Who will challenge Stryker Phd in Longacres Mile?

AUBURN, Wash. – The field for next Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile has started to take shape, which means everyone is getting in line behind Stryker Phd, the defending champion and likely short-priced favorite in the 80th running of the Northwest’s richest race.

While 23 horses were nominated, the winnowing process began almost immediately. Southern California-based trainer Peter Miller nominated both Appealing Tale and Big Cazanova, but neither is likely to ship north, Miller said Friday. Miller is targeting the Grade 2, $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 22 for Appealing Tale, who was a close second in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap in his last start.

Miller said via text message that Big Cazanova was doubtful for the Longacres Mile, with a final decision due after further discussion with the horse’s owners. Big Cazanova captured the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar in November but has yet to hit the board through four starts this year.

Also out of the running are Bayern, the Bob Baffert-trained winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic, plus the three horses nominated by Jerry Hollendorfer – G. G. Ryder, Sahara Sky, and Southern Freedom.

Still on the fence as of Friday were Sammy Mandeville for trainer Doug O’Neill and Majestic City for Richard Baltas. According to Emerald Downs officials, the connections for both horses spent part of this week exploring travel options and potential riders should they ship in from Del Mar for the Mile.

In his best performance this year, Sammy Mandeville earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101 for his third-place effort in the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita in May. Sammy Mandeville has never won a stakes race.

Majestic City was outrun in two recent starts at Del Mar. He captured the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap in Texas on May 25.

Among those confirmed to be coming are Alert Bay, Modern, and Fleet Eagle.

Alert Bay finished fourth at Los Alamitos in the $110,800 Bertrando Stakes in his most recent start July 3.

“Alert Bay will be up there soon, and he’s going to run,” said trainer Blaine Wright, who also nominated Emerald-based sprinter Botch to the Mile. “Botch, we’re still making a decision on him. We want to see where the weight is and then make a call. He’s been doing real good, and we’re wondering if we shouldn’t take a shot.

“Alert Bay has been doing well,” Wright said Friday from Northern California. “He’s had a couple of eventful races to start the year, and we’re looking to get him back on form. He’s had six weeks to train for this, and there’s a major workout coming [this weekend] at Golden Gate.”

Wright said Rico Walcott would come in from Northlands Park to ride Alert Bay in the Longacres Mile.

“He’s ridden him three times and won three times,” Wright said. “He knows the horse, and I’m looking forward to getting them reunited.”

Modern has won 2 of 5 starts this year at Hastings and finished second in two others, including a nose defeat to Emerald Downs shipper Square Dancer in the $100,000 Redekop Classic last Monday.

“We’re seriously thinking about it,” trainer Dino Condilenios said Friday. “It’s a quick turnaround, and I wasn’t really planning on coming, but now we may want to run him in the Mile and then turn him out for the season. I’ll have a better idea on Monday or Tuesday, but for now, the plan is to come down.”

Modern and Mr. Bowling have taken turns winning stakes at Hastings, with Modern falling victim to overheated pace scenarios in a couple of his starts. Condilenios said Modern might be ideally suited for the demands of the Longacres Mile.

“He’s the kind of horse who can sprint a mile, and sometimes those horse win the race,” Condilenios said. “He’s got blazing speed, and he can carry it. The distance hits him right between the eyes.”

Fleet Eagle, who received a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99 for his upset victory in the May 17 Governor’s Handicap at Emerald Downs, is back on the grounds for trainer Paula Capestro. But Fleet Eagle hasn’t competed in three months, and long-layoff horses seldom make an impact in the Longacres Mile.

Others still under consideration heading into the weekend included Prohibition, who was recently purchased by trainer and former Emerald Downs jockey Vann Belvoir; two horses trained by Mike Puhich in Solemnly Swear and Taylors Deal; along with leading Emerald-based contenders Absolutely Cool and Noosito. Weights for the Longacres Mile will be announced Sunday.