Stryker Phd begins drive to Longacres Mile

AUBURN, Wash. – Stryker Phd, the leading handicap horse in the Pacific Northwest, will make his 2015 debut Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Emerald Downs. Stryker Phd, who has won four consecutive stakes starts at Emerald, is likely to be a prohibitive favorite in the one-mile race as he takes his first step toward defending his title in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in August.

The presence of Stryker Phd didn’t dissuade anyone from taking a chance in the Budweiser, however. The race attracted a full field of 12, a rarity for an Emerald stakes other than the Longacres Mile. Noosito, a three-time stakes winner during his 3-year-old season in 2014, leads a parade of challengers that also features Absolutely Cool, winner of the Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise in February, and Twistgrips, who rallied from the clouds to finish third in the Longacres Mile a year ago.

Trainer Larry Ross has Stryker Phd on a schedule similar to 2014, when the late-running Bertrando gelding returned from a long layoff to win the Budweiser impressively. Stryker Phd then swept to victories in the Mt. Rainier Handicap and Longacres Mile before a two-race fall campaign in California. In his most recent start, he finished third as the favorite in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate in November.

Stryker Phd should get a fast pace to flatter his patented late charge. Scat Daddybaby, who set the pace in the 2014 Longacres Mile, is certain to be a pace factor if he breaks sharply from his inside post position. Noosito and Del Rio Harbor, a four-time Emerald Downs stakes winner, should be among those in close pursuit. Look for Stryker Phd and jockey Leslie Mawing to bide their time at the back.

KEY CONTENDERS

Stryker Phd (Last 3 Beyers: 87, 93, 97)

◗ In his past six starts at Emerald Downs, Stryker Phd has recorded Beyer Speed Figures of 97, 91, 97, 96, 97 and 96.

Noosito (Last 3 Beyers: 83, 88, 78)

◗ Noosito ran well in his season debut, finishing second behind Fleet Eagle in the Governor’s Handicap. While he was disqualified and placed sixth for causing interference, Noosito should be formidable at his favorite distance with that race as a prep.

◗ Julien Couton lost the mount on Noosito following the Governor’s; Diego Sanchez is the new pilot for trainer Doris Harwood. Couton will ride Del Rio Harbor, a former Harwood runner now trained by Marshall Allen.

Twistgrips (Last 3 Beyers: 77, 63, 95)

◗ Twistgrips hasn’t won since August 2013, but the Hastings-based closer has put forth some big efforts, including his third-place finish in the 2014 Longacres Mile, a length behind Stryker Phd.