One of the biggest stories heading into Sunday, Washington Cup VIII is the final race for multiple stakes winner Clair Annette, who concludes her four-year career Sunday in the $40,000 Belle Roberts Stakes for fillies and mares at 1-1/16 miles.
It’s only fitting that the 7-year-old mare, owned and bred by Nina Egbert, finish her career at Emerald Downs, where she scored a nine-length victory in her first career start in 2007. Clair Annette, who truly cherishes the Auburn oval, has won 9-of-16 races at Emerald Downs including four stakes races.
“She’s been the best horse I’ve ever had,” trainer Connie Bouslaugh said during the Washington Cup draw Wednesday. “We have a close relationship.”
Clair Annette, who won last year’s Belle Roberts by 1-½ lengths in her first route, will most likely be favored, despite finishing ninth in the Emerald Distaff as the public’s top choice on Aug. 22. Bouslaugh said Clair Annette, who looked sharp after working four furlongs in :48 (6/40) on Sept. 5, should rebound from her last effort.
“She has been training good, and she’s ready to defend her title,” Bouslaugh said.
If Clair Annette wins, she will retire winning 50 percent (11-of-22) of her races.
However, the five-horse field contains some interesting contenders including two 3-year-old fillies Have’n a Wild Time and Private Fortune.
Have’n a Wild Time scored the biggest upset in Wa Cup history last year at 27-1 with a neck victory in the Diane Kem Stakes, and Private Fortune is the field’s second highest money-earner ($55,465), despite only winning a one race. The daughter of Private Gold comes off a second-place finish–at 45-to-1 for trainer Jim Penney, behind Zenovit in the $75,000 Washington Oaks on Aug. 14.
RACE 5: $40,000 Belle Roberts for Fillies and Mares-1 1/16M
Post…..Horse……………Trainer……………Jockey
1 Ghost Tree…..Dan Markle…..Deborah Hoonan- Trujillo
2 Have’n a Wild Time…..Tom Wenzel…..Pedro Terrero
3 Clair Annette…..Connie Bouslaugh…..Kevin Krigger
4 Mizzen You…..Frank Lucarelli…..Francisco Duran
5 Private Fortune…..Jim Penney…..Troy Stillwell
NO SHORTAGE OF FAST HORSES LEADING
INTO SUNDAY’S $40,000 CHINOOK PASS STAKES
The $40,000 Chinook Pass Stakes, named after the Washington-bred who is considered by many as one of the fastest horses in history, should live up to its name on Sunday. The one-mile event for 3-year-old colts and geldings features a ton of speed.
Seven of the 10 total entries have won at least one race from start to finish, including Seattle Slew Handicap winner Newfound Man who went gate-to-wire in the 1-1/16-miles stakes race. The Newfoundland gelding comes off a sixth-place effort in the $75,000 Emerald Derby, but his trainer Blaine Wright said to throw that race out.
“He should rebound after that last race,” Wright said. “I think he just threw in a clunker. It was just unfortunate that it was in the race for the most money.”
Another horse that likes the front end is triple stakes winner Koala Beach, who notched a nose victory in the Pepsi-Cola Handicap*among the most thrilling stakes races this season at Emerald Downs. The Harbor the Gold gelding has posted two dull efforts since the Pepsi-Cola and will have a tough task to negotiate the first turn after breaking from the 10-hole, which is winless in routes this season at Emerald Downs.
Bogachiel, who might be the fastest horse in the field, finished second in a 6 ½-furlong allowance optional claimer for older horses after he set opening fractions of :21 2/5 and :43 3/5. Another son of Harbor the Gold, Bogachiel, despite the favorable breeding, needs to prove that he can handle the two-turn distance.
The race could set up perfectly for Wheelhouse, who can save ground around the first turn behind the pacesetters. The Limehouse gelding broke his maiden with a half-length victory over Absolutely Cool*the seven-horse in Sunday’s Chinook Pass*on July 31. Trainer Petra Lewin has quietly put together a solid season, winning 22 percent of her races with a 4-3-1 record in 18 starts.
