Noosito starts year without main rival
Noosito will appreciate not having to face Stryker Phd when he makes his seasonal debut at Emerald Downs on Saturday. Stryker Phd hasn’t lost at Emerald since 2013, and victories in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in the last two years account for two of his seven wins in the streak. Noosito had the misfortune of moving into the older handicap division last year and was the only horse who came close to beating Stryker Phd, losing by a neck in the Budweiser and a half-length in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic last September.
This will be Noosito’s first start since the Muckleshoot, and without Stryker Phd in the field, he is clearly the one to beat in the six-furlong sprint, which drew nine horses.
Trainer Doris Harwood is happy with how Noosito is coming up to the race.
“He’s really grown over the winter,” said Harwood. “He is very well put together and deceptively big.”
Noosito is a full brother to Noosa Beach, who won four stakes as a 5-year-old and finished second in the Longacres Mile.
“Most of his family tend to get better as they develop,” said Harwood. “He certainly seems like a stronger horse this year.”
Noosito will be ridden by Isaias Enriquez for the first time. He drew post 8.
Prime Engine will appreciate the easier company after being overmatched in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs and the $100,000 Perryville at Keeneland in his last two starts. The last time he ran at Emerald, he easily won the $68,000 Emerald Downs Derby by six lengths. Trained by Mike Puhich , Prime Engine also won the $64,000 Gottstein Futurity as a 2-year-old.
KEY CONTENDERS
Noosito, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-81
◗ He runs well fresh and stands out from a Beyer Speed Figure perspective.
◗ He will run without blinkers after wearing them in his last two starts.
“He ran his best races without them,” said Harwood.
Prime Engine, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 80-60-83
◗ After easily handling Saturday rival Betrbegone in the Emerald Derby, he was ambitiously placed in the Super Derby, where he set the pace before fading badly.
◗ He’ll appreciate being back at his home track and appears to be primed for a big effort, with bullets in two of his last three works.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Emerald, Puhich has won with 32 percent of his starters coming off a layoff of 61 to 180 days.
Kaabraaj, by Abraaj
Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-80
◗ The 4-year-old is coming off a solid runner-up finish in an optional $50,000 claiming race at Emerald on April 10.
◗ Trained by Jeff Metz, he is trending in the right direction, and as the only horse in the field who has been racing this year, he should have a fitness edge over his rivals.
Budweiser the target for Stryker Phd
After spending the winter at Golden Gate Fields, Stryker Phd is back at Emerald and is slated to make his first start of the year in the $50,000 Budweiser on June 19.
Trained by Larry Ross, Stryker Phd hasn’t raced since he edged Noosito in the Muckleshoot.
According to Ross’s wife and assistant, Sharon, Stryker Phd could work this weekend. It will be his first serous move since he went a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on March 13.
“He caught a virus, so we had to give him some time off,” said Sharon Ross. “He’s doing great now, and if all goes well, he’ll make his next start in the Budweiser.”