Field of 11 likely for Longacres Mile

As of Wednesday morning there were 11 horses confirmed for Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile. Anyportina-storm, who has dominated the local handicap division, figures to be favored in the most prestigious race at Emerald.

Trained by Blaine Wright, the 5-year-old son of City Zip is coming off a decisive front-running win in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes on June 30. With a sharp half-mile in 48 seconds Monday, Anyportina-storm seems primed for a big performance in a race Wright very much wants to win.

Anyportinastorm will have to deal with other speed in the Mile, most notably Curlin Rules, who is based in Southern California with trainer John Sadler.

A winner of three races, the 6-year-old son of Curlin is coming off a fourth-place finish in a conditioned allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on July 24. It was just his second start since he finished sixth in the Grade 3 Native Diver at Del Mar in November 2017.

“He hurt his back foot so he missed a lot of time” said Sadler. “He’s doing well now. He finished second to Cupid in a stakes race, so he’s a nice horse.

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The race Sadler was referring to was the $81,150 Harry F. Brubaker on Aug. 23, 2017. Curlin Rules forced Soi Phet through quick interior fractions before giving way late to Cupid who was coming off a win in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Depending on what post position he receives, Curlin Rules could get a similar trip Sunday. At the very least his presence guarantees an honest pace.

Sadler said Martin Pedroza will ride.

Shipping down from Hastings is Brave Nation, who is coming off a runner-up finish going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ on July 14. Trained by John Snow, he was scratched out of the $50,000 British Columbia Classic at Hastings on Monday.

“The timing just seemed right to take a shot in the Mile,” said Snow. “It is a good distance for him and I was thrilled when I found out leading rider Gary Wales was available.”

Brave Nation is versatile. He rallied to finish second going 1 3/8 miles in the Grade 3 Premiers at Hastings as a 3-year-old last year. He forced a slow pace when he won a one-mile race on Tapeta at Golden Gate in his second start this year on May 24.

“He has speed but he really likes to run at horses,” said Snow.

◗ Rocket Power will appreciate the class relief when he runs in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two Friday night. Post time for the first of seven races is 6:30 p.m. Pacific.

The Frank Lucarelli-trained 3-year-old found stakes company beyond his scope in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes on July 14. However, his back-to-back third-place finishes in first-level allowance races that carried a $30,000 claiming option stamp him as the one to beat in the 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew seven horses.