Mike Man's Gold to get rest after Muckleshoot win
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AUBURN, Wash. – Mike Man’s Gold capped his season at Emerald Downs with a powerhouse victory in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and will be turned out for the rest of the year, trainer David Martinez said Wednesday. Mike Man’s Gold earned a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure for his 2 1/2-length victory over Dare Me Devil on Sunday, when he ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.13.
Martinez said he has high hopes for 2015 for Mike Man’s Gold, a Keith Swagerty homebred, with the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on his long-range wish list. Mike Man’s Gold rallied from off the pace in the restricted Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, a welcome change of tactics after he had pressed the pace in previous outings. Martinez said Mike Man’s Gold now has the versatility to be a difference maker against open-stakes foes during his 5-year-old year.
Mike Man’s Gold has won 7 of 21 starts and compiled earnings of $175,974 for Swagerty’s Swag Stables and partner Gallo Stables. But can Mike Man’s Gold, by Liberty Gold, be a Longacres Mile type of horse?
“Yes, I think he can,” Martinez said. “Now he can relax and come up from the back. He showed more in that race, coming up from behind. So, yes, I think he can be. He likes the dirt. He showed that from the first day back on the track after he came back from California.”
Earlier on Sunday’s Washington Cup card, Noosito earned a career-best 88 Beyer for his romping victory over three rivals in the one-mile Chinook Pass Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Trainer Doris Harwood said Noosito would be turned out for the winter and return to Emerald Downs for the 2015 meeting. The full brother to Noosa Beach should be a factor in the older handicap division. The Chinook Pass score was his fifth victory in nine starts.
Also Sunday, 2-year-old sensation Trackattacker was assigned a 73 Beyer for his 9 1/4-length victory in the Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Unbeaten in four starts, Trackattacker is expected to start in the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 28.
Other Beyers for the winners on Washington Cup Day: Chu and You (78), Madam Pele (75), and Seattles Best Copy (59). Chu and You was particularly impressive, leading all the way to defeat stablemate Mylast Sweet Pea by 1 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Comcast SportsNet Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.