RACE 8: $40,000 Chinook Pass Stakes for 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings-1 mile
Post…..Horse……………Trainer……………Jockey
1 Newfound Man…..Blaine Wright…..Inoel Beato
2 Wheelhouse…..Petra Lewin…..Francisco Duran
3 Power Strip…..Tim McCanna…..Javier Matias
4 Fisher Creek…..Tim McCanna…..A.L. Gutierrez
5 Certified Diamond…..Vann Belvoir…..Juan Gutierrez
6 Slew the Man…..Mike Chambers…..Kevin Krigger
7 Absolutely Cool…..Tom Wenzel…..Gallyn Mitchell
8 Mr. Mad Max…..Dan Markle…..Debbie Hoonan-Trujillo
9 Bogachiel…..Bonnie Jenne…..Pedro Terrero
10 Koala Beach…..Doris Harwood…..Ricky Frazier
OTHER WA CUP RACES
RACE 4: $40,000 John & Kitty Fletcher Stakes for 3-Year-Old Fillies-1 mile
Post…..Horse……………Trainer……………Jockey
1 Knight Raider…..Doris Harwood…..Kevin Krigger
2 Zenovit…..Larry Ross…..Ricky Frazier
3 Lilly’s a Jewel…..Dan Markle…..Deborah Hoonan- Trujillo
4 Missie Ky I You…..Charles Essex…..Francisco Duran
5 Sis’s Sis…..Jim Penney…..Juan Gutierrez
RACE 6: $40,000 Diane Kem Stakes for 2-Year-Old Fillies-6.5 furlongs
Post…..Horse……………Trainer……………Jockey
1 Allison Ridge…..Vann Belvoir…..Kevin Krigger
2 Chasing Demons…..Tim McCanna…..A.L Gutierrez
3 Pickled Again…..Martin Pimentel…..Inoel Beato
4 Bell Adieu…..Doris Harwood…..Francisco Duran
5 Last Wild Kiss…..Doris Harwood…..Gallyn Mitchell
6 Iforgottobeme…..Bill Thompson…..Juan Gutierrez
7 Julie M C M…..Jose Navarro…..Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo
8 Lady Golightly…..Tom Wenzel…..Pedro Terrero
9 Mariah’s Juke Box…..Doris Harwood…..Ricky Frazier
RACE 7: $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for Older Horses-1 mile
Post…..Horse……………Trainer……………Jockey
1 Wasserman…..Howard Belvoir…..Jennifer Whitaker
2 Margo’s Gift…..Doris Harwood…..Francisco Duran
3 Noosa Beach…..Doris Harwood…..Inoel Beato
4 Siberian Cocktail…..Tim McCanna…..Kevin Krigger
5 He’s All Heart…..Larry Wolf…..Gallyn Mitchell
6 Scalding Passion…..Robbie Baze…..Juan Gutierrez
RACE 9: $40,000 Dennis Dodge Stakes for 2-Year-Old Colts & Geldings-6.5 furlongs
Post…..Horse……………Trainer……………Jockey
1 Mack’s Gold Bullet…..Vann Belvoir…..Juan Gutierrez
2 Stellar Blue…..Jim Penney…..Francisco Duran
3 Stolen Rio…..David Bennett…..Pedro Terrero
4 Giuseppe G…..Vann Belvoir…..Troy Stillwell
5 Broulee Beach…..Blaine Wright…..Ricky Frazier
6 Winter Warlock…..Tim McCanna…..Kevin Krigger
7 Couldabenthewhisky…..Bonnie Jenne…..Gallyn Mitchell
News and Notes
Week 22 honors: Jockey-Javier Matias (3 wins); Trainer-Howard Belvoir (3 wins) Owner-Frank Gaunt (3 wins); Groom-Leobardo Camacho (Dave Bennett)-Howard Belvoir said Assessment, third-place finisher in the Longacres Mile, will make his next start in the $25,000 Sir Winston Churchill on Sept. 26 at Hastings. Belvoir also said “there is a good chance” that Wasserman will run in the $20,000 Inaugural Handicap on Oct. 4, at Portland Meadows following Sunday’s Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. Belvoir plans to send 26 horses to Portland Meadows for its 75-day meet, which runs Oct. 4-March, 31, 2011.
Tim McCanna said Mile runner-up Jersey Town will ship Sunday to New York in advance of the $250,000 Kelso Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GII) on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park. McCanna-trainees Banditontheloose and He’s Flyin Home will make their next start this weekend at Golden Gate. Banditontheloose (10-1) will run in a $40,000 starter allowance on Friday, and He’s Flyin Home will run in a $20,000 maiden claimer on Sunday.
Blaine Wright said multiple stakes winner Gadget Queen is pointed for an open allowance race on Oct. 18 at Golden Gate. Wright said that his 6-year-old mare will likely run a couple more times before retiring to become a broodmare at the end of the year.
Vann Belvoir will saddle Stormin’ Patrick and Forener this weekend at Remington Park. Stormin’ Patrick (10-1) will race in a $28,500 allowance race on Friday and Forener (5-1) will attempt to return to winning-form in a $15,000 claimer on Saturday.
Federal Way Handicap winner Feeling Fancy (5-1), trained by Frank Lucarelli, runs Thursday in the $50,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Fairplex Park in California.
Fisher Creek breezed four furlongs on a sloppy track in :52 2/5 Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s $40,000 Chinook Pass Stakes.
