8/13/2022
Sunday is Championship Sunday at Emerald Downs with a 10-race card and 4 straight Stakes races beginning with the 5th thru 8th race. The line-up begins with the Oaks followed by the Emerald Distaff then comes the Muckleshoot Derby and capped off with the Granddaddy of them all the 87th Longacres Mile. Below is a short preview of each stakes races, our selections and our all-stakes Pick 4 wager.
Washington Oaks
The Washington Oaks is for 3-year-old fillies and a field of 9 will go 1 1/16 miles for a $75,000 purse.
The Morning Line Favorite
Slack Tide and even though Evin Roman had ridden her 3 of the last 4 starts including 2 allowance races at Golden Gate winning one and placing in the other and then Roman flew up to ride her in the Seattle Stakes which she won by 4, Kevin Radke will get the ride on Championship Sunday. Radke picked up the ride last time out when Roman wasn’t able to come to Auburn to ride Slack Tide in the Kent Stakes. Radke won easily by 2 1/2. Slack Tide is owned by Ten Broeck Farm and trained by Blaine Wright and begins at 9-5. We would be surprised to see her go off that high and project her at no more than 6-5. Slack Tide sports a 4-2-0 record from 7 starts and has earned nearly 112k. Wright also leads all trainers in stakes wins this season so far with 5.
Next 3
Trainer Charles Essex’s Unsolved Mystery is next at 7-2 and is coming off a 2nd place finish to Slack Tide in the Kent Stakes. She was 3rd in the Seattle Stakes. She is 2-1-2 from 8 lifetime starts and has earned 101k. Emerald Downs leading rider Alex Cruz gets the ride.
Big Java ships in from Churchill Downs for Dr Mark Dedomenico and trainer Mike Puhich. Regular rider Geovanni Franco comes along as well for the ride and is coming off a dull 9th place effort in her last race. She begins at 4-1.
Chad and Josh will send out Gold N Glitter as the 5-1 4th choice for trainer Frank Lucarelli and Juan Gutierrez gets the ride. All 6 lifetime starts have been at Emerald Downs and she is coming off a 3rd place finish in the Kent Stakes. She is 2-1-3 with 2 stakes placings but no stakes wins and a bankroll of $47,731.
Middle Longshots
Princess Payton will make her 4th career start and 1st Stakes race. Eddie Hernandez will get the ride on the 12-1 morning line runner for trainer Tom Wenzel who is 2nd in trainer stakes wins with 3.
At 15-1 Koron comes out for trainer Kay Cooper. Last years double stakes winner has yet to find her best stride this year with finishes of 4th in the Seattle and 6th in the Kent. Kevin Orozco will again ride and maybe 3rd time is the charm for Koron.
Tiz A Macho Girl is also 15-1 with Jake Samuels. The Jeff Metz runner took 5th in the Kent Stakes and then has since broke her maiden with a win in maiden special weight.
Longshots
Let It Reign also comes from the Jeff Metz barn and is the most experienced runner with 12 lifetime starts. This will be her 1st stakes start but does pick up a heck of a rider Evin Roman will take the call on the 20-1 shot.
Gold Coast Girl is 30-1 and hasn’t snapped her maiden yet running in a 25k maiden claiming and 2 MSW’s with a pair of 3rds and a 4th. Javier Matias gets the ride for trainer Steve Bullock.
Our Selections
1st Slack Tide tough to get away from the favorite but think the chance to make money on this will be the exacta and trifecta.
2nd Koron don’t be surprised if Koron turns things around in her 3rd start of the year. There were no other races they could put her in other than claiming races and they were not gonna risk her getting tagged. Will certainly use her in the exotics.
3rd Unsolved Mystery we think with Cruz in the irons will give this one a great ride and she is so consistent. Gotta have her in the exotics as well.
