2016 Longacres Miles Handicap Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 3 Longacres Mile Handicap will be contested Sunday, August 14 at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. A purse of $200,000 will be on the line when horses three years old and upward take to Emerald Downs' dirt track and race one mile.

A field of 11 have been confirmed for the Longacres Mile - race 8 on Emerald Downs Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:39 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all 11 combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

2016 Longacres Miles Handicap Race Preview at Emerald Downs

O B Harbor 3-1 - local star - Chris Stenslie trained gelding has placed in nine of 11 career starts - six wins, a second and two third place finishes and enters on a terrific four race win streak on this track - the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes last time out July 17, the minor Budweiser Stakes June 19 (both over Stryker Phd), the minor Governor's Stakes May 22 and an Allowance Optional Claiming in April. O B Harbor steps into graded stakes company for the first time Sunday in tip-top form and will have Jose Luis Zunino in the irons of the morning line favorite from gate 4.

Alert Bay 7-2 - California shipper and earnings leader in the field won four straight turf races in 2014/2015 including the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby and BC Premier's Handicap at Hastings, the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita and California Cup in January, 2014. He also won the Grade 2 City of Hope Miles at Santa Anita in September, 2015. He has been OK lately - a fourth last time out in the minor California Dreamin' Stakes at Del Mar July 24 followed a second in the minor Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita June 11 and a career-best effort - a win in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate April 30. Before that was a second in an Allowance April 9, a fifth in the minor Sensational Star Stakes in February, a second in the minor California Cup Turf Classic in January and a pair of off-the-board finishes in graded stakes action to end 2015. Alert Bay has placed in three of his last four starts overall and based on his effort three starts back has to be in the conversation Sunday - although he hasn't won on dirt since 2014. Tyler Baze will be in the reins of the morning line second choice from post 5.

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Point Piper 4-1 - Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has four wins, five seconds and four third place finishes in 23 career starts. He won the minor Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar in August and has been up and down since. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita May 22 after an OK third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 16, a fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in March and another third in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds February 20. Before that was a sixth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes here January 9 and consecutive runner-up finishes - the minor Zia Park Championship in November and the minor Big Bear Stakes in October. Point Piper has raced in five straight graded stakes races ahead of this weekend with OK results and will chase his first win in a year from gate 8. Mario Gutierrez will be in the saddle.

Stryker Phd 5-1 - another local star is the defending two-time champion in this race and was also runner-up in 2013. He has been very good the last two years - 11 starts with seven wins, a second and two third place finishes. He enters off a somewhat disappointing fourth in the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 17 which followed a third in the minor Budweiser Stakes June 19 and a four race win streak- the minor Muckleshoot Tribal Classic last September, last year's Longacres Mile, the minor Mt. Rainier Handicap by six lengths in July, 2015 and the minor Budweiser Handicap in June of last year - all on this track. Stryker Phd looks to snap a two race losing streak in his favorite race. Leslie Mawing will be in the saddle of the fourth betting choice from the rail Sunday.

Cyrus Alexander 6-1 - Jerry Hollendorfer trained colt has four wins, four seconds and two third place finishes in 16 career starts. Last time out was a very disappointing seventh in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows July 2 which followed a nice win by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap May 30 and off-the-board finishes in his previous three -a fourth in the minor Santana Mile April 2, an eighth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 12 and a sixth in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes February 6. Cyrus Alexander has placed in just one of five races ahead of this weekend but that result was a good one. Norberto Arroyo has the mount from post 7.

Sammy Mandeville 12-1 - Doug O'Neill trained entry has 22 career starts with two wins, four seconds and two third place finishes. He posted an OK second in the 2015 Longacres Mile and also had a second behind Catch a Flight in the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes May 2 of 2015 but posted some duds in 2015 as well. He hasn't been great lately - four straight off the board finishes in Allowance Optional Claiming races ahead of this weekend - July 9, June 12, May 12 and November 1. Sammy Mandeville looks for his first podium finish this year in less-than-spectacular form. Rocco Bowen will try to right the ship from gate 6 Sunday.

Prime Engine 15-1 - Michael Puhich trained colt has three wins and three second place finishes in 11 career starts. His two graded starts resulted in a seventh in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in September and an eighth in the 2014 Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot. He did win the minor Emerald Downs Derby on this track a year ago however. He enters off a fourth in the minor Budweiser Stakes here June 19 and a second in an Allowance on this track in April - just OK ahead of this weekend. He tries to hit the board in graded stakes company for the first time Sunday from gate 10 Sunday. Isaias Enriquez gets the call.

Dedicated to You 20-1 - David Martinez trained gelding has two wins and two seconds in eight career starts (all on this track) and makes his graded stakes debut Sunday. Last time out was a runner-up finish in the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 17 and off-the board finishes in two minor stakes races earlier this year. His wins came last year - an Allowance in September and a MSW in July. Dedicated to You tries for his first stakes score Sunday from gate 2. Eswan Flores rides.

Star Student 20-1 - has 21 career starts for trainer Dan Markle with five wins, six seconds and four third place finishes. He has placed in four of his last five starts - a seventh last time out in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 All American Stakes at Golden Gate May 30 was his worst result in a while. Before that was a third in an Allowance April 23, and wins in an Allowance December 12 and the minor Oakland Stakes in November - all at Golden Gate. Star Student looked good before his step up last time out and will be out to avenge that effort from post 3. Amadeo Perez has been tabbed to ride.

Sabedo Alegre 30-1 - Chilean bred Craig McPherson trained colt has three wins and a third place finishes in 10 career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off a seventh in the minor Pacific Customs Brokers Classic Handicap August 1, a fifth in the minor Lieutenant Governor's Handicap July 1 and a third in the minor John Longden 6000 Handicap in June - all at Hastings. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track in May and four more off-the-board finishes. Sabedo Alegre has placed in just one of his last eight starts overall and looks as though he'll be in deep in this one. Juan Gutierrez has been scheduled to ride from post 9.

Indian Brut 30-1 - has just two wins, five seconds and three third place finishes in 15 career starts for trainer Tim McCanna. He makes his stakes debut Sunday off an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Rosa July 29 and three straight fourth place finishes in Allowance races earlier this year. He steps up off a career best effort from the outside post 11 Sunday with Erick Lopez aboard.

2016 Longacres Miles Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Emerald Downs's Sunday card with a Post Time of 8:51 PM.