Mach One Rules made it two straight stakes wins with a powerful two-length triumph over Bistraya in Sunday’s $50,000 Mount Rainier Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

The Mount Rainier was the final of four stakes on Mile Preview Day as the countdown is officially on for the 82nd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile Grade 3 on Sunday, Aug. 13.

With his triumph Sunday, Mach One Rules, trained by Frank Lucarelli from Enumclaw, appears to be the top local threat for the Northwest’s most prestigious horse race. Powering to the lead into the lane, the 2-to-1 second wagering choice turned aside Canadian invader Bistraya in mid-stretch and pulled clear for his fifth career Emerald Downs stakes victory.

Ridden by Isaias Enriquez at co-high-weight of 124 pounds, Mach One Rules ran 1 1/16 mile in 1 minute, 42.55 seconds and paid $6.60, $4 and $2.60. The gelding is owned Roy Schaefer (R.E.V. Racing) of Port Orchard.

“He’s just doing really good mentally and physically, he’s in a zone right now,” Lucarelli said of Mach One Rules. “Hopefully he can stay in it for one more race.”

A 4-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Harbor the Gold-Felice the Cat, Mach One Rules is 6-5-2 in 15 starts. He now has two straight wins after nine consecutive defeats including a series of stinging losses to Barkley.

Bistraya, Amadeo Perez riding at 122 pounds, paid $6.80 and $3.40, while Barkley finished third and paid $2.20. The 7-to-5 betting favorite, Barkley was far back early, but did show some heart to rally for third and is now 7-2-1 in 11 career starts with earnings of $192,325.

Papa Frank, Dedicated to You, Moon King, Togrammashousewego and Pleas Be Me rounded out the order of finish.

Trainer Mike Puhich said that Prime Engine, 3-to-1 morning line second choice, was scratched due to a high temperature, and Stryker Phd, who would have been making a fifth straight appearance in the Mount Rainier, was a late scratch at the gate.