Wasserman by a neck in Longacres Mile

AUBURN, Wash. - Local hero Wasserman won a thrilling renewal of the Grade 3, $300,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday, edging Canadian invader True Metropolitan by a neck with favored California shipper Tropic Storm another neck back in third.

Wasserman, a Washington-bred son of Cahill Road who races for breeder and trainer Howard Belvoir, came from 10th position in a field of 12 to be up in the last stride in 1:35 under a finely judged ride by Jennifer Whitaker. He paid $22.40 to win and earned $137,500, boosting his career earnings to $415,971 from 8 wins in 38 starts. Because the race is part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In series, Wasserman also earned an automatic berth in the BC Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. But after the race, Belvoir said that the horse would have to be supplemented to the Breeders' Cup and that he did not intend to run him.

In the days other stakes, Russell Baze booted Lemon Kiss to a half-length score over Shampoo in the $100,000 Emerald Distaff at 1 1/8 miles. Beaulena got up for third in a field of nine.

Lemon Kiss, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid from the Northern California barn of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, got the nine furlongs in 1:49 for her fourth win from 11 starts. She paid $5.20 to win as the solid favorite and earned $55,000 for owners William DeBurgh and Mark Dedomenico LLC.