Kaabraaj in sharp form ahead of Longacres Mile

Six horses, headed by the millionaire Alert Bay, were entered Wednesday for Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

Alert Bay, trained by Blaine Wright, is making his first start in over a year, throwing the premier race in the Pacific Northwest wide open.

The one they will have to run down is Kaabraaj, who is taking a big step up in class after winning a first-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option on July 8.

“He’s climbing the ladder by default,” said trainer Jeff Metz. “We were looking at a sprint on the undercard, but there isn’t one. He’s doing extremely well, and with all the defections we’re going to take a shot. With Riser out, it is a completely different race.”

Riser dominated the local handicap division this year, and in all of his races he broke on top and never looked back. With the same kind of running style, Kaabraaj would have been up against it with Riser in the field.

Kaabraaj also appears to be peaking at the right time. The 6-year-old Washington-bred son of Abraaj will be making just his third start this year. He dueled through wicked fractions before tiring to finish third in a first-level allowance race with a $32,000 claiming option on June 17, and then took them all the way July 8.

Kaabraaj’s final time of 1:14.31 for the 6 1/2-furlong dash is the fastest at the meet. The runner-up in that race, Oh Marvelous Me, came back to win a second-level $40,000 optional race going 1 1/16 miles on July 29 and is one of the horses entered in the Mile.

The main concern is that Kaabraaj – who also holds the track record for six furlongs (1:06.86 set in 2016) – has never carried his substantial speed farther than 6 1/2 furlongs. He’s tried a middle distance only three times in his 30-race career. He finished third in a one-mile open allowance race as a 3-year-old in 2015, and third again going 1 1/16 miles in a $40,000 optional claiming race with first-level allowance conditions in his next start. The last time he tried two turns he couldn’t keep up to O B Harbor, the track record holder for 6 1/2 furlongs, in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes in 2016.

“He has a high cruising speed and hopefully he can get out there and keep rolling,” said Metz.

Metz was pleased with how Kaabraaj breezed five furlongs in 59.40 seconds Saturday.

“We worked him behind horses in case there was other speed in the field, and he relaxed really well.”

The only other real speed in the race is the Michael Maker-trained Conquest Windycity. Conquest Windycity can stalk, though, and if Kaabraj breaks alertly there isn’t much doubt who will be in front going into the first turn.

The Mile is supported by three stakes, including the $50,000 Emerald Downs Distaff. Last year the Metz-trained Citizen Kitty won the Distaff. She was retired after she finished last in a $40,000 optional race on July 1.

“She went home sound and will be bred next year,” said Metz.

A 6-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Proud Citizen, Citizen Kitty compiled an 8-5-6 record from 33 starts and earned $222,301, all for owner Highlander Racing Stables.