Mike Man's Gold sharp for Muckleshoot Tribal Classic

Mike Man’s Gold shoots for his 20th win when he runs in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic at Emerald Downs on Sunday. The classy 8-year-old should get it if he stays in his current form.

The Muckleshoot shares the spotlight with the $50,000 Washington Cup Filly and Mare, where No Talking Back will be a short price to win the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew 10 horses. Both races are restricted to horses foaled in Washington or British Columbia or sired by a stallion standing in Washington or B.C. during the year bred.

The 1 1/16-mile Muckleshoot (race 8) drew eight horses, with Mike Man’s Gold peaking at the right time.

Trained by Joe Toye, Mike Man’s Gold appeared he might be past his prime when he finished fifth as the heavy favorite in his first start this year on April 28. However, he looked like the same horse that won five races at Emerald last year in his wins in a $10,000 starter race July 1 and a $20,000 claimer July 21.

Toye takes the blame for the way Mike Man’s Gold started out the meet.

“The trainer didn’t make a good decision in running him,” he said. “We gave him the winter off and he did really well in Arizona, but he just wasn’t the same horse after he shipped to Emerald. I knew he wasn’t perfect, but I thought he was good enough to beat the horses he was running against. He’s doing great now, though. He’s kind of like George Foreman in that he can take a punch and just won’t go away.”

Toye gave a lot of credit to leading rider Rocco Bowen for Mike Man’s Gold’s success.

“Rocco is very smart and he always has a plan which he seems to put into place,” said Toye.

Mike Man’s Gold, who is versatile, will break from post 5 with Bowen riding.

The 3-year-old Elliott Bay, third behind Sippin Fire in the Washington Cup Sophomore on Aug. 26 and the Muckleshoot Derby July 29, is the only other horse in the field with a win at the distance. The Howard Belvoir-trained son of Harbor the Gold is looking for his first win since taking the Gottstein Futurity last Sept. 24.

2017 Portland Mile winner Grinder Sparksaglo is coming off a sharp win going 6 1/2 furlongs in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option on Aug. 25. The Robert Baze-trained 7-year-old has won 13 times in his 48-race career.

In the Washington Cup Filly and Mare (race 6), No Talking Back, trained by Chris Stenslie, is coming off a third-place finish going 1 1/8 miles in the Emerald Downs Distaff, and the 80 Beyer she received is easily the best last-race figure in the field.

The 4-year-old daughter of Flatter will appreciate the slightly shorter distance, the shape of the race, and the easier company.

The main threat could come from the Robbie Anderson-trained Sailingforthesun, who ships in fresh from Hastings following a win June 3 in a 6 1/2-furlong classified allowance.