Wasserman heads Muckleshoot

Trainer Howard Belvoir will run Wasserman in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic at 1 1/16 miles in Sunday's Washington Cup at Emerald Downs. Each of the seven races for Washington-breds carries a $50,000 purse.

Belvoir, the breeder, owner, and trainer of the 6-year-old gelding - winner of the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in his last start - opted for the Classic over the Chinook Pass Sprint at six furlongs.

"We're running Immigration in the Sprint, and we want to keep them apart," he said.

Wasserman has won 4 of 7 starts here this year, including his first three stakes wins, all in photos. He won the Fox Sports Network by a head and the Governor's by a nose. Both races were 6 1/2 furlongs. He won the Longacres Mile by a neck, scoring his first victory in 19 lifetime tries around two turns.

There may be one new dimension to Wasserman's appearance Sunday. He is likely to go off the favorite for the first time since the second start in his career, when he won an allowance race on June 12, 2005, to improve his career record to 2 for 2. He has not been favored in his 36 starts since then.

Wasserman is 0 for 3 in Washington Cup races, running second and third in the past two Classics.

Chickasaw Park puts a two-race win streak on the line in the six-furlong Chinook Pass. Knight's Secret comes off a win at a mile in first start after a year's layoff.

Ladyledue will try to make it 2 for 2 in the Diane Kem at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies. She won the Knight's Choice in her debut.

Sweetheart Deal and Enumclaw Girl, second and third in the Washington Lottery, meet again in the John and Kitty Fletcher for 3-year-old fillies at one mile.

Siberian Cocktail, coming off a sensational maiden win Sept. 7, looks tough right back in the six-furlong Captain Condo for 2-year-olds.

Margo's Gift seeks his second stakes win of the meet in the one-mile Trooper Seven for 3-year-olds. Earlier, he won the Pepsi Cola Handicap.

Firetrail, who won the King County Handicap but has not raced since finishing fifth at odds-on in the Boeing Handicap on July 27, will try to bounce back in the Belle Roberts for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.