Ten older horses led by defending champion Slew’s Tiz Whiz are scheduled to square off Aug. 13 in the 88th running of the $150,000 Longacres Mile Stakes at Emerald Downs.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz drew the No. 9 post and is the 9-5 morning-line favorite as he bids to become only the fifth two-time Longacres Mile winner and just the second since the race was moved to Emerald Downs.
Trained by Tom Wenzel, owned by Slew’s Crew Racing and ridden by Jose Zunino, Slew’s Tiz Whiz can join Amble In (1946, 1948), Trooper Seven (1980-1981), Simply Majestic (1988-1989), and Stryker Phd (2014-2015) as repeat winners of Washington’s most historic race. The lone Washington-bred in this year’s lineup, Slew’s Tiz Whiz rallied from eight lengths back to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths last year, surging past Papa’s Golden Boy late and stopping the teletimer in 1:34.46.
Video: Longacres Mile S. (BT)
The 5-year-old bay Slew’s Tiznow gelding is 1-1-0 from two starts in 2023, including a sparkling score in the 6 1/2-furlong Governor’s Stakes three weeks ago. Slew’s Tiz Whiz life mark is 7-3-2 from 17 starts with earnings of $222,857.
Elttaes Stable’s Five Star General is 2-1 on the morning line with California invader Il Bellator , owned by Theresa and Edward DeNike of Kent, third favorite at 6-1.
Five Star General also can make Longacres Mile history. The well-traveled 7-year-old could become the first horse to finish in the money in four straight Longacres Miles, having finished second in 2020 and third in 2021 and 2022. This year’s race marks his fourth different trainer in the Mile, with Grant Forster succeeding Doris Harwood, who took over from Sandi Gann, who succeeded the late Glen Todd.
Purchased by Ken Alhadeff from the Glen Todd dispersal, Five Star General has improved with age and changed to a front-running style that netted a win and two seconds this year at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Evangeline Downs, and Horseshoe Indianapolis. Five Star General is 9-for-29 lifetime with earnings of $520,269, but 0-2-3 in seven starts at Emerald Downs.
Joe Bravo, winner of more than 5,600 races and nearly $200,000 million in purses, makes his first Emerald Downs appearance to ride Five Star General.
Il Bellator is a wildcard. Trained by Jose Bautista, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Shackleford has a sparkling resume this year on turf—finishing fourth beaten 2 1/2 lengths at 48-1 in the Shoemaker Mile (G1T) and third beaten a half-length at 56-1 in the San Francisco Mile (G3T). Il Bellator also captured the 2022 California Derby on synthetic, but is winless in two starts on dirt, most recently finishing a distant third in the Pleasanton Mile.
Seattle Bold steps up in class following consecutive dirt route wins at Pleasanton and Sacramento and was claimed for $40,000 from the latter by trainer Dan Markle and owner Craig Peerenboom. A 5-year-old California-bred, Seattle Bold figures to add to Sunday’s early pace.
The top earner and graybeard in this year’s field is Zestful , an 8-year-old Ghostzapper gelding stretching out after a fourth and third in the Budweiser Stakes and Governor’s Stakes. Earner of $706,780 in a 55-race career, Zestful is trained by Justin Evans, currently the meet leader with 36 wins through Aug. 7.
The Mile goes as the eighth race on a 10-race card at 5:30 p.m. PT. Three other stakes are on the program.
Entries: Longacres Mile S.
Emerald Downs, Sunday, August 13, 2023, Race 8
- STK
- 1m
- Dirt
- $150,000
- 3 yo’s & up
- 5:30 PM (local)
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
