Stryker Phd seeks three-peat in Mount Rainier

Stryker Phd will try to reestablish himself as the favorite for the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile when he runs in the $50,000 Mount Rainer at Emerald Downs on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile Mount Rainer headlines a 10-race card that includes the $50,000 Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings, the $50,000 Angie C. for 2-year-old fillies, and the $50,000 Boeing for fillies and mares.

The Mount Rainier is the final local prep for the Longacres Mile on Aug. 14. Stryker Phd won both races in each of the past two years.

Trained by Larry Ross, he was the presumptive favorite for the Mile when he made his first start of the year in the $50,000 Budweiser on June 19. However, he lost for the first time at Emerald Downs since he was the runner-up to Herbie D. in the 2013 Mile.

It was Stryker Phd’s first start since he won the $60,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic on Sept. 13. Ross was pleased with his third place behind O B Harbor and Betrbegone.

“You always like to win, and it would have been more fun if he did,” Ross said. “But he ran a big race, and the main goal is the Mile.”

Stryker Phd has had two solid five-furlong works since the Budweiser, and Ross is expecting a big effort from the 7-year-old gelding.

“He’s feeling great, and he’s gotten more aggressive in his training,” Ross said. “He was off for a long time going into the Budweiser, and the race really woke him up.”

Stryker Phd will break from post 2 with usual rider Leslie Mawing aboard.

O B Harbor has improved dramatically as a 4-year-old for trainer Chris Stenslie, and if he continues to progress, he could be tough to beat Sunday.

After an impressive display of speed in the $50,000 Governor’s, he won going a middle distance for the first time in the Budweiser. In the Governor’s, he dueled with Kaabraaj through wicked interior fractions of 21.58 and 42.67 seconds before drawing off to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint by 4 1/4 lengths in 1.13.59.

In the Budweiser, he sat just off Betrbegone for the first quarter-mile and took over soon after. The margin of victory was only a half-length, but he never looked like he was losing.

Stenslie said she was “hoping O B can relax and save some for the completion at the very end.” He drew the rail, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him on the lead if he breaks sharply with Jose Zunino retaining the mount. Under the allowance conditions, he carries the high weight of 124 pounds, the same weight he packed in the Budweiser.

Betrbegone looks like the only real threat to the top two.

Emerald Express: Impressive Chilli Man making last start here

The Chilli Man can be singled in the all-stakes pick four that begins with the Emerald Express in Race 5. He couldn’t have been more impressive when he won a maiden special weight race in his debut for trainer Monique Snowden on June 26.

Ridden by Joe Steiner, he cruised to an 11 1/2-length romp in the 4 1/2-furlong dash. The 81 Beyer Speed Figure he received is the seventh-best figure earned by a 2-year-old in North America.

“He’s awesome,” said Snowden, who is also the exercise rider for the son of Trappe Shot. “The first time I bounced him out of the gate, I couldn’t believe how strong he was. I have never felt that much power underneath me.”

According to Snowden, this will be his last start at Emerald for owner Heidi Nelson, who bought him for $70,000 out of the March sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla.

“He’s been sold, and I believe he is going to Saratoga after his race on Sunday,” Snowden said. “It has been quite a ride having him at Emerald.”

If there is a threat in the 5 1/2-furlong dash, it will come from So Lucky, who won a five-furlong maiden special weight race for trainer Howard Belvoir on July 2.

Angie C.

The Angie C. drew 11 horses, and either Getting Joellenned or Paddy’s Secret will be favored in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint.

Getting Joellenned, also by Trappe Shot, broke slowly when she was favored in her debut, but she didn’t make any mistakes when she was an easy 4 1/2-length winner in her second start for trainer Tom Wenzel.

Paddy’s Secret, trained by Frank Lucarelli, romped by 6 1/4 lengths when she debuted in Getting Joellenned’s first race.

Boeing: Plenty of speed in wide-open field

The one-mile Boeing drew a full field of 12 horses and appears to be wide open. There is plenty of speed. It could set up nicely for Locket, a runner-up in five straight stakes at Hastings last year, including the Grade 3 Ballerina, for trainer Frank Barroby.

She wasn’t much of a factor in her two sprints at Emerald this year for trainer Terry Gillihan, but she should appreciate stretching out to a middle distance and will be a decent price.

Trained by Jeff Metz, the 3-year-old filly B C Z Middleton upset her elders in the Washington State Legislators and could be dangerous if she can avoid a wide trip from the outside post.