Stryker Phd to skip Washington Cup, head south

AUBURN, Wash. – Washington’s flagging breeding industry will get a shot in the arm Sunday, when Emerald Downs rolls out six $50,000 stakes races for statebreds.

Longacres Mile winner Stryker Phd was among the 45 horses nominated for the six Washington Cup events, but trainer Larry Ross said Wednesday that Stryker Phd would bypass the day’s featured race, the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, and make his next start at Santa Anita in late October. Stryker Phd is 3 for 3 this year and would have been an overwhelming favorite, but Ross determined that a two-week turnaround between the Longacres Mile and the Muckleshoot was asking too much of him.

“He came out of the Mile well, but it’s too quick,” Ross said. “There’s no logic, nothing to be gained by running him. He’s done well with four or five weeks between races. Three weeks might have been fine. But there’s an overnight handicap at Santa Anita for about $85,000 at a flat mile the week before the Breeders’ Cup. It seems like a good spot. He’s going to work Friday, and we’ll see.”

Ross said Stryker Phd will continue training at Golden Gate Fields after the Emerald Downs meeting closes Sept. 28. His schedule beyond the October start at Santa Anita remains fluid, though Ross said Stryker Phd would definitely return to Emerald Downs in 2015. Owners Jim and Mona Hour live close-by in Bellevue, Wash.

“It will be one or two races down there, probably,” Ross said of Southern California. “He’ll be home for Christmas. He’ll tell us. And then we’ll turn him out, and then train and repeat next year, barring the unforeseen.”

Without Stryker Phd in the Muckleshoot lineup, Mike Man’s Gold, a three-time stakes winner, could start as the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds and up. He’ll likely have to run down the speedy I Keep Saying, who set a North American record for 6 1/2 furlongs earlier this summer.

Trackattacker, undefeated in three starts, including two stakes wins, is likely to be a prohibitive favorite in the Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Trackattacker has won his three starts by a combined 27 lengths and set a 4 1/2-furlong track record in his first start.

The one-mile Chinook Pass Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings could come down to a two-horse showdown between multiple stakes winner Noosito and Mebossman, who upset Noosito in the Emerald Downs Derby in his last start. Mebossman was sold privately following his Derby victory and is now trained by Mike Puhich for owners Mark Dedomenico and the North American Thoroughbred Horse Co.