Longacres Mile filled with speed

Anyportinastorm will try to give Canadian owner Peter Redekop his second-straight win in the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Sunday. The Mile drew 11 horses and will go at approximately 5:40 p.m. Pacific.

Redekop’s Anothertwistafate, trained by Blaine Wright, paid $4.40 for his 4 1/2-length victory over Five Star General last year. The Peter Miller-trained Anyportinastorm will not be as short of a price Sunday, but he will vie for favoritism with Five Star General.

It is hard to predict who will win the race, but there is no doubt how it will unfold. There is a plethora of speed in the field, the fastest being Papa’s Golden Boy, who will break from the rail with Julien Couton riding

Last year, Papa’s Golden Boy set the pace in the Mile before tiring to finish fifth. The 5-year-old Papa’s Golden Boy led every step of the way in his three wins this year, the latest a 2 3/4-length decision over Unmachable in the $50,000 Governor’s July 11.

“He drew the rail, so he’s going to the lead, and anyone that is chasing him isn’t going to make any money,” said trainer Vince Gibson. “I’ve trained him harder than I’ve ever trained him, and he’s taken it.”

With that in mind, Miller said Anyportinastorm will stalk. In 2019 he set the pace in the Mile only to be nipped at the wire by Law Abidin Citizen. The 98 Beyer he received matches the career best he received for his victory in the Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 24. Anyportinastorm is coming off a fourth-place finish in the $75,000 Oak Tree Sprint, won by Law Abidin Citizen at Pleasanton July 4

Miller was pleased with Anyportinastorm’s five-furlong work in 1:00.00 at Del Mar last Sunday.

“He’s doing great,” said Miller, Del Mar’s leading trainer. “He doesn’t need the lead, so we will let him settle in behind the speed.”

Juan Gutierrez, who rode Anothertwistafate to victory last year, will be aboard Anyportinastorm when he breaks from post 5.

Trainer Mike Puhich said he is not afraid to let Background use his good speed. Background is coming off head loss in the $100,000 Hanshin Cup on the Polytrack at Arlington Park on June 26.

Rocco Bowen rode him in that race and will be aboard Sunday for the seventh consecutive time. Bowen was the leading rider at Emerald for three straight years beginning in 2016.

Since arriving in Washington, Background has been training at the Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond.

“We wanted to freshen him up after his last race because he ran hard every step of the way,” said Puhich. “He has more than one gear, so we’ll send him early and go from there. If Rocco doesn’t know how to ride him now, he never will.”

Five Star General will try to give owner Glen Todd his second win in the Mile. Todd won the race with Taylor Said in 2012.

Mario Gutierrez was aboard Taylor Said in the 2012 Mile and Five Star General in last year’s race, when he rallied to finish second. A two-time Kentucky Derby winner, Gutierrez rides Five Star General again Sunday.

Five Star General is coming off an easy front-running win going 1 1/16 miles in an open allowance race at Hastings July 13. Todd is his trainer in Vancouver. Sandi Gann handles the training duties at Emerald, where Five Star General worked sharply on July 25 and Aug. 5.

“I am excited about Sunday,” said Gann. “He’s training super, and he doesn’t have to be on the lead, so he could get a nice trip as long as someone goes with Vince’s horse.”

If there is going to be an upset, it could from the Jack McCartney-trained Unmachable. He does his best running late and he could pick up the pieces if they get carried away up front.

The Chris Stenslie-trained Hard to Deny has an outside chance at 15-1 on the morning line.

Emerald Distaff

Stenslie has a much better chance of winning the $50,000 Emerald Distaff with Daffodil Sweet. The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares drew eight horses and goes as the sixth race.

Daffodil Sweet took them all the way in five of her six wins. In her only loss in four starts this year, she was eliminated when she got off to a horrible start as the 4-5 favorite in the $50,000 Hastings at Emerald June 17. Stenslie was pleased with how she sat behind the other speed in her win going a mile in an open allowance race July 24.

“It’s nice to know she can stalk,” said Stenslie. “It gives us more options.”

The 4-year-old Daffodil Sweet has not had an interim work.

“She can be a bit self-destructive, so we are keeping her fit with long gallops,” said Stenslie. “It seems to be working. She is a happy horse right now.”

Juan Gutierrez, who has ridden Daffodil Sweet in all her races, will be aboard when she breaks from post 6.

In Daffodil Sweet’s only route attempt, she set the pace before finishing second to the Todd-owned Princess of Cairo in the $40,000 Washington Oaks last year. Princess of Cairo again looks like she could spoil the party for Daffodil Sweet.

Princess of Cairo was no match for former Canadian champion Infinite Patience in her latest race, an open allowance July 13 at Hastings. But she has fired two bullets in three of her works at Emerald and appears to be sitting on a big effort.

“She trains like a million bucks but sometimes she doesn’t bring her ‘A’ game,” said Gann. “Hopefully she will Sunday. “

Mario Gutierrez rides.