Favored Anyportinastorm will carry 124 pounds in Longacres Mile

At 124 pounds, Anyportinastorm on Sunday will try to make history as the highest-weighted horse to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. The most prestigious race in the Northwest, it drew 11 horses for its 84th running and headlines a stellar card billed as Championship Sunday.

Supporting the Mile are three division-deciding $50,000 stakes, which will all be contested over 1 1/8 miles. The Washington Oaks kicks off a 50-cent all-stakes pick four in race 4. The Muckleshoot Derby and Emerald Distaff Handicap lead the sequence into the Mile. The Distaff and Mile are part of the New York Racing Association’s 50-cent Cross Country Pick Five.

With Juan Hernandez riding, Anyportinastorm dominated his opponents in his last three starts, beginning with a 3 1/2-length romp on Tapeta in the $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 17.

The Blaine Wright-trained 5-year-old won the $50,000 Governor’s at Emerald by the same margin on June 2, before romping in the 6 1/2-furlong Budweiser by 6 1/2 lengths June 30. In the Governor’s and Budweiser he packed 124 pounds.

Wright is hoping for more of the same Sunday.

“He’s trained forwardly,” said Wright. “I’ll put the saddle on him and let Juan point him in the right direction. His record speaks for itself. He’s been at Emerald for a while so it’s become like his home. He’s happy to be here and really couldn’t be going any better.”

Anyportinastorm tried a middle distance once in his 13-race career and he ran well, finishing third going a mile on turf in the $75,000 Alcatraz in May 2017.

He will start from post 8 with Hernandez aboard and will concede from three to nine pounds to the opposition. If he breaks on top he could be gone.

The John Sadler trainee Curlin Rules also has speed, though, and plenty of it.

The 6-year-old son of Curlin didn’t race in 2018 due to an injured back foot. In his comeback race he forced a fast pace before fading going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $62,500 optional claimer at Santa Anita on May 11. He lasted a lot longer after pressing the pace going a mile at the same level at Del Mar on July 24.

“He’s a nice horse,” said Sadler. “He was good enough to finish second to Cupid and he’s doing well right now.”

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Cupid won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita prior to edging out Curlin Rules in the 2017 Harry F. Brubaker at Del Mar.

Curlin Rules could be sitting on a big effort in his third start of the year. He drew post 6 with Martin Pedroza riding. Expect him to be in the mix right from the start.

Solid Wager will appreciate a fast and contested pace. The two-time Grade 3 winner will be making his third start for trainer Michael Maker, who claimed him for $62,500 at Churchill Downs on behalf of local owner David Staudacher.

The 8-year-old son of Birdonthewire won the Grade 3 Toboggan going seven furlongs at Aqueduct in January. One chink in his armor is his 0-4-3 record from 15 starts at the one-mile distance.

More Power to Him will be rolling late. He came from well back to win the $50,000 Mount Rainier on July 21. Trainer Kay Cooper is pleased with how he is coming into the race.

The 5-year-old California-bred son of Slew’s Tiznow has done most of his racing in Northern California for trainer Faith Taylor. He was transferred to Cooper’s barn following his win in the Mt. Rainier.

“He really likes it up here,” said Cooper. “He runs all day so we’re looking at the Premier’s at Hastings, too.”

The Grade 3, $100,000 Premier’s is scheduled for Sept. 29.

El Huerfano, second in the Mt. Rainier for trainer Chris Stenslie, drew the outside post and will need to use his tactical speed to avoid going wide around the first turn.

“He’s coming into the race great,” said Stenslie, “Hopefully he’ll break well and lay close.”

Rocky Tough does his best running late. In his last start the 5-year-old son of Paddy O’Prado rallied to finish second in a $50,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs on June 29.

He will be making his first start for trainer Tim McCanna.

Elliott Bay appears to be coming around for trainer Frank Lucarelli.

“He’s a good horse that is doing well so we’ll take a poke at it,” said Lucarelli, Emerald’s all-time leading trainer.

Law Abidin Citizen, trained by Mark Glatt, is a Grade 3 winner on turf, but has just a single win on dirt. His latest win came down the hill at Santa Anita on March 31.

The Wright-trained Oh Marvelous Me finished third in the Mile last year and is coming off a third in the Mt. Rainier.

If the favorite doesn’t fire, it’s anybody race.