Stryker Phd—2014 Horse of the Meeting and defending Longacres Mile champion—returns to action in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile on Sunday, June 14.
Fifteen older handicap runners are nominated to the 20th running of the Budweiser, second stop en route to the 80th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, August 16.
A 6-year-old Washington-bred gelding, Stryker Phd was perfect at Emerald Downs in 2014, reeling off wins in the Budweiser Handicap, Mt. Rainier Handicap and the 79th running of the Longacres Mile. Trainer Larry Ross and owners Jim and Mona Hour have chosen to follow the same path this year, skipping the 6 ½-furlong Governor’s Handicap to await the three route tests of the four-race series.
Stryker Phd (18-5-5-5-$320,651) set a stakes record of 1:34.15 in last year’s Budweiser, rallying from nine lengths back for a smashing 3 ¼-length victory over Mr. Bowling. With regular rider Leslie Mawing up, the Bertrando gelding also deployed big rallies to score a one-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier Handicap and a half-length win in the Longacres Mile. Stryker Phd has a series of eight drills for his return, including a pair of sparkling six-furlong works, and appears set for a top effort
Noosito, last year’s state champion 3-year-old colt or gelding, finished second in the Governor’s Handicap, but was placed sixth for interference. The 4-year-old Harbor the Gold colt is 1-1-0 in two starts at one mile and his older brother, Noosa Beach, won the Budweiser in 2010 and 2011.
Absolutely Cool misfired in the Governor’s but is a four-time stakes winner. The 8-year-old gelding would be the oldest horse to win the Budweiser Handicap
Fleet Eagle, 6 ¾-length winner of the Governor’s Handicap, is not nominated to the Budweiser. Trainer Paul Capestro and owner Oak Knoll Meadows Farm elected to ship the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred back to California, but they haven’t ruled out a return trip for the Longacres Mile.
$50,000 Budweiser Handicap, Sunday, June 14
3-Years-Old & Up, One Mile
Horse. . . . . . . . . Owner. . . . . . . .Trainer
Absolutely Cool (8-WA). . . .Karl Krieg. . . .Tom Wenzel
Del Rio Harbor (4-WA). . .Desert Rose Racing & Bar C. . .Marshall Allen
Deputy’s Command (6-BC). . .Fitch, Ortiz Sr. & Craig. . .Manny Ortiz
Mebossman (4-WA). . .Dedomenico & North American Tbred. . .M Puhich
Mike Man’s Gold (4-WA). . .Swag Stables & Gallo Stables. . .David Martinez
Noosito (4-WA). . .Last Rose Stable. . .Doris Harwood
Prohibition (5-NY). . .Dedomenico & North American Tbred. . .Mike Puhich
Scat Daddybaby (5-KY). . .Mike & Amy Feuerborn. . .Robbie Baze
Shooting Jacket (4-KY) . . .Swift Thoroughbreds Inc.. . . D. Condilenios
Square Dancer (5-FLA). . .Dan Agnew & John Xitco. . .Mike Chambers
Stryker Phd (6-WA). . .Jim & Mona Hour. . .Larry Ross
Taelyns Prince (4-KY). . .Todd Fitch. . .Manny Ortiz
Trick Or Retreat (4-WA). . .Mark Malnati & Robert McKay. . .Doris Harwood
Twistgrips (6-BC). . .Gordon Christoff. . .John Snow
Until You (6-WA). . .Coal Creek Farm. . .David Martinez
