Anothertwistafate favored in Longacres Mile despite long layoff

Despite not having raced since he finished 10th in the 2019 Preakness, Anothertwistafate will be favored to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile on Thursday evening at Emerald Downs.

The Northwest’s premier race drew 10 horses and headlines an 11-race card that begins at 5:03 p.m. Pacific. The Mile is supported by the $40,000 Emerald Distaff ,where Killarney Lass will try to take them all the way in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

Trained by Blaine Wright and owned by Peter Redekop, Anothertwistafate came a few points short of running in last year’s Kentucky Derby. After romping by seven lengths in the $101,000 El Camino Real Derby, he overcame trouble to finish second in both the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby and Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland.

Mucho Gusto, third in the Sunland Park Derby, went on to win the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 5 at Gulfstream Park. Owendale, winner of the Lexington, finished third in the Preakness, and after winning the Grade 3 Ohio Derby and Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby finished second to Tom’s d’Etat in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs.

In the Longacres Mile, Anothertwistafate will be facing horses with far less credentials, and Wright seems to have him primed for a big effort. Beginning June 14, Anothertwistafate has been working every seven days at Golden Gate Fields. According to Daily Racing Form’s George Cottrell, his six-furlong move in 1:10.40 on Aug. 16 equals the fastest time at the distance since Golden Gate began racing on Tapeta in 2007.

“He’s ready to go,” Wright said. “He’s been working super, and he shipped really good. We got a veteran jock who has won over 2,000 races and knows how to win the Longacres Mile.”

He was referring to Juan Gutierrez, a winner of 2,021 races including two victories in the Mile.

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Anothertwistafate has natural speed but can rate. With Papa’s Golden Boy in the field, the pace will be wicked.

“He’s a long-loping horse,” Wright said of Anothertwistafate. “I know there is a lot of speed in the field, but he won’t be dropping back to last. Hopefully, he will break well, and we will leave the rest up to Juan.”

Five Star General is the only graded winner in the field. With two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez riding, Five Star General won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings last year for owner-trainer Glen Todd.

Gutierrez will be aboard the son of Distorted Humor when he breaks from post 2. Todd and Gutierrez teamed up to win the Mile in 2012 with Taylor Said.

Five Star General, perfect in two starts at a mile, is coming off a win and a third in two sprints at Hastings. In his latest outing, he finished third as the heavy favorite in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governor’s on Aug. 6.

Heading the local contingent is the Frank Lucarelli-trained Elliott Bay. The 5-year-old Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold has won both his starts at the meet, the latest coming in the $40,000 Mount Rainier when he caught Papa’s Golden Boy at the wire in the 6 1/2-furlong dash on Aug. 13. He drew the rail with Eddie Martinez retaining the mount.

“By the numbers, he doesn’t look as good as Blaine’s horse or Five Star General so he would have to run the race of his life,” Lucarelli said. “He couldn’t be doing any better though, and the race sets up for him.”

Lucarelli is looking for another strong effort from Killarney Lass, who will be favored in the Distaff.

In her last start, the 4-year-old daughter of Eskendereya broke on top and never looked back while winning the $40,000 Boeing Stakes by five lengths over Alittlelesstalk. Last year, she ran a similar race when she won the 1 1/8-mile Washington Oaks by nine 9 1/4 lengths.

Lucarelli isn’t too concerned that there is other speed in the field.

“She doesn’t need to be in front,” he said. “And it will be tough on any horse that tries to run with her.”

She will break from post 4 with Martinez retaining the mount.

Following her win in the Oaks, Killarney Lass went to Hastings where she faded badly after being in the mix early in $100,000 British Columbia Oaks. The 1 1/8-mile race was won by Amazonian, who came from well back.

Amazonian could get the same kind of trip with Gutierrez riding the daughter of Malibu Moon for Todd. In her only start this year, Amazonian finished last going 6 1/2 furlongs in a conditioned allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option on Aug. 16 at Hastings. However, she may have been compromised when she broke though the starting gate and had to be reloaded. She will break from the outside post.

Alittlelesstalk could be coming up to a big race in her third start at the meet for trainer Roddina Barrett. Last year, the Washington-bred daughter of Demon Warlock was voted the champion 3-year-old filly at Emerald. On the same day Killarney Lass was romping in the Oaks, the two-time stakes winner finished a game second in the Muckleshoot Derby.