2017 Longacres Mile Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Longacres Mile Stakes will be contested Sunday, August 13 at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. A purse of $200,000 will be up for grabs for horses three years old and upward who are willing to race one mile on Emerald Downs dirt track.

A full field of 12 have been confirmed for the Longacres Mile - race 8 on Emerald Downs Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:39 PM. Let's take a brief look into the past performances of all 12 combatants for this interesting G3 stakes.

2017 Longacres Mile Stakes Entries at Emerald Downs

Mach One Rules 7-2

Has placed in 13 of 15 career starts for trainer Frank Lucarelli - six wins, five seconds and two third-place finishes. He arrives on a good two race win streak on this track against many of his Longacres foes - the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 16 and the minor Budweiser Stakes June 19. Before that was a second in the minor Governor's Stakes here May 21 and a pair of third in Allowance races to start 2017. Mach One Rules makes his graded stakes debut in terrific form and is expected to be competitive Sunday. Jockey Isaias Enriquez will try to make it three straight wins for the tepid morning line favorite from post 9.

Gold Rush Dancer 4-1

Vann Belvoir trained colt won three straight minor stakes races in the summer of 2016 but has failed to place in four of five starts since. Last time out was an OK third in the minor Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos July 8 which followed a fifth in the minor Thor's Echo Handicap at Santa Anita June 11, a fourth in the minor Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar November 20, a ninth in the G2 Twilight Derby November 4 and a twelfth in the G2 Del Mar Derby last September. Gold Rush Dancer has shown some serious form in the past and hopes to rediscover his summer/2016 form from post 3. Evin Roman gets the call at 4-1 odds.

Bet Emerald Downs Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Point Piper 9-2

Defending champion in this race - Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has five wins, seven seconds and four third place finishes in 31 career starts. He hasn't bee all that great lately - a seventh last time out in the G3 All American Stakes at Golden Gate May 29 followed a sixth in the G1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita March 11 and a fourth in the G3 San Gabriel Stakes on that track in January. Before that were consecutive runner-up finishes - the minor Winter Challenge Stakes at Los Alamitos December 17 and the G3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar November 27, a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, a fourth in the G2 Kelso Handicap October 18 and a win in the 2016 Longacres Mile last August. Point Piper looks to hit the board for the first time in four starts and for his first win since last year's edition of this race when he leaves from gate 2 with Julien Couton aboard.

Barkley 5-1

Howard Belvoir trained colt has hit the board in 10 of his 11 career starts - seven wins, two seconds and a third-place finish - all on this track. He won his first six career starts including four minor stakes races and has been OK since. Last time out was a third in the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 16 after a fourth in the minor Budweiser Stakes June 18, a nice win over Mach One Rules in the minor Governor's Stakes May 21 and two straight runner-up finishes including the 2016 Emerald Downs Derby. Barkley makes his graded stakes debut in decent form and will have Javier Matias guiding him from post 11.

Chief of Staff 6-1

Has just three wins in 23 career starts for trainer Michael Puhich with six seconds and four third-place finishes. Last time out was a ninth in the G2 Churchill Downs Stakes May 6 which followed a fifth in the G3 Count Fleet Sprint at Oaklawn Park April 15 and a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track March 23. He shoots for his first win since an Allowance Optional Claiming last July when he leaves from gate 10 with Rocco Bowen in the irons.

Seattle Serenade 8-1

Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has won four of his eight career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday on a two-race win streak - an Allowance last time out at Oak Tree at Pleasanton June 25 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Golden Gate June 3. He failed to place in his previous four starts but won his first two career races. Seattle Serenade arrives in career-best form for his step up and will have William Antongeorgi III guiding him from gate 6.

Stryker Phd 12-1

Defending fifth-place finisher - Larry Ross trained gelding has 11 wins, five seconds and seven third-place finishes in 32 career starts - he makes his fifth appearance in this race - two wins! He has failed to place in his last four starts ahead of this weekend - a fifth last time out in an Allowance on this track June 18 followed a fifth in the G3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate April 29 and consecutive fourths in Allowance races on that track. He was good before that - a third in an Allowance January 6 followed a great win in the G3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate in November and another win in the WA Cup Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Stakes on this track last August. Stryker Phd was good at this time last year and hopes to find that form again Sunday. Kevin Orozco will be in the irons from gate 8.

Bistraya 12-1

has just two wins in 15 career starts for trainer Amadeo Perez with two seconds and a third-place finish. He enters in OK form - a second place finish last time out behind Mach One Rules in the minor Mr. Rainier Stakes on this track July 16 followed a third in the minor John Longden 6000 Handicap at Hastings June 2 and a second in the minor George Royal Stakes on that track in May. He failed to place in his previous two. Bistraya has three graded stakes starts - he failed to hit the board in any - a sixth in the 2016 G3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes, a ninth in the G3 Risen Star in early 2016 and a fourth in the 2015 G2 Best Pal Stakes. Bistraya has been OK in minor stakes action lately and will be out to place for the first time in graded stakes action when he leaves from the rail Sunday. Amadeo Perez will be in the saddle.

Togrammashousewego 20-1

Charles Essex trained colt has nine career starts with two wins, three seconds and two third-place finishes - all at Emerald Downs. He races in graded stakes company for the first time off a seventh in the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 16 and consecutive thirds in minor stakes action - the Budweiser Stakes June 18 and the Governor's Stakes May 21. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score May 6 and a second in a similar race in April. Togrammashousewego has been OK so far in his career and will be looking for a breakthrough stakes win from the outside gate 12 Sunday. Eswan Flores has the mount.

Dedicated to You 30-1

Defending seventh-place finisher in this race has just two wins and two seconds in his 11 career starts for trainer David Martinez - all on this track. He has placed in just one of his last six starts ahead of this weekend - a fifth in the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 16 followed a fifth in the minor Budweiser Stakes June 18, 10 months away, a seventh in last year's edition of this race and an OK second in the 2016 Mt. Rainier Stakes. Dedicated to You hasn't been all that impressive and will be after a first stakes score from post 7 Sunday. Leonel Camacho-Flores rides.

Black Sona 30-1

Has placed in five of nine career starts for trainer David Martinez - two wins, two seconds and a third-place finish. He makes his stakes debut Sunday off a second in a Starter Allowance at Sacramento July 29 after a Claiming score at Oak Tree at Pleasanton June 30, a fourth, a third, a second and a win respectively to start his year. Black Sona has been OK against lesser company and hopes to be again in his major step up in competition Sunday. David Martin will be in the reins from gate 4.

Papa Frank 30-1

Has just four wins in 29 career starts for trainer Mary Tate with nine seconds and seven third-place finishes. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Sunday off a fourth in the minor Mt. Rainier Stakes July 16 after three straight runner-up finishes in Allowance Optional Claiming races and a Waiver Claiming score April 22 - all results on this track. Papa Frank steps up in so-so form and will be after a first stakes win from post 5. Jose Luis Zunino has been named to ride.

---

2017 Longacres Mile Stakes Odds & Entries

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