlock, Joe Crispin, 118.
WENZEL CONTINUES RED-HOT, SADDLES ELUSIVE NOISE IN KENT ’CAP
The 2011 season reached its halfway point Sunday and trainer Tom Wenzel already had saddled more winners than he had in the entire 2010 meeting.
The 45-year-old Tacoma native is smoking hot with a 16-for-46 mark good for 34.7 percent winners. He was 15-for-85 for 17.6 percent last year.
Wenzel even lost a victory after Rainier Ice was disqualified from first and placed fourth in the June 26 Pepsi-Cola Handicap. The DQ cost Wenzel a sweep of the day’s stakes races, as Elusive Noise had won the Irish Day Handicap earlier on the card.
Wenzel gets another chance for a stakes sweep Sunday as Elusive Noise aims for her fourth win of the season and her second straight stakes score in the $50,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at one mile and one-sixteenth. And Rainier Ice attempts to finish first for the fourth straight time this season in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings at one mile and one-sixteenth. Of course, Rainer Ice ultimately was denied the win in the Pepsi-Cola as Zayda was promoted to first, but Wenzel had the Forestry colt ready for his first two-turn assignment.
In the Kent, Debbie Paxton and Northwest Farms’ Elusive Noise and Michael and Amy Feuerborns Class Included continue their budding rivalry as sophomore fillies reach the final steppingstone to the Aug. 13 Washington Oaks in the Kent Handicap. They’ve already met three times at the meet with Elusive Noise holding a 2-1 edge including the gate-to-wire triumph in the Irish Day. The addition of Carrabelle Harbor to the Kent lineup, however, figures to favor Class Included, a stalker that could get a perfect trip rating off the two speedsters.
The Kent Handicap is race seven Sunday at 5:09 p.m.
The field for the 15th running of the Kent Handicap: Playful Argument, Pedro Terrero, 115 lbs; Class Included, Leslie Mawing, 119; For You My Heart, Javier Matias, 118; Carrabelle Harbor, Gallyn Mitchell, 118; Elusive Noise, Juan Gutierrez, 119; Judging Mimi, Francisco Duran, 113.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR STEVE PUHICH MONDAY, JULY 18
The memorial service for popular jockeys’ agent Steve Puhich will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 18 at the WTBOA Stales Pavilion located just north of Emerald Downs. The 51-year-old Puhich died Sunday afternoon after suffering a heart attack while driving south on state Route 167, near the 15th Street exit next to Emerald Downs. Puhich is the son of long-time agent Ivan Puhich and cousin of trainer Mike Puhich.
NOTES: Week 13 Honors—Jockey-Juan Gutierrez (18-7-1-0); Trainer-Tom Wenzel (5-3-0-0) Owner-One Horse Will Do Corp. (3-3-0-0); Groom-Oscar Rodriguez (Joe Toye).
Alittlebitfamous earned a career-high 89 Beyer Speed Figure for her 8-¼-length victory in 1:08.42 for six furlongs last Friday. Frank Lucarelli, who saddled Alittlebitfamous to victories in five of her last six races before losing her Friday via claim to Jonathan Nance, is on a 10-for-27 roll at Emerald Downs.
Ron Crockett Inc.’s Camp Granada, a 3-year-old Forest Camp colt trained by Lucarelli, received an 83 Beyer for his 7-¾-legnth maiden victory in 1:08.83 for six furlongs last Friday.
Incidentally, Ron Crockett Inc. debuts a half-sister to multiple graded winner Harvard Avenue this Sunday as 3-year-old filly Ever Ready Carrie (More Than Ready-Carrie Can) is among seven entered in a $16,600 maiden special weight at six furlongs.
Nelson Family Racing’s 2-year-old D’wildcat colt, D’honorable One, earned a 75 Beyer for his 5-½ length maiden victory Sunday that was accomplished in a meet-fastest :56.66 for five furlongs…Northwest Farms’ 2-year-old filly Exclusive Diva, meanwhile, was assigned a 62 Beyer for her 3-½ length triumph Saturday in :57.60 for five furlongs.
The track’s all-time leading earner swings back into action Sunday as
Wasserman is among six 3-year-olds and up entered for a $25,000 claiming price at six furlongs. The $14,800 eighth-race sub-feature is sandwiched by the $50,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies and the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Wasserman, up to $528,017 earned at EmD, faces a tough test vs. Go With Gusto, Newfound Gold, Margo’s Gift, He’s All Heart and stable mate Cat On Base.
Untilifindyou, tied with Touch of Elegance for most wins at the meet, goes for win No. 5 in Sunday’s fourth race…The nation’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Blind Luck will face off against Havre De Grace Saturday in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G2) at Delaware Park. Co-owned by Mark Dedomenico, Blind Luck has compiled nine graded stakes victories in 20 career starts.
In preparation for the Mt. Rainier Handicap on July 24, Noosa Beach breezed five furlongs Thursday in 1:01.80. The 2010 Horse of the Meeting is tied with Handy N Bold with 10 career EmD stakes wins.
Jockey’s agent Ken Green added Leonel Camacho-Flores, formerly with Steve Puhich, to his book this week. Matt Hagerty, Puhich’s other rider, has yet to hire a new agent.
TOP 20 HORSES, OWNERS BY EARNINGS-THRU JULY 11 (41 DAYS)
2011 LEADING OWNERS BY MONEY WON
Michael & Amy Feuerborn $104,809
Howard Belvoir $85,772
Ron Crockett, Inc $69,891
Jeff Harwood $58,670
Randall & Rossi LLC $56,057
Northwest Farms LLC $54,870
One Horse Will Do Corp & T&S Saxwold $47,450
Tice Ranch Stables LLC $46,886
Coal Creek Farm $46,058
Larry & Veralene Hillis $45,805
Debbie Paxton & Northwest Farms LLC $44,660
Frank L. Gaunt $44,304
Sue & Tim Spooner $43,259
Gary Hughes $42,591
Nelson Family Racing $41,082
Northwest Farms LLC & C & M Racing $40,435
Monogram Racing Stable & Patrick Hoonan $37,730
R & R Warren LLC $37,585
Clockwise Racing $35,092
Jethorse LLC $32,515
2011 LEADING HORSES BY MONEY WON
Noosa Beach $55,000
Elusive Noise $51,930
Showme Yourfriends $47,450
Class Included $41,700
You Me and Ema B $37,730
Zayda $28,750
Summers Peace $27,500
Rossi Reserve $25,065
Hollywood Harbor $24,460
Youtheprizeandi $22,990
For You My Heart $22,295
Sweet Nellie Brown $21,550
Winning Machine $21,550
Carrabelle Harbor $21,255
Rainier Ice $20,745
Winter Warlock $20,000
Chu and I $19,759
Seattle Sniper $19,690
Touch of Elegance $19,340
Cliff’s Secret $19,070
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