Emerald Distaff
A field of 10 3-year-old and up fillies and mares go 1 1/16th with a Purse of $75,000
The Morning Line Favorite
Princess of Cairo loves Emerald Downs and is back to defend her title. She won the Distaff last year by 4 lengths with Mario Gutierrez in the saddle. The Princess won’t have Mario this year but gets Geovanni Franco who rode her in her last out at Churchill Downs where she finished a distant 4th in an 80k allowance race. Mark Dedomenico owns her and Mike Puhich trains. Princess of Cairo won her 1st race at Emerald Downs in 2020 when she took the Oaks. Princess of Cairo is 5-1-3 from 14 career starts and has racked up 108k in earnings. She will be the 9-5 morning line favorite.
The next 2
Buyback ships in from Del Mar and gets veteran rider Evin Roman at 5-2. The Blaine Wright trainee runs 2nd more than 1st by a long way with 4 career wins compared to 11 places plus 2 shows out of 22 career starts. She has earned a little more than $147,000.
The top 3 m-l choices are in post positions 4-5-6 with You Go Girl at 6-1 breaking from the 4 spot. Juan Gutierrez gets the ride for trainer Steve Bulloock. You Go Girl just missed in the Legislators stakes by a head to Dontkissntell and prior to that was an easy winner in a 30k allowance.
Middle Longshots
There is a logjam of middle shots with 2 10-1 and 2 12-1 shots. The first 10-1 is Classic Leah who has won 3 straight front running races at Emerald Downs. All 3 starter allowances but will lose her rider on all 3 wins Leslie Mawing to Kevin Radke. Vince Gibson is the trainer.
Zippin Sevenz is the other 10-1 and will likely be forwardly placed with Alex Cruz in the saddle and for trainer Alan Bozell. Zippin Svenz has a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 2022 still looking for her 1st win and trying to get it in her 2nd Stakes race. She is 3-2-2 from 12 starts lifetime.
Emerald Sea is the 1st 12-1 shot and comes from 94-year-old trainer Bob Meeking’s barn and is coming off a win in a 1 mile 15k claiming event. Javier Matias will get the ride as regular rider Jose Zunino chose the other 12-1 coming up next.
Our Lyla Grace is 3-1-0 in 7 lifetime starts and all 7 races had Jose Zunino riding so its understandable he wanted to stick with this one. Our Lyla Grace will likely be mid-pack and take her shot at the top of the stretch. Tom Wenzel is the trainer.
Longshots
Lady O’Prado is 20-1 and Jake Samuels gets the ride for trainer Candi Cryderman. Her best efforts have been in the claiming ranks and she would need a huge step up to threaten in this one.
Candi Cryderman sends out another longshot with Prospera at 30-1 with Eddie Martinez gets the ride. Prospera has been off since mid-June when she was claimed by John Parker while winning by 2 1/2.
Unsinkable Molly B is coming off a solid 3rd in a 25k allowance with Leslie Mawing who sticks which makes this an interesting choice. Bonnie Jenne is the trainer.
Our Selections
1st Classic Leah we are gonna take a shot on the front speed. Be sure to pay attention and see how front speed is doing. The track became dull and heavy when it was blazing hot so the cooler weather just might tighten this track up and front speed could be tough to overhaul.
2nd Princess of Cairo She is 2 for 2 in 2 stakes races so pretty tough to discount. Won’t be a surprise to see her win again.
3rd You Go Girl She is really coming into her own and feels like she is gaining a ton of confidence. Think she will hit the board.
Muckleshoot Derby
A field of 11 3-year-olds will go 1 1/16th for a purse of $75,000
The Morning Line Favorite
Executive Chef just missed by a head to Itsallabouthteride who is the 2nd choice at 4-1 in the Irish Day Stakes. But Executive Chef won the Auburn Stakes in dominating fashion in mid-June. Kevin Orozco has ridden the Blaine Wright trained Gray gelding 5 of his 6 lifetime starts. Exec Chef is 2-3-1 from those 6 starts and has racked up $71,300 in earnings. Orozco and E-C will definitely sit off the pace and will make a big run on the turn. Can he finish this time is the big question but no doubt you can count on Executive Chef to make a serious run in the stretch.
The Next 5
Itsallabouttheride just won and has never missed the board in 5 lifetime starts with a 2-1-2 record. Juan Gutierrez will ride again for the 3rd straight race for trainer Bonnie Jenne. Would not be a surprise and if you can get 4-1, take it.
