Flamethrowintexan and Starbird Road victorious

AUBURN, Wash. - Flamethrowintexan and Starbird Road emerged victorious at Emerald Downs on Sunday in a pair of important preps for the Aug. 20 running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile.

Flamethrowintexan led throughout 1 1-8 miles in 1:48 to win the $100,000 Mt. Rainier Breeders' Cup Handicap by 4 1-2 lengths over 46-1 shot Don'twritemeoff. Ridden by Ricky Frazier and trained by Jim Penney, Flamethrowintexan paid $3.80 to win as the heavy favorite in a field of 10 and earned $55,000 for Paul Heist?s Grasshopper Stable.

Starbird Road came from just off the pace to win the $40,000 Governor's Handicap with 6 1-2 furlongs in 1:14. Starbird Road prevailed by two lengths over Salt Grinder as the 2-1 favorite in a field of eight. Trained by Sharon Ross and owned by Rick Beal, Starbird Road was ridden on Sunday by Debbie Hoonan.