Sippin Fire takes path of least resistance in Washington Cup Sophomore

When Emerald Downs and Hastings created the Northwest Triple for 3-year-olds – comprising the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald, the $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings, and the $100,000 Getaway Stakes at Emerald – it was assumed the winner of the July 29 Muckleshoot would make his next start at in the Grade 3 B.C. Derby on Sept. 8. After all, a $100,000 bonus goes to any horse that wins the three races in the Triple, and following Sippin Fire’s win in the Muckleshoot, his jockey, Rocco Bowen, said, “Canada, here we come.”

Instead, Sippin Fire will run in the $50,000 Washington Cup Sophomore on Sunday at Emerald, where he will be a prohibitive favorite in the one-mile race restricted to Washington or British Columbia-bred or -sired 3-year-olds. The only British Columbia-bred among the six horses entered in the Sophomore (race 9) is Hey Sequoia.

Also on the 10-race card, which begins at 2 p.m. Pacific, is the 3-year-old filly equivalent to the Sophomore, the Washington Cup Sophomore Filly (race 3). Quarter-Horse fans will want to stay for the last race to catch the $30,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge.

Trained by Tom Bullock, Sippin Fire dominated the 3-year-old division at Emerald this year. He reeled off easy wins in the $50,000 Coca-Cola and $50,000 Seattle Slew Stakes before winning an epic battle with Weekend Wizard in the Muckleshoot, which was the race of the meet. The pair dueled the length of the stretch, with Sippin Fire edging clear to win the 1 1/8-mile race by three-quarters of a length.

Sippin Fire bounced back nicely from his hard-fought win and worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Aug. 16. Bullock didn’t rule out bringing the Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold back in two weeks to run in the B.C. Derby.

“He is doing really well and he is the only horse eligible for the bonus,” he said. “We’re nominating him to the derby, and we’ll see how he comes out of his race this weekend.”

Sippin Fire will break from post 2 with Bowen aboard. He will carry high weight of 124 pounds and spot each of his rivals five pounds.

Sippin Fire took advantage of a hot pace in his win in the Muckleshoot Derby. With Boundary Bay appearing to be the lone speed in the Sophomore, the early fractions will likely be moderate.

Trained by Sandi Gann, Boundary Bay is coming off a third-place finish in the Seattle Slew on July 8. He forced the pace in the 1 1/16-mile race before being overwhelmed by Sippin Fire in the stretch.

Boundary Bay will break from post 5 with Aaron Gryder riding.

Bullet Drill has won his last two starts and will be going around two turns for the first time. His trainer, Frank Lucarelli, also entered Elliot Bay, who finished a distant third in the Muckleshoot.

There are no stakes winners in the one-mile Sophomore Fillies, and none of the five horses entered have won a race going around two turns.

Brilliant Bird, a 6 1/2-length winner over Dontkissntell in a first-level optional claimer Aug. 4, looks like the one to beat. The Washington-bred daughter of Einstein is trained by Terry Gillihan.

Dontkissntell, trained by Tom Wenzel, is a full sister to three-time route winner Donttellmyhusband and could thrive at the distance.