Little Casino is 5-1 for trainer Blaine Wright who puts Kevin Radke in the saddle. Little Casino is coming off a 4th place finish in the Irish Day Stakes and a an allowance win.
Smiling Goodbye is 6-1 for trainer Debbie Peery and she gets Evin Roman to ride for her as Juan Gutierrez sticks with Itsallabouthteride. Smiling Goodbye is coming off a big win in an allowance race after finished 2nd by a head in another allowance and a 4th to Exec Chef in the Auburn Stakes.
Kay Cooper’s A View From Above starts at 8-1 but is also looking for his best race after a 7th and in his last was 3rd but just a 1/2 length behind. Leslie Mawing will get the ride again.
Big Paper Daddy for Frank Lucarelli will also start at 8-1 but does get a new rider in Alex Cruz. Orozco had been riding but he’s certainly not getting off the favorite. Big Paper Daddy has run in a pair of stakes last year but got his 1st win two races ago in a maiden and won again in his last out in a 25k claimer.
Middle Longshots
Midnight Mojo is the Gottstein winner from last year and Eddie Martinez has been hot as of late. The Tom Wenzel trainee has a pair of 3rds this year but ran off the board in last needs to turn things around in a hurry. M-L is 12-1.
Wear the Crown begins at 15-1 and Alex Anaya gets his lone Stakes ride of the day. Wear the Crown went wire-to-wire in his last race and won by 10 lengths. But it was for an $8,000 claiming tag and was indeed claimed and runs for new trainer Joe Toye.
Longshots
You’re the Cause is 20-1 with Javier Matias in the saddle. You’re the Cause has won 2 in a row including his maiden and a 15k claimer. Debbie Van Horne sends out You’re the Cauxse in his 1st Stakes attempt.
Napoletano just won his 1st race a maiden 25k claimer and he won at big odds of 13-1. Rigoberto Velasquez sends out Napoletano in his 4th start and 1st stakes race with Jake Samuels.
Our Selections
1st Executive Chef he’s just too good and can’t see him off the board. Could he get upset, yes but no other almost guarantees they will be in the top 3 like this one.
2nd Midnight Mojo I have been just waiting for this one to pop again and think he fits well here. Certainly in my tri’s and supers.
3rd Smiling Goodbye picks up Roman and has improved in each of his last 2 races. Hoping to get 6-1 or more.
The 87th Longacres Mile
A full field of 12 3-year-olds and up will go 1-Mile with a $150,000 Purse
The Morning Line Favorite
Background is the 2-1 favorite and he has tons going for him. Despite not having Rocco Bowen available to ride after he suffered a broken collarbone in a spill last Monday trainer Mike Puhich was able to get Geovanni Franco to come and ride. Franco has ridden Background in his last 5 races. Franco has a pair of wins and a 2nd in those 5 races. Background usually likes to be not far behind sitting in a stalking position and would benefit from some front speed. He should have it with at least Papa’s Golden Boy and maybe Huge Bigley. Background’s best effort will be tough on the rest of this field, it will be a challenge to repeat but they look to be in good position to give it a strong effort.
The Next 4
Majestic Eagle ships in from Southern California and brings Declan Cannon along to ride for trainer Neil Drysdale. Majestic Eagle starts as the 2nd choice at 4-1 and brings a 4-9-4 lifetime record from 38 starts with him. Last won in a turf stakes race at Turf Paradise at 5 furlongs. Majestic Eagle has put more than 468k in the bank.
Top Executive is the 3rd choice at 6-1 and brings a top heavy win record to his first Mile. Top Exec was last season’s Emerald Downs Horse of the Meet. He has a 6-1-0 record from just 11 lifetime starts and has banked $151,323. He was a triple stakes winner last year and has a win and a 2nd so far this year in Auburn. Evin Roman picks up the ride for trainer Blaine Wright.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz is really coming into his own and ran a spectacular race in the Governor’s Stakes charging down the stretch and pulled away for a 2 1/4 length win. Jose Zunino has 2 stakes wins on the year one with Slew and is back for trainer Tom Wenzel. The Washington bred loves to win and loves Emerald with a 5-1-1 career mark from 12 starts all at Emerald Downs.
