Doris Harwood’s barn flexed its muscles Sunday in the $20,000 allowance feature for older horses at Emerald Downs.

The Harwood-trained 4-year-old Noosa Beach and Winning Machine turned in a spectacular finish, dueling the length of the stretch in their first starts of the year. Noosa Beach emerged victorious, by a neck. The Jeff Harwood-owned gelding remained undefeated in sprints.

Ridden by Ricky Frazier, Noosa Beach ran 5-½ furlongs in 1 minute, 2 1/5 seconds on a fast track and paid $4.60, $2.60 and $2.20. A triple stakes winner at Emerald Downs, the Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold earned $11,000 to up his bankroll to $151,840. Noosa Beach is five-for-five around one turn, and has an overall mark of 10-5-2-2.

Winning Machine, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, engaged Noosa Beach three-deep into the lane, but was out-finished by his stable mate, and settled for place and show payoffs of $3 and $2.40. Voted Top 3-Year-Old of 2009, Winning Machine figures to be a major factor, as the races get longer in the handicap division.

Zagreus, a 23-1 shot ridden by Juan Gutierrez, finished third and paid $3.60. Siberian Cocktail, the early leader, finished fourth, followed by Wasserman and Starbird Road.

Needing a victory to become the all-time leader in money earned at Washington racetracks, Wasserman collected $500 for fifth place and is up to $499,312. The 8-year-old gelding is $3,973 shy of Captain Condo’s mark of $503,285.

The day, however, belonged to Noosa Beach, as the gelding put away Siberian Cocktail on the turn and outfought Winning Machine in the lane.

“He saw Winning Machine coming to him,” Frazier said of Noosa Beach. “He got back in the bridle and wouldn’t let him by.”

Harwood enjoyed the stretch run, since it was clear one of her horses would be headed to the winner’s circle.

“I was screaming for both of them,” she said. “I would have been happy either way.”

Atta Boy Roy sizzles at Churchill Downs

R.E.V. Racing’s Atta Boy Roy teamed with Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel for a 5-furlong workout in 59 2/5 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Atta Boy Roy, voted Emerald Downs’ Top Sprinter in 2009, runs in the $250,000 Churchill Downs Handicap on the May 1 Kentucky Derby under-card. The Churchill Downs is a Grade II at seven furlongs.

Hollywood Harbor entered at Hollywood Park

Washington-bred Hollywood Harbor is entered in Wednesday $60,000 Harry Henson for 3-year-olds on opening day at Hollywood Park. Voted Emerald Downs’ Top Juvenile of 2009, Hollywood Harbor (4-3-1-0-$70,101) drew the eighth post position and will be ridden by Tyler Baze in the six-furlong event on turf.

Jenine Sahadi is listed as the trainer at Hollywood Park, but Chris Stenslie has overseen Hollywood Harbor since the beginning of his 2-year-old campaign. Co-owned by Stenslie and Jody Peetz, Hollywood Harbor’s latest work was five furlongs in 57 4/5 April 11 at Emerald Downs.

The Harry Henson drew 10 horses including Smiling Tiger, a Hold That Tiger Colt that cost $40,000 at the 2008 Washington September Yearling Sale.

News and Notes

* In the sixth race, 11-year-old West Seattle Boy finished sixth in his bid to tie the track record of 16 career wins. It was the 72nd start for West Seattle Boy at Emerald Downs, tying him with Bob Stories for most starts at the 14-year-old track.

* Jockey Juan Gutierrez recorded a natural triple, riding the winners of races four, five and six. The victories were aboard Sassy Lil Senorita ($4), Burgundy Road ($10.20) and One Down One to Go ($10.80)…Trainer Blaine Wright had a perfect weekend with Mobius ($16.60) in Saturday’s first race and Burgundy Road ($10.20) in Sunday’s fifth.

* The 2009-10 Santa Anita Winter/Spring Meeting concluded Sunday on a high note for Seattle owners David and Jill Heerensperger. Their 4-year-old gelding Bourbon Bay completed a sweep of the handicap turf series for older horses with a one-length victory in the historic, 1 ¾-mile San Juan Capistrano Handicap.

* Former Longacres riding champion Chris Lamance celebrated his 50th birthday Sunday.

* Live racing resumes 6 p.m. Friday at Emerald Downs is open for simulcast wagering Wednesday-Sunday.