Koala Beach, an outstanding 2-year-old from 2009, makes his return to stakes-company Sunday in the $50,000 Pepsi-Cola Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings. The one-mile affair is the first route race for sophomores leading to the $75,000 Emerald Derby on Sunday, Aug. 15.
Koala Beach, who won the 2009 Gottstein Futurity and Dennis Dodge Stakes by a combined 16 lengths, did not start the 2010 meeting the way trainer Doris Harwood and owner/husband Jeff Harwood hoped. The Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold finished last in a four-horse field on April 18, and Doris Harwood said she could tell that Koala Beach was not his normal healthy self.
“We never could put our finger on what exactly was wrong, but we could tell something wasn’t right.” Doris Harwood said.
The Harwoods decided to send Koala Beach to the farm for some rest to see if things might turn around. The farm visit seemed to do the trick, as Koala Beach came back healthy and happy. His morning workouts have been great including a bullet five furlongs in 57 seconds on June 13.
“He’s been training like a monster,” Jeff Harwood said. “I think he’ll give a pretty good account of himself Sunday. I think we’ll see the real Koala Beach.”
Koala Beach will need a top performance to topple Sunday’s six-horse field, headlined by Auburn Handicap winner and likely betting-favorite Posse Power.
The Kentucky-bred by Posse raced against some of the nation’s best 3-year-olds at Golden Gate and Santa Anita before invading Emerald Downs. The switch from California synthetics to dirt appeared to be an easy transition as Posse Power cruised to a 1 ¾-length victory in the Auburn Handicap for trainer Frank Lucarelli and owner Claire Lein of Fall City, Wash. The longer distance should benefit the bay colt who captured a first-level allowance race around two turns at Golden Gate Fields.
California invaders Michael the Man, also trained by Lucarelli, and Silk Street, conditioned by Michael Puhich, make their Emerald Downs debut Sunday. Michael the Man, who ran in three maiden races at Emerald Downs in 2009, makes his second start since a 1 ¼-length victory in an allowance race on April 21 at Golden Gate.
Silk Street comes up from Southern California where he captured a maiden special weight on April 18 at Santa Anita. Newfound Man, who comes off a three-length triumph for trainer Blaine Wright, completes the field.
The field from the rail out for the 15th running of the Pepsi-Cola Handicap: Silk Street, Juan Gutierrez, 114 pounds; Michael the Man, Pedro Terrero, 115; Bogachiel, Troy Stillwell, 114; Posse Power, Francisco Duran, 121; Newfound Man, Inoel Beato, 116; Koala Beach, Ricky Frazier, 120.
Atta Boy Roy and Peaceful Reign at Prairie Meadows
Washington-breds Atta Boy Roy and Peaceful Reign will face each other Friday night in the $125,000 Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows. The Emerald Downs stakes winners are among nine horses entered in the six-furlong event in Altoona, Iowa.
Atta Boy Roy is the 7-to-2 morning line favorite while Peaceful Reign is listed at 8-to-1 in the field of nine older horses. Calvin Borel rides Atta Boy Roy at high weight of 123 pounds while Gallyn Mitchell is on Peaceful Reign at 115.
Emerald Downs’ Top Sprinter of 2009, Atta Boy Roy is 2-0-1 in three starts this year including a victory in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Sprint and a second in the Grade 3 Aristides Handicap. Peaceful Reign has raced exclusively at Emerald Downs and comes off a dead-heat for third in the May 16 Seattle Handicap won by Noosa Beach.
Post time for the Iowa Sprint Handicap is 7:37 p.m. (Pacific) and the race will be simulcast at Emerald Downs.
No Flies On Doodle
Also Friday at Prairie Meadows, No Flies On Doodle competes in the $100,00 Saylorville Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Post time for the Saylorville is 6:44 p.m.
A double stakes winner this season at Emerald Downs, No Flies On Doodle drew the No. 2 post-position and is listed at 9-to-2 in a seven-horse field. Regular rider Gallyn Mitchell rides No Flies On Doodle for trainer Vann Belvoir.
In addition to Peaceful Reign and No Flies On Doodle, Mitchell and Belvoir team up with Personality Kid in the first race at Prairie Meadows, a $6,250 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up.
2009 Top 3-yer-old Winning Machine switches barns
Three races into the 2010 season, Winning Machine’s owners Raymond Kwik and Paul Goldberg of Fleur De Lis Stables have decided to change trainers. Frank Lucarelli takes over from Doris Harwood, who led Winning Machine to honors as Top 3-Year-Old at Emerald Downs in 2009.
The change follows a last-place finish in Sunday’s $50,000 Budweiser Handicap, as Winning Machine never got untracked after breaking from the No. 9 post-position in the one-mile race. Noosa Beach, trained by Doris Harwood and owned by Jeff Harwood, crushed the field by 9 ¼ lengths in 1:35.
Harwood and Winning Machine enjoyed tremendous success at Emerald Downs over the past year, including victories in last year’s $50,000 Tacoma Handicap and $75,000 Emerald Downs Derby. Winning Machine followed up the Derby win with a one-length victory in the $250,000 British Columbia Derby Grade 3 on Sept. 27, at Hastings Park in Vancouver, B.C.
One of the great stories that followed Winning Machine was his stablemate rivalry with Noosa Beach. Both 4-year-olds have faced each other nine times, with Noosa Beach leading the score 7-to-2.
While disappointed, Harwood understands the nature of the business and said that she is excited to watch Noosa Beach continue his success this season.
“You have to do the best you can with the horses you have,” Harwood said. “Now, I only have to be loyal to one.”
Ed the Thoroughbred seeks revenge in mascot dash
Live thoroughbreds won’t be the only ones to test their racing skills Sunday at Emerald Downs, as Ed the Thoroughbred looks to dethrone defending champ Red Robin of Puyallup in the annual Mascot Dash. The Emerald Downs representative finished strong in last year’s event only to be beaten by a half-length.
The unofficial field also includes: Cha Cha (Rainforest Café), Cool Bird (Seattle Thunderbirds), Lincoln (Everett Silvertips), O. C. B. (Old Country Buffet), Ivar’s Dancing Clam (Ivar’s Seafood) and Red Robin (Red Robin of Des Moines).
News and Notes
• Week 11 honors: Jockey-Kevin Krigger (4 wins); Trainer-Neil Knapp (2 wins); Owner-Jeff Harwood (Noosa Beach, Budweiser Handicap); Groom-Polly Carpo Fernandez (3 wins)…Noosa Beach earned a career-high 97 Beyer for his 9 ¼-length victory in the Budweiser Handicap.
• Sunday’s co-feature is a $20,000 optional claiming race at 6 ½ furlongs, featuring Taif, Exclusive Eagle, He’s All Heart, Margo’s Gift, Mulcahy and Positive Force.
• Scratched last Saturday, Mulcahy will be making his first start since 2007 when he was voted Top 3-Year-Old at Emerald Downs.
• Red-hot trainer Dinos Apostolou (3-for-9 in 2010) goes for another victory with Lady Eliza in Sunday’s seventh race.
• Good luck to Emerald Rewards Administrator Daniel Meyers, who’s final day at Emerald Downs will be this Sunday.
