Last works for Longacres Mile
AUBURN, Wash. - Colterkind and Jumron Won put in their final preps for Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile on Thursday morning at Emerald Downs, and both left their trainers smiling.
"I'd like to see him go in 35.80," said trainer Roy Lumm just moments before sending Colterkind out for a three-furlong blowout, just after the break for renovation.
A couple of minutes later, Colterkind, a winner of four straight races including the recent Governor's Handicap, flashed past the wire in precisely 35.80 seconds under regular rider Sandi Gann.
"I guess I can't complain about that," said the trainer, laughing. "He did it beautifully."
Trainer Bud Klokstad was equally pleased with Jumron Won, who drilled five furlongs in 1:00.80 under new rider Gallyn Mitchell.
"That was a wonderful workout for him," said Klokstad. "He really did go good, and that makes me feel a lot better about running him in the Mile."
Jumron Won is bidding to become the first horse to win the track's three most prestigious races - the Gottstein Futurity, the Emerald Derby, and the Longacres Mile.
Three other Mile hopefuls worked four furlongs on Wednesday morning.
Sabertooth got the distance in 47.80 seconds under exercise rider Bryson Cooper, while Prodigious went in 48 and Futural was clocked in 49.20 seconds.
Redattore, the 123-pound highweight and probable favorite, completed his preparation for the Mile on Monday, working five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Del Mar for trainer Richard Mandella. Redattore will be joined by fellow Southern California invaders Mysterious Cat and Komax on a flight that was scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Komax, who ran third in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap at Hollywood in June, has a new rider. Luis Jauregui will take over for Joe Steiner, who has other commitments.
Prodigious, Sabertooth, Sullivanitis, and Jade Green, who has again become a possibility for the Mile, are equally weighted at 113 pounds and will draw for the final spot in the 12-stall gate. The other
11 slots will be taken by Redattore at 123 pounds with Jason Lumpkins up; Moonlight Meeting, 119, Ricky Frazier; Lord Nelson, 118, Frank Fuentes; Mysterious Cat, 117, Kevin Radke; Futural, 116, Russell Baze; Komax, 116, Jauregui; Radar Contact, 116, Adalberto Lopez; Jumron Won, 115, Mitchell; San Nicolas, 115, Francisco Duran; Colterkind, 114, Gann; and Road Afleet, 114, Ben Russell.