Stryker Phd fires fresh in Budweiser Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. – Stryker Phd returned to the races with a vengeance Sunday, rolling to an easy victory in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at Emerald Downs. In winning his first start since November, Stryker Phd stamped himself as the top handicap horse in the Northwest and furthered his status as a leading hopeful for the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 24.

Stryker Phd, a late runner who finished second in the 2013 Longacres Mile but entered Sunday’s race with just two victories in 13 lifetime starts, left little doubt about the outcome after he rolled up on the outside to collar tiring front-runner Pepnic at the top of the stretch and quickly drew clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Ridden by Leslie Mawing, Stryker Phd ran one mile on a sloppy but drying track in a stakes-record 1:34.15 and paid $10.80.

Mr. Bowling finished second and Shooting Jacket was third. They were followed by Jebrica, Twistgrips, Dontmesswithkitten, Hudson Landing, Why Not Be Perfect, Mike Man’s Gold, and Pepnic in the field of nine.

Stryker Phd earned $27,500, pushing his lifetime ledger to $155,251 for Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue Washington. He could be seen next in the 1 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier Handicap on July 20.