Three colts-geldings lead $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap nominations | Emerald Downs

An evenly-matched group of 3-year-old colts and geldings are set for battle in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap on Sunday, July 12.

July 6, 2015 1:48 am

An evenly-matched group of 3-year-old colts and geldings are set for battle in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap on Sunday, July 12.

Thetrailerguy, Prime Engine and Senna—the top three finishers in the Coca-Cola Handicap last month—top the list of 11 runners nominated to the 1 1/16-mile Seattle Slew, final stop before the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Sunday, August 9.

In an exciting stretch run, Thetrailerguy weaved through traffic and nailed Prime Engine late for a half-length victory in the one-mile Coca-Cola Handicap, with Senna flying late to finish third. Auburn Handicap winner Fooled Again, the 2-to-1 favorite, weakened late to finish seventh.

A Kentucky-bred by Henny Hughes, Thetrailerguy has reeled off three straight wins and is 3-1-0 in four starts with earnings of $54,425. The win in the Coca-Cola gave trainer Monique Snowden her first career stakes triumph.

Prime Engine changed tactics in the Coca-Cola, dropping seven lengths off the pace, before rallying to the lead with a strong stretch run that just missed the win. A Kentucky-bred by Northern Afleet, Prime Engine is 2-1-0 in five starts with earnings of $65,211, including a runaway tally in the Gottstein Futurity last year. Senna has been the steadiest performer in the division, rallying from far back for thirds at 54-1 in the Auburn and 19-1 in the Coca Cola.

John’s Not Bluffin comes off a strong allowance win over Daytona Beach and Fire the Trainer on June 21. His winning time for one mile, 1:36.69, was 0.11 seconds faster than Thetrailerguy 30 minutes earlier in the Coca-Cola.

The Seattle Slew Handicap has been a graveyard for favorites, with no less than 10 straight betting favorites going down the tubes in the meet’s second two-turn test for sophomores.

$50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap, Sunday, July 12

3-Year-Old Colts & Geldings, 1 1/16 Mile

Horse. . . . .Owner. . . . .Trainer

Betrbegone (3-WA) H.E. Maggard David Martinez

Daytona Beach (3-WA) Vital Signs Stable & Jeff Harwood Doris Harwood

Fire the Trainer (3-KY) Randall & Rossi LLC or Frank Lucarelli Frank Lucarelli

Fooled Again (3-KY) Todd & Shawn Hansen Howard Belvoir

Gloria’s Angelo (3-KY) Aithon Stable LLC Larry Ross

John’s Not Bluffin (3-WA) Ron Crockett Inc. Frank Lucarelli

O B Harbor (3-ORE) One Horse Will Do Corporation Chris Stenslie

Percy Fawcett (3-KY) Randall & Rossi LLC Frank Lucarelli

Prime Engine (3-KY) Mark Dedomenico LLC Mike Puhich