Mach One Rules, Prime Engine to have rematch in Mt. Rainier
Trainer Frank Lucarelli felt like a great weight was lifted off his shoulders when Mach One Rules won the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes at Emerald last Sunday. Under a well-timed ride by Isaias Enriguez, Mach One Rules came from a stalking position to edge Prime Engine by three-quarters of a length in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.
The reason for Lucarelli’s relief was that Mach One Rules finally beat Barkley, who finished a troubled fourth. In four previous stakes beginning last year, Barkley and Mach One Rules battled it out in the stretch, with Barkley winning each time by no more than a neck.
“It’s a relief to know we won’t go our lifetime without beating Barkley,” Lucarelli said.
Lucarelli gave a lot of credit for the win to Enriquez. Enriquez rode Mach One Rules for the first time when he lost by a neck to Barkley in the $50,000 Governor’s on May 21.
“Isaias said he learned a lot about Mach One Rules in the Governor’s,” Lucarelli said. “He waited a bit longer to make his move this time, and it really paid off.”
Lucarelli said he was also impressed with Prime Engine’s performance for trainer Mike Puhich in the Budweiser; they are both being pointed to the $50,000 Mt. Rainier on July 16. The 1 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier is a prep for the premier race in the Pacific Northwest, the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 13.
“Prime Engine deserves a lot of credit,” Lucarelli said. “He broke a step slow from the rail, and he was tough to get past in the stretch.”
Puhich was pleased with Prime Engine’s performance and wasn’t pointing to how the race unfolded as an excuse for the loss.
“That’s horse racing,” Puhich said.
Prime Engine was also gunned to the lead from the rail when he finished fourth in the Governor’s.
“He doesn’t need the lead to win, but circumstances kind of dictated we send him in both races,” Puhich said. “Damned if you do or damned if you don’t breaking from the rail. He can rate, and if there is other speed when he stretches out, we’ll just let them go.”
Prime Engine used similar tactics when he won the 1 1/8-mile Emerald Downs Derby by six lengths in 2015.
Puhich also said that Profound Moment came out of her win going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Washington Stake Legislators Stakes for fillies and mares last Saturday in good shape and will be pointed to the one-mile Boeing on July 16.
◗ Blame It On Royce, trained by Blaine Wright, looks like the one to catch and beat in a $15,000 claiming race for nonwinners of three that headlines Saturday’s eight-race card.
