Stryker Phd begins drive to Longacres Mile in Budweiser Stakes
Stryker Phd begins his quest to win an unprecedented third straight Grade 3 Longacres Mile when he runs in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sunday. It will be the third straight year that Stryker Phd will make his seasonal debut in the Budweiser. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew 11 horses, but there is no doubt who the main attraction is.
Trained by Larry Ross, Stryker Phd hasn’t lost at Emerald since he was the runner-up in the 2013 Longacres Mile, won by Herbie D. Since then, he has won eight straight stakes at his home base, including the Budweiser twice.
This will be his first start since he rallied to edge Noosito in last year’s Muckleshoot Tribal Classic last September, and it is the longest he has been away from the races since he began his career in 2012.
Despite the lengthy layoff, Ross is expecting a strong performance Sunday.
“He’s been in training since Thanksgiving, so he’s probably a bit more anxious to get going,” he said. “He had an issue with an infection, but it’s all cleared up now.”
Ross’s wife and assistant trainer, Sharon, echoed her husband’s optimism. She was particularly happy with Stryker Phd’s six-furlong work in 1:13.60 last Sunday.
“It was an excellent work for him, and he came out of it really well,” she said. “He’s got a solid base in him, and he just couldn’t be doing any better.”
Stryker Phd, 7, does his best running late, and there should be a fast and contested pace to set him up. He will break from post 2 with usual rider Leslie Mawing aboard.
Speed will be provided by O B Harbor and Kaabraaj, who dueled through wicked fractions of 21.58 and 42.67 seconds in the Governor’s Stakes on May 22. Despite the extreme fractions, O B Harbor drew off to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash by 4 1/4 lengths for trainer Chris Stenslie.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stryker Phd, by Bertrando
Last 3 Beyers: 92-99-95
◗ He is in a class by himself, and if he runs his race, he will be tough to beat.
O B Harbor, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 98-91-78
◗ He improved dramatically in his first two starts as a 4-year-old this year, and following his impressive win in the Governor’s, he came back with two spectacular five-furlong works.
◗ His breeding suggests he should be able to handle a middle distance, and he is vastly improved since he finished third going 1 1/16 miles in the Seattle Slew Handicap in his last start as a 3-year-old.
The Sandman, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 85-75-90
◗ He is coming off a sharp win for trainer Larry Jones in an optional $35,000 claiming race at Pimlico on May 20.
◗ He could get a nice trip from a stalking position while making his first start for trainer Frank Lucarelli.