Stryker Phd extends streak in Budweiser Handicap

In his 2015 debut, odds-on favorite Stryker Phd raced to a narrow victory Sunday in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap – his fifth consecutive stakes victory at Emerald Downs.

Trained by Larry Ross for Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash., the late-running Stryker Phd ($3.40) ran one mile in 1:35.57 to edge Noosito by a neck. Absolutely Cool rallied to finish third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Noosito, in a full field of 12. They were followed by Scat Daddybaby, who set a fast pace – six furlongs in 1:10.01 - Prohibition, Mebossman, Shooting Jacket, Mike Man’s Gold, Del Rio Harbor, Trick Or Retreat, and Until You.

With Scat Daddybaby alone on the early lead, Stryker Phd and jockey Leslie Mawing settled near the back of the field, commencing their bid at the three-eighths pole. They needed every inch of the stretch to get past Noosito and jockey Diego Sanchez, who cut the corner turning for home to grab the lead past the furlong pole. It was a two-horse race from there to the finish.

Ross is using the same schedule for Stryker Phd that he employed a year ago to get him to the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 16. As he did last summer, Stryker Phd will make his final pre-Mile start in the Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 19. Stryker Phd won the 2014 Longacres Mile before a brief fall campaign in California. His start Sunday was his first since November.

Stryker Phd, a 6-year-old gelding by Bertrando, ran his career record to 6-5-5 from 19 starts. The $27,500 winner’s share of the Budweiser purse lifted his lifetime ledger to $348,151.