The first stakes double-header of the season matches 3-year-old colts and geldings in the $50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap and 3-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Irish Day Handicap.
The Coca-Cola and the Irish Day, both at one mile, will be run Sunday, June 23.
The hot combination of trainer Tom Wenzel and owner Northwest Farms figure prominently in both events, especially the Irish Day.
Stopshoppingdebbie, Goin to the Window and Blueberry Smoothie*trained by Wenzel for Northwest Farms*swept the top three positions in the Seattle Handicap and figure prominently in the Irish Day. Unbeaten in two starts, Stopshoppingdebbie tied the Seattle Handicap stakes record with a 1:14.41 clocking for 6 ½ furlongs, while finishing 1 ½-lengths clear of 2012 Emerald Downs’ Top Juvenile Filly Goin to the Window. All three Northwest Farms’ fillies are stakes winners, but the Irish Day is their first try around two turns.
I Think So, unbeaten and untested in two stakes wins this season at Hastings Racecourse, is nominated to the Irish Day and an obvious contender if she runs.
In the Coca-Cola, Finallygotabentley*also trained by Wenzel for Northwest Farms*seeks a second consecutive stakes win. Finallygotabentley has finished first, second or third in all nine starts, and earned his first stakes victory with a gate-to-wire score in the Auburn Handicap. In his lone start at a route, Finallygotabentley finished to Music of My Soul in the 2012 Gottstein Futurity.
Music of My Soul, a gate scratch in the Auburn, was the track’s Top Juvenile Male of 2012 and is a double stakes winner for trainer Doris Harwood. Carving defeated Music of My Soul in a May 5 allowance race, but was third to Finallygotabentley as the 3-to-5 favorite in the June 2 Auburn.
Worldventurer is a new shooter for trainer Blaine Wright. The Texas-bred gelding won three restricted stakes and over $200,000 competing at Lone Star and Sam Houston Race Park.
$50,000 Coca-Cola Handicap*One Mile*Sunday, June 23
Horse…..Owner…..Trainer
Ankeny Hill (3-KY)…..Dr. Rodney Orr…..Chris Stenslie
Cariboo Road (3-WA)…..Glyn Kelly & Anne MacLennan…..Dan Markle
Carving (3-KY)…..Pegasus Syndicate #4…..Mike Puhich
Country Rules (3-WA)…..Sue & Tim Spooner…..Dan Markle
Finallygotabentley (3-KY)…..Northwest Farms LLC & D Paxton…..Tom Wenzel
He’s Not Bluffin (3-WA)…..R & R Warren LLC…..Jim Penney
Mike Man’s Gold (3-WA)…..Stables-Gallo Stables…..David Martinez
Music of My Soul (3-WA)…..Elttaes Stable…..Doris Harwood
Valiant Flame (3-KY)…..R.E.V. Racing LLC…..Frank Lucarelli
Worldventurer (3-TEX)…..Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd……Blaine Wright
$50,000 Irish Day Handicap*One Mile-Sunday, June 23
Horse…..Owner…..Trainer
Blueberry Smoothie (3-KY)…..Northwest Farms/C&M Racing…..Tom Wenzel
Goin to the Window (3-KY)….Northwest Farms/D Paxton…..Tom Wenzel
I Think So (3-KY)….Mark Dedomenico/N American Tbred….Mike Puhich
Polebound (3-WA)…..Ravenswood Stables/Mike Matilda….Kerri Raven
Stopshoppingdebbie (3-KY)…..Northwest Farms LLC…..Tom Wenzel
Strange Luck (3-KY)…..Nakahara/Pilot/Wood-Richardson….Roy Lumm
Sunset Time (3-KY)…..Ten Broeck Farm, Inc…..Tim McCanna
