Mt. Rainier one-two facing possible rematch in Longacres Mile

More Power to Him won the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Stakes on Sunday at Emerald Downs. The Mt. Rainier was the final local prep for the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile. However, the Mt. Rainier runner-up, El Huerfano, probably has a better chance of winning the Mile on Aug. 11.

The problem with More Power to Him is his lack of speed. He did win going a mile in a first-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option as a 2-year-old, but he had more tactical speed then.

Kevin Orozco timed his move perfectly in the 1 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier, and immediately following the victory declared that More Power to Him will be his mount in the Mile.

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That will be up to trainer Kay Cooper, who has taken over the training of More Power to Him. Faith Taylor was the trainer of record for the Mt. Rainier.

“He recovered quite well from the race,” Cooper said. “He is a wonderful horse to be around.”

Cooper said they also were considering the Grade 3, $100,000 Premier’s at Hastings for the 5-year-old son of Slew’s Tiznow. The 1 3/8-mile race goes Sept. 29.

The Chris Stenslie-trained El Huerfano has the right running style for the Mile. He has good speed, but doesn’t need the lead. He won’t have the lead in the Mile. That spot is reserved for Anyportinastorm, who won back-to-back sprint stakes at Emerald by a combined 10 lengths. He is trained by Blaine Wright. Wright didn’t want to stretch him out to 1 1/16 miles before cutting back in distance for the Mile.

A 5-year-old son of City Zip, El Huerfano has had two easy breezes since his dominating win going 6 1/2 furlongs in the Budweiser on June 30.

El Huerfano sat just off the lead in the Mt. Rainier, and at the top of the stretch he hooked up with Oh Marvelous Me. They staged a thrilling duel to the wire only to be overtaken late by More Power to Him.

Stenslie said El Huerfano came out of the race in good order and would be pointed to the Mile.

She may have been disappointed by the narrow loss in the Mt. Rainier, but was thrilled with No Talking Back, who rallied from well back to upset the $50,000 Boeing Stakes on Sunday.

“They are both doing well,” Stenslie said on Wednesday. “I will have a better idea when I get on them tomorrow.”

No Talking Back is owned by Jody Peetz, who races under One Horse Will Do Corporation and Steve Shimuzo.

After No Talking Back’s win in the Boeing, Peetz had the line of the day – “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going.”

No Talking Back is being pointed to the $50,000 Emerald Downs Distaff on Aug. 11.

◗ Timberlake George looks like the one to beat in a $7,500 claimer for nonwinners of two that will serve as Friday’s feature. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.