Jim Penney has been a tremendous contributor to the thoroughbred racing industry in the Northwest, and through hard work and dedication, he has built one of the sport’s most illustrious careers.
The 76-year-old Penney has captured a record five Longacres Miles (Silver Mallet, 1973; Theologist, 1977; Edneator, 2000; Sabertooth, 2002; Flamethrowintexan, 2006) and was inducted into the Washington Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Penney sends 5-year-old Gallon in an attempt to score his sixth Mile victory, and the veteran trainer said with a little racing luck, it just might happen. Gallon drew the No. 6 post, is 20-1 on the morning line, and will be ridden by two-time Mile winner Juan Gutierrez, at 115 lbs.
“Gallon has trained very excellent for the race,” Penney said. “We got a good post position. It all looks favorable. He has enough ability, and if he puts it all together, he has got a shot.”
Gallon, the 2008 Emerald Derby winner, has had an exceptional career, winning four stakes races and accumulating more than $250,000 in purse money. He has been competitive in his last three stakes races, finishing second, third and fourth, respectively. However, the tenacious son of Victory Gallop hasn’t won a race since Sept. 2009*an allowance optional claiming race. If Gallon pulls it off, Penney said it would be a tremendous honor to win the Mile six times.
“It’s the pinnacle race of the Northwest,” Penney said. “When I was a younger person, I didn’t understand the magnitude. Now, everyone from here to California knows the race, and it’s an honor to win it.”
CANADIAN CONTINGENT ARRIVES
Every horse expected to run Sunday in the $250,000 Longacres Mile has arrived at Emerald Downs with the last three – Almost Time, Burj Dubai and Teide – arrived at 12:30 p.m. Friday for trainer Dino Condilenios
The Condilenios-trained Kimmyv and John Snow-trained Blue Sky Holiday arrived on the same van for Sunday’s $75,000 Emerald Distaff. Seminole Brave, who will run in Sunday’s $20,000 Mile consolation for trainer Mel Snow, was also aboard.
Trainer Blaine Wright assisted Condilenios’s groom and exercise rider Jennifer Reichling with the off loading of each horse. The six horses will stay in Wright’s barn through the weekend. Reichling said the transporting went smooth.
“The trip went really well,” Reichling said. “All the horses are doing excellent.”
A half-hour earlier, the David Forster-trained Senor Rojo arrived to Emerald Downs. The 4-year-old gelding will stay with trainer John Holmes in 10 East.
≤h2≥LONGACRES MILE JOCKEYS: 29,704 WINS
The 12 jockeys scheduled to ride in the 2010 Longacres Mile have won a combined 29,704 races.
Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, of course, leads the way with his world record 11,000 wins and over $170,000 in purses. The 52-year-old Washington native achieved the milestone 11,000th victory aboard Separate Forest at Santa Rosa on Aug. 14.
Baze has two reasons to be at Emerald Downs this weekend. Sunday he rides Ron Crockett’s Davos for trainer Junior Coffey in the Longacres Mile. And Saturday he will attend his father Joe’s induction into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame.
Alex Solis, who rides Burj Dubai in The Mile, has 4,748 career victories and leads the way with over $217,000 in earnings. The 46-year-old Panamanian seeks his first Mile victory in four tries.
DISTAFF LIKELY THE FINAL RACE
FOR THE 6-YEAR-OLD MARE AT EMERALD DOWNS
Trainer Blaine Wright said Gadget Queen, one of the favorites in Sunday’s $75,000 Emerald Distaff, will likely make her final start at Emerald Downs.
Wright said the tentative plan is to find a couple allowance races in Northern California at the beginning of next year, and then send her to the farm as a broodmare.
Gadget Queen (31-8-10-4-$262,710) has made quite a name for herself in the Washington-bred ranks, capturing two stakes races and winning a race at three different tracks*Turf Paradise, Golden Gate and Emerald Downs.
“She has been a great mare to me,” Wright said. “She hasn’t done much wrong in her career.”
2010 EMERALD DISTAFF
Horse……….Trainer……….Jockey……….Wt
1.Clair Annette…..C. Bouslaugh…..K. Krigger…..121
2.Barbara’s Love…..J. Holmes…..G. Mitchell…..115
3.Christmas Ship…..J. Hollendorfer…..L. Mawing…..119
4.Summer Song…..T. Taylor…..M. Gutierrez…..121
5.Blue Sky Holiday…..J. Snow…..F. Fuentes…..115
6.Gadget Queen…..B. Wright…..R. Frazier…..118
7.Rewritten…..F. Lucarelli…..F. Duran…..111
8.Kimmyv…..D. Condilenios…..C. Hoverson…..117
9.Crocodile Tuff…..D. Markle…..R. Baze…..116
FORMER CHAMPS TO MAKE APPEARANCES ON MILE DAY
In celebration for the 75th Running of the Longacres Mile, former Mile champions, Kid Katabatic and Edneator will make appearances Sunday at Emerald Downs.
2000 winner Edneator will enter the track after the second race for a photo-op in the winner’s circle, and 1998 winner Kid Katabatic will follow the same procedure after the fourth race.
Both horses scored their Mile victories in wire-to-wire fashion at big odds. Edneator, at 41-1, pulled off a stunning upset to give trainer Jim Penney his third-of-five Mile victories. Kid Katabatic, at 6-1, beat heavily favored Hesabull and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens by two lengths.
News and Notes
Mile Day weather forecast are for showers and temperatures near 60 degrees. Holy Nova, who dead-heated with Elusive Horizon in last year’s Boeing Handicap, will face eight others Saturday in the 1-1/16-mile $75,000 City of Edmonton Handicap at Northlands Park. The nine-horse field also includes Kaweah Princess, who finished second to No Flies On Doodle in the opening night feature. The Northlands card also will host the $75,000 Speed to Spare Stakes at 1-3/8 miles. Trick of the North – a 2010 Longacres Mile nominee – is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in an 11-horse field that also includes 2008 Mile runner-up True Metropolitan.