Huge Bigley is a Washington bred and another Blaine Wright trainee but has never run at Emerald Downs and ships in from the midwest to give the Mile a shot. The 5-year-old has a 3-3-2 lifetime mark from 16 starts and has earned 148k. Huge Bigley is the 2nd 8-1 M-L and Eddie Martinez gets the ride.
Middle Longshots
Papa’s Golden Boy will start at 10-1 but our hunch is he will get bet down as a fan favorite. Papa is the best sprinter on the grounds but has not been able to get 2 turns and until he does there will always be that question. He breaks from the 12 hole and will have to use some of that speed to get position going into the 1st turn. If left alone he will be dangerous on the front, if hooked whoever does that will likely kill their chances and Papa hangs in there. He has 7 wins 4 places from 21 lifetime races. Kevin Radke gets the ride for trainer Vince Gibson.
Five Star General will start at 12-1 for trainer Doris Harwood and be ridden by Leslie Mawing. The General has had success here in Auburn with 3 on the boards from 5 Auburn starts but no wins. He knows how to win with a 7-2-5 record out of 21 career starts and a healthy bank account of more than 321k.
Unmachable is certainly familiar with the Emerald oval with 12 of his 17 career starts in Auburn. The closer has a 4-4-1 Emerald record for trainer Jack McCartney and ships in from Arizona on a 2 win-win streak. Kevin Orozco gets the ride and Unmachable is 6-5-2 lifetime with more than 170k in earnings.
Spittin Image was claimed for 30k early in this season by John Parker and has raced in the Governor’s and Budweiser with a 6th and 3rd place finishes. Juan Gutierrez knows how to win this race on a longshot but Spittin Image is gonna have to turn things around to make a serious run in this field.
Longshots
Torpedo Away is coming off a big win against Allowance company and comes in with a lifetime mark of 35 starts with 9 wins, 4 places and 7 shows with a bank account of more than $158,000. Leading Emerald rider Alex Cruz gets the mount for trainer Blaine Wright. His lack of Stakes success puts him at 20-1.
The 1st of two 30-1’s is Kingmeister from 94-year-old trainer Bob Meeking’s barn and is his 1st entry into the Mile since 1979. Kingmeister will be ridden by Javier Matias and is coming off a 6th place effort in his first race at Emerald in the Governor’s and will have to take a giant step up to be a contender.
The final entry also at 30-1 is Hard to Deny from trainer Niccolpo Troiani with Jake Samuels in the saddle. Hard to Deny is 4-4-2 from 20 starts with a bank account of 85k. Hard to Deny is coming off a nice 2nd in an allowance but the last time he ran in a stakes race was a year ago in the 2021 Longacres Mile where he finished 8th, 11 1/2 lengths behind.
Our Selections
1st Papa’s Golden Boy may finally not get hooked on the front from the start. If he gets a good break he can control and play come and get me. We think Radke will clear and this may be the year Papa finally proves he can get 8 furlongs.
2nd Background shouldn’t be that far behind Papa no matter what and will get first run likely so if Papa slows down Background would be next and would be tough to overhaul.
3rd Top Executive is one tough customer and gets a veteran in Evin Roman who has not only won stakes races at Emerald Downs but has won the Longacres Mile. Would not be a surprise.
4th Our extra pick is Unmachable, we have the front speed and two stalkers so here is our deep closer. Maybe a crazy unexpected speed duel occurs and the front end collapses in the stretch this one has the ability to roll over the top of all of them.
Our All Stakes 50-cent Pick 4 Ticket
5th Race Oaks
2 Unsolved Mystery
7 Koron
8 Slack Tide
6th Race Distaff
5 Princess of Cairo
7 Classic Leah
7th Race Derby
2 Midnight Mojo
5 Smiling Goodbye
6 Executive Chef
7 Itsallabouttheride
8 Little Casino
10 Big Paper Daddy
8th Race 87th Longacres Mile
1 Slew’s Tiz Whiz
2 Top Executive
4 Background
7 Unmachable
12 Papa’s Golden Boy
Total Bet: $90
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