Decisions loom for Stryker Phd

AUBURN, Wash. – Stryker Phd was a happy camper Thursday at Emerald Downs, trainer Larry Ross said, “bucking and bouncing” during a morning jog as he eased back into training following his emphatic victory Sunday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile.

While he prevailed by just a half-length over Boyett, with longshot closer Twistgrips another half-length back in third, Stryker Phd gave a masterful performance in the Mile, rallying from some 15 lengths off the pace to reel in the pacesetters on a speed-favoring surface. Stryker Phd earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97, equaling his career best.

In his past six Emerald starts, Stryker Phd has posted Beyers of 96, 97, 96, 97, 91, and 97 – the kind of speed figures that might make him a player in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Oct. 31 at Santa Anita. Ross said he and owners Jim and Mona Hour had yet to formalize plans for a fall campaign for Stryker Phd. He is eligible to compete against statebreds Sept. 7 in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, though the turnaround from the Longacres Mile – just two weeks – is not ideal.

“We’re going to nominate for the Muckleshoot but play it by ear,” Ross said Thursday. “It’s too early to tell. The two weeks is a little bit of a concern. He’d have to be tearing the barn down. He’s had four or five weeks between his other starts, and we don’t want to screw it up now.”

Regarding a Breeders’ Cup bid, Ross said: “You might think about it. It would be tough. I don’t know that he could even get in. Our options are open right now. We’re going to let him have his fun. But he will go to California, and he’ll run somewhere down there.”

Per his custom, Stryker Phd rallied from far back to win the Longacres Mile. He was 15 lengths behind pacesetter Scat Daddybaby approaching the half-mile marker, farther back than Ross had anticipated. But with a hot tempo unfolding in front of him, jockey Leslie Mawing had Stryker Phd where he wanted him. When Stryker Phd roared into view with a bold, circling move on the turn, Ross was reminded of Chum Salmon, who captured the 1985 Longacres Mile for Ross in similar fashion.

“It was like déjà vu, man; it was like watching Chum running again,” Ross said. “Looking at the pace, you could see why he was so far back. When I saw the splits, it was understandable. Leslie did a fantastic job. He didn’t rush him. He let him settle. He never got off stride. By the time they were going to the half-mile pole and he started to make his move, I knew he was in contention. It’s like he switches gears. Ema Bovary was like that – they just have that extra gear in there to use when they need it.”