Two-time defending winner Slew’s Tiz Whiz heads the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Sunday at Emerald Downs. The Tom Wenzel trainee, now 6, has won his last three attempts at Sunday’s distance and accounted for the 2022 Longacres Mile as well. Papa’s Golden Boy, winner of the 2021 Governor’s Stakes, recently returned to racing after an extended vacation and seems to be something close to his old self. Papa’s Golden Boy finished second to Slew’s Tiz Whiz in both the 2022 Longacres Mile and the 2022 Governor’s Stakes. While Slew’s Tiz Whiz has been warming to his mid-summer tasks, Papa’s Golden Boy and Neiman have been the brightest spots on the local horizon among the older set. The pair each notched a win in front of fast-closing Slew’s Tiz Whiz earlier this season. Vince Gibson trains Papa’s Golden Boy, who is now 8 years old. The son of Harbor the Gold returned June 2 from a layoff of 18 months and won like a good thing, covering 5 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy course in 1:01.89. Leading rider Alex Cruz will now take over aboard the speedster. Neiman is a Justin Evans trainee who assertively planted himself off Papa’s Golden Boy’s flank in the early stages before getting the better of that foe late in the June 23 Budweiser Stakes. Papa’s Golden Boy has been teaching himself not to use all of his energy in the early going. He has been racing in hand along the backstretch, and even so, he managed to run a half-mile in 43.02 seconds coming off 18 months on the sidelines. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Others who might pierce the trifecta with some racing luck include Deshambeau, a Frank Lucarelli trainee who last started May 1 at Turf Paradise. Mongolian Memory is a Scott Tubbs charge who finished fourth at 48-1 in the Budweiser. Arma d’Oro, a gelding who recently ran a mile in 1:34.04, is another trained by Evans. Dirt Road Red, trained by Candice Cryderman, won five straight races at Emerald in 2023 and has recently won back-to-back races at a mile and a mile and 70 yards. Describing his June 29 win, Cryderman said, “He ran really well, let the speed duo go out and waited for [jockey Luis] Reyes to ask him and he responded beautifully.” Sharing billing on Sunday is the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. The one to beat in there is Aloha Breeze, who was used up dueling for the lead from the inside in the June 22 Hastings Stakes and now returns with a prep under her girth. Other prime win candidates include Hastings Stakes winner Blazingbellablu, trained by Charles Essex; Young Life Laura, trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez, narrowly second in the Hastings; and local newcomer Tizzy Twister, another trained by Evans. Our Lyla Grace, winner of last year’s Legislators Stakes, was fifth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the Hastings and returned to win an allowance race for Cryderman on July 7. “Perfect trip for her last out. Would have to duplicate it to hit the board here,” Cryderman said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.