Anyportinastorm is the new sheriff at Emerald Downs

It seemed a given that after trainer Howard Belvoir announced Barkley was out for the year due to an injury Sippin Fire would take over the mantle as the top older horse at Emerald. After all, Sippin Fire was the best 3-year-old at Emerald last year, and he ran a big race to finish second to Barkley in his first start this year.

Not so fast.

Shipping in from California for Sunday’s $50,000 Governor’s is Anyportinastorm, and he’s here to stay with his sights set on the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 11.

The 5-year-old Florida-bred trained by Blaine Wright stands out in the six-furlong dash, which drew sevenhorses.

There isn’t much doubt about Anyportinastorm’s ability to sprint. In his last three starts, all sprints, he won the $75,000 Lost in The Fog at Golden Gate on April 27, just missed in the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial at Sunland Park March 24, and won the $100,000 Zia Sprint at Zia Park Nov. 21. Toss a sixth-place finish coming down the hill at Santa Anita more than two years ago and he has never been worse than third in his career. Anyportinastorm finished a bang-up third the only time he tried a mile, which came in the$75,000 Acatraz over firm turf at Golden Gate.

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“Our goal with him is the LGA Mile,” said Wright. “We’re going to run him in the first two sprint stakes and then skip the Rainier. It doesn’t make sense to have him go from six and one-half furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth and then cut him back to a mile. He’ll be a fresh horse for the Mile.”

Anyportinastorm will break from post 2 with his usual rider Juan Hernandez aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Anyportinastorm, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-90

◗ The versatile 5-year-old easily owns the best Beyers in the field. He was impressive winning the Lost In The Fog, and this will be the first time he’s been able to put three races together without a line under the date in his past performances.

Sippin Fire, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-79

◗ The Steve Bullock-trained Washington-bred received a career-best Beyer for his runner-up finish behind Barkley in a $50,000 optional race, and with a bullet five-furlong move on May 24 he should move forward in his second start as an older horse.

◗ He is better going longer but he did win the 6 1/2-furlong Seattle Slew from a stalking position last year and he drew the outside post, where leading rider Gary Wales can view how the race unfolds in front of him.

Hit the Beach, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 72-73-90

◗ Other than Anyportinthestorm, he is the only horse in the field to earn a Beyer Speed Figure in the 90’s and he received it for his win going 6 1/2 furlongs in the Pete Pedersen on closing day last year.

◗ Trained by Hilbern Mullens, he drew the rail in his first two starts this year and should get a trip more to his liking on Sunday leaving from post 6.