Muckleshoot Classic, Filly and Mare close out Washington Cup series

The final two Washington Cup races share top billing at Emerald Downs on Sunday. This will be the penultimate Sunday of the meet, which comes to an end on Sept. 22.

Trainer Mark Cloutier is looking for a big effort from Coulterberry in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Classic on Sunday. The Hastings-based trainer is also hoping Under Par will be able to carry her considerable speed 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Washington Cup Filly and Mare.

The Washington Cup races are restricted to horses bred or sired in British Columbia or Washington.

Coulterberry is coming off a runner-up finish to Gato Guapo in the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap at Century Mile, near Edmonton, Alberta. It was the first time the 6-year-old son of Finality had raced on a mile track. It was also his first race away from Hastings, where he had compiled a solid 9-4-3 record from 22 starts.

“He’s a nervous horse so we were worried about how he would handle the ship,” said Cloutier. “He did well and he ran a big race. He has one strong quarter-mile move and it needs to be timed perfectly.”

Bred in British Columbia by Cloutier’s in-laws, Roy and Dixie Jacobson, Coulterberry should have plenty of speed to run at Sunday. With a well-timed ride by Amadeo Perez, he could get up to win the 1 1/16-mile Muckleshoot Classic, which drew nine horses.

Sippin Fire, trained by Steve Bullock, could also feast on what should be a fast and contested pace.

A four-time stakes winner as a 3-year-old, Sippin Fire is looking for his first win since he romped in the Washington Cup Sophomore last year.

Mike Man’s Gold, who is the all-time leader in wins at Emerald, will be gunning for his 23rd victory in the Muckleshoot. Trained by Joe Toye, he came from a stalking position to romp by four lengths in $25,000 claimer going 5 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 21.

But it is hard to say if he will get the right kind of trip on Sunday after breaking from the outside post with leading rider Gary Wales up.

No Talking Back should be favored over Bella Mia in the Filly and Mare.

Trained by Chris Stenslie, No Talking Back came from a stalking position to win the $50,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap on Aug. 11 and should get a similar trip in the Filly and Mare with Scott Stevens retaining the mount.

No Talking Back rallied to win the $50,000 Boeing Stakes two starts back.

Bella Mia forced the pace and was game in defeat in the Distaff. Trained by Blaine Wright, Bella Mia likes to be involved early. With the speedy Under Par in the race, she will need to rate if she is going to turn the tables on No Talking Back.

Under Par has compiled an enviable 9-3-1 record from 13 starts but has never gone a middle distance. Under Par is coming off an easy front-running win in a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Century Mile on Aug. 25 with Prayven Badrie riding. In her only start at Emerald, she cruised to an 8 3/4-length victory in a $30,000 optional claimer on June 30.

“She seemed to like the surface at Emerald, so we’ll just let her do her thing and see how far she’ll go,” said Cloutier. “Prayven said she relaxed nicely and thought she might be more than just a sprinter. We’ll see.”