Hit the Beach faces easier in sprint return

Hit the Beach won’t mind the move back to a sprint and some class relief when he runs in a first-level allowance race that has a $50,000 claiming option Sunday at Emerald Downs. The six-furlong dash for 3-years-olds and up drew seven horses and appears to be a wide-open event.

Hit the Beach is trained by nonagenarian Hilbern Mullens. The Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold is looking for his first win since he won back-to-back stakes races to close his 2018 campaign. He sat just off the pace going 1 1/16 miles when he won the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for horses bred or sired by a horse standing in Washington or British Columbia. He had the same kind of trip when he won the $25,000 Pete Pedersen in his final start of the year Sept. 23.

Hit the Beach has just one third-place finish from five starts this year, but he has been facing the toughest horses on the grounds.

He ran evenly going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Mount Rainier on July 21. His best race at the meet came in his prior start when he finished third going 6 1/2 furlongs to Anyportinastorm in the $50,000 Budweiser on June 30.

Anyportinastorm has dominated the older handicap division at Emerald and will be favored to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile next Sunday.

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Hit the Beach will have speed to run at and could get up in time with Jose Zunino in the irons.

He will break from post 6.

Speed will be provided by Concur, who will break from the rail with Eddie Martinez riding for trainer Manuel Ortiz.

Grinder Sparksaglo, trained by Robert Baze, should get a nice trip from a stalking position.

Anyportinastorm ready for Longacres Mile

The Longacres Mile closed with 21 nominations, and Emerald officials are expecting a field of between eight and 10.

Trainer Blaine Wright is happy with how Anyportinastorm is progressing. After he won the Budweiser by 6 1/2 lengths, Wright said the 5-year-old son of City Zip would skip the Mount Rainier in order to be a fresh horse for the Mile.

“He’s doing great,” Wright said. “He should be set to go after he works Monday.”

Trainer John Sadler nominated Curlin Rules, Horse Greedy, Higher Power, and Fawree.

According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Sadler will make his final decision regarding which horse or horses are coming after they work this weekend.

Fawree seems to be peaking at the right time. The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride is perfect in two starts since Sadler took over his training.

He was particularly impressive winning a $25,000 starter race at Los Alamitos by six lengths July 6.

He also has four wins from five starts at the one-mile distance.