Absolutely Cool back with original trainer

AUBURN, Wash. – Eleven horses were nominated for Sunday’s Governor’s Handicap at Emerald Downs, the first major stepping-stone to the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in August, but the number of legitimate contenders is considerably smaller. Mr. Bowling, second in an allowance race in his season debut, and Absolutely Cool, a recent stakes winner in Arizona, are likely to attract the lion’s share of the betting.

Absolutely Cool scored a $31 upset in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise in February, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94. Trained in Arizona by Valorie Lund, Absolutely Cool will be handled at Emerald by Tom Wenzel, the 7-year-old’s original trainer. Absolutely Cool will make his first start at Emerald since 2011.

“I’ve had him a couple of times through the years,” Wenzel said. “We broke his maiden, and we ran him in the Governor’s three years ago, when he made a big move behind Noosa Beach and flattened out. He’s been running all winter in Phoenix and should be in good shape. He’s a nice colt. If he can get anything close to his best, he’ll be in the mix.”

Mr. Bowling finished second behind front-running Scat Daddybaby on April 20 in his first start since the 2013 Longacres Mile, when Mr. Bowling faded to finish 11th after shipping from Indiana Downs. Scat Daddybaby has since come down with a minor foot injury, according to trainer Robbie Baze, and will wait to make his next start. Baze did not nominate Scat Daddybaby to the Governor’s.

Other nominees include Disruption, Dontmesswithkitten, Finallygotabentley, Jebrica, Mike Man’s Gold, Somewhere With You, Wheelhouse, Why Not Be Perfect, and Winning Machine. Winning Machine captured the 2012 Governor’s Handicap; Why Not Be Perfect finished third in the race last year.

◗ Wenzel said Wednesday that Stopshoppingdebbie, his undefeated stable star, came out of last Sunday’s Hastings Handicap in good order and would start next in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes on June 8.

Stopshoppingdebbie, now 6-for-6 lifetime, used a powerful, circling rally on the turn to blow past her rivals in the Hastings and win going away. She covered the six furlongs in 1:08.38, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 83. If not for the wide trip, she could have gone faster.

“I didn’t think she’d win that easily, I really didn’t,” Wenzel said. “She’s a really good horse, but she surprised me. I thought it would be a horse race with my other two fillies and Madam Pele, but the way she did it? I was impressed.”