Anyportinastorm takes favorite's role for Longacres Mile

Anyportinastorm will break from post 8 with his usual rider Juan Hernandez aboard in the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Sunday. Post positions were drawn at a brunch held at Emerald on Wednesday.

Trained by Blaine Wright, Anyportinastorm will carry high weight of 124 pounds. He has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the 11-horse field.

“No complaints about the post,” said Wright.

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The 5-year-old Anyportinastorm is coming off a dominating win in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes at Emerald on June 30. He also had an easy time winning the $50,000 Governor’s on June 2.

The only time the 5-year-old son of City Zip went a middle distance he finished third going a mile on turf in the $75,000 Alcatraz at Golden Gate Fields.

Solid Wager, second in the weights at 120 pounds, will break from post 2 with Juan Gutierrez riding for trainer Michael Maker. The two-time Grade 3 winner is the second choice at 5-1.

Acting on behalf of local owner David Staudacher, Maker claimed Solid Wager for $62,500 at Churchill Downs on May 3. The 8-year-old son of Birdonthewire won the Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct on Jan. 19. His other Grade 3 victory came in the Midnite Lute at Santa Anita in 2016.

Solid Wager is easily the top money earner in the field with $857,970.

Curlin Rules, the 6-1 third choice, brings serious speed from Southern California .The John Sadler trainee will break from post 6 with Martin Pedroza riding.

Rocky Tough, 8-1, ships in from Churchill Downs where he lost a $50,000 claimer by a neck on June 29.

He was claimed out of the race by owner Fred Desimone. His new trainer is Tim McCanna. A deep closer, he will appreciate having a fast pace to work with.

Rocky Tough, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred, drew post 4. Julian Couton will ride.

More Power to Him, 12-1, won’t mind if things get heated up front. The California-based 5-year-old came from well back to win the $50,000 Budweiser on July 21 for trainer Faith Taylor. He remained at Emerald and will race for trainer Kay Cooper.

More Power to Him will break from post 9 with Kevin Orozco retaining the mount.

Here is the rest of the field in post-position order with morning-line odds and jockeys:

Restrainedvengence, 15-1, Kevin Krigger; Oh Marvelous Me, 12-1, Jorge Carreno; Law Abidin Citizen, 10-1, Abel Cedillo; Brave Nation, 20-1, Gary Wales; Elliot Bay, 30-1, Javier Matias; El Huerfano, 8-1, Agapito Delgadillo.

Mixo definitely in the mix

Mixo rates a close look in a $25,000 claimer that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Emerald. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Sharon Ross, Mixo should appreciate the class relief following a third-place finish in a first-level allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option on July 7. He will break from post 3 with Kevin Orozco riding.

Mixo will have to fend off the Frank Lucarelli-trained duo of Cross Creek and Golden Cowboy.