Slew’s Tiz Whiz catches Papa’s Golden Boy in Longacres Mile

Slew’s Tiz Whiz paid $8.80 for winning the $150,000 Longacres Mile and restored some semblance of order at Emerald Downs on Sunday after longshots won the first three races in the all-stakes pick 4, resulting in one person collecting $67,847.05 for a 50-cent ticket.

Slew’s Tiz Whiz had a perfect trip in the most prestigious race in the Pacific Northwest as he hugged the rail every step of the way until he angled out midstretch to take control from Papa’s Golden Boy, who held on for second after setting quick interior fractions in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

With Jose Zunino riding, Slew’s Tiz Whiz was sitting comfortably in fifth when Papa’s Golden Boy posted a half-mile time of 45.17 seconds. He moved into serious contention turning for home and finished with a rush to win going away. The final margin was 2 3/4 lengths. It appeared for a moment that Papa’s Golden Boy might take them all the way, but he tired late to finish 1 1/2 lengths in front of Five Star General, who rallied late.

The final time was 1:34.46.

“You need some luck and we got a little lucky going into the first turn,” Zunino said. “I felt confident when he really wanted to go at the quarter-pole.”

It was the second win in the Mile for trainer Tom Wenzel, the first coming in 2007 with The Great Face.

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Slew’s Tiz Whiz went into the Mile following wins in a conditioned allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option July 10, and the $50,000 Governor’s on July 24.

“He got really sharp winning the allowance race,” Wenzel said. “He’s an overachiever, so I am very proud of him.”

The 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding was bred by the late Karl Krieg and is owned by his widow, Darlyne Krieg, who races under the stable name K D Thoroughbreds.

“Karl was here watching,” she said.

The feel-good race of the day was the $75,000 Washington Oaks, in which Jake Samuels rode Tiz a Macho Girl to a 6 1/4-length victory for trainer Jeff Metz in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

She paid $45.00 and posted a final time of 1:42.17.

Samuels was a stay-at-home father with his daughter until his wife, jockey Kassie Guglielmino, fractured a fibula in a spill at Emerald on June 24.

“I was enjoying being home with my daughter, but I had to keep things going for us. I am glad to be back riding,” Samuels said. “Kassie is doing well and it was nice to have her here today.”

“I told Jake if he ever wanted to return to riding I would have horses for him,” Metz said. “I liked the way he rode at Turf Paradise and knew he would be a good match for this filly.”

Tiz a Macho Girl broke alertly, sat just off Unsolved Mystery going into the first turn and, after moving up from along the rail, was on even terms with Unsolved Mystery at the half-mile mark. She took control on the stretch turn before drawing off to win decisively over heavily favored Slack Tide, who came from a stalking position. Unsolved Mystery held on to finish third.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Mucho Macho Man, Tiz a Macho Girl races for Saratoga West, Letha and Steve Haahr.

The $75,000 Emerald Distaff produced another surprise with Zippin Sevenz paying $49.00 for her front-running win over Princess of Cairo in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

With Alex Cruz aboard, Zippin Sevenz broke on top from the outside post in the 10-horse field, posted a half-mile time of 46.02 seconds, held a 2-length lead at the eighth-pole and never looked threated by Princess of Cairo, who came from a stalking position to finish second. Buyback rallied late to get up for third.

The final time was 1:42.15.

“We didn’t plan to go to the lead, but she broke so sharp that I just went on with it,” Cruz said. “When I asked her at the top of the stretch, I had a lot of horse.”

The 4-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Coast Guard is trained by Alan Bozell, and races for Mike Phillips.

The biggest shock of all came in the $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby, in which You’re the Cause took advantage of a fast and contested pace to win the 1 1/16-mile race. The longest shot on the board at 56-1, he paid $115.60 for his narrow victory over Midnight Mojo.

Javier Matias was sitting chilly when You’re the Cause was last in the 11-horse field at the six-furlong mark. He started to make his presence known while going five-wide on the stretch turn, continued his strong move while going seven-wide in the stretch and edged Midnight Mojo by three-quarters of a length.

Midnight Mojo was well back early, rallied from along the inside on the stretch turn and through the stretch in a big effort. Smiling Goodbye held on well to finish third after dueling with Little Casino through a half-mile in 45.10 seconds.

A Kentucky-bred gelding by Creative Cause, You’re the Cause is trained by Debbie Van Horne and is owned by Wilwin Stable.

The $3,205,784 total mutual handle was the second largest in track history.