AUBURN, Wash. – Thetrailerguy, who zigzagged through traffic to prevail in his stakes debut last month, figures to be formidable yet again in Sunday’s $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap at Emerald Downs. The Seattle Slew, for 3-year-old colts and geldings at 1 1/16 miles, is Emerald’s final stakes before the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Aug. 9, and at this point, the division is wide open. Eleven horses were entered for the Seattle Slew, four of whom have previous stakes victories at Emerald Downs. Thetrailerguy, who will be ridden by Julien Couton for trainer Monique Snowden, is likely to start as a lukewarm favorite. Owner Heidi Nelson paid $75,000 for Thetrailerguy at the 2014 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. June sale of 2-year-olds in training and has recouped a large share of the purchase price. By Henny Hughes and from an Unbridled mare, Thetrailerguy finished second in his debut May 2 and has won his past three starts. In the Coca-Cola Handicap, he got up in the final strides to collar the leader, Prime Engine, and hold off a wall of closers. He got a heady ride from Couton, Emerald’s leading jockey, and might need another one to navigate a bulky field in the Seattle Slew. Daytona Beach figures to set the pace, and the fractions could get heated. The Doris Harwood trainee, a stakes winner last year at 2, prepped for the Seattle Slew in a one-mile allowance race June 21, finishing a close second in his best outing since September. He’ll start from the far outside in post 11, increasing the likelihood that jockey Diego Sanchez will be aggressive from the outset to avoid losing ground into the first turn. If the others allow him to sprint clear early, the speedy Daytona Beach could muddle the 3-year-old picture even further. Key contenders Thetrailerguy (Last 3 Beyers: 70-71-63) The versatile Thetrailerguy has improved steadily through four starts and continues to tear it up in morning workouts. In his final tightener for the Seattle Slew, he went five furlongs in 59.20 seconds last Sunday. Prime Engine (Last 3 Beyers: 69-58-50) Prime Engine romped in his first two starts in 2014, taking a maiden race by 10 1/4 lengths and rolling back two weeks later to win the Gottstein Futurity by more than five. He capped his 2-year-old campaign with an off-the-board finish in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot in Louisiana. Prime Engine tried new tactics in the Coca-Cola, settling in midpack before making a sweeping move on the turn to take the lead turning for home. He ran out of gas in the final 100 yards. Daytona Beach (Last 3 Beyers: 70-59-0) Daytona Beach didn’t win his last start June 21, but he did run just as fast as stakes horses earlier on the same card. Thetrailerguy won the Coca-Cola in 1:36.80. One race later, Daytona Beach suffered a narrow defeat in 1:36.69. Senna (Last 3 Beyers: 68-74-58) A deep closer by Tale of Ekati, Senna finished third in the 6 1/2-furlong Auburn Handicap in his Emerald Downs debut and was third again in the Coca-Cola. He has two career victories, both on the synthetic surface at Golden Gate.