Noosa Beach, a 4-year-old gelding that began his career in the claiming ranks, scaled the mountaintop Sunday with a 1-½ length victory over long shot Jersey Town in the 75th running of the Grade III, $250,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

It was the fourth stakes victory of the meeting for the Washington-bred son of Harbor the Gold and gave trainer Doris Harwood her first triumph in the Northwest’s biggest race.

Noosa Beach, the 9-to-5 ridden by Ricky Frazier at 120 pounds, ran the mile in 1 minute, 34 4/5 seconds and paid $5.60, $3.80 and $3. The victory was worth $96,250 for owner Jeff Harwood, who co-bred the winner with his wife and trainer.

Jersey Town, ridden by Kevin Krigger at 117 pounds, was easily second and paid $8 and $5.20. It was 3 ¾ lengths back to defending champion Assessment, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 118 pounds, and a $6.60 show payoff.

Almost Time rallied from last to finish fourth, and was followed under the wire by Winning Machine, 5-to-2 second choice Gallant Son, Teide, Davos, 2008 Mile winner Wasserman, Senor Rojo, Burj Dubai and Gallon.

Noosa Beach, who took command from 48-to-1 Winning Machine on nearing the half, opened a two-length lead into the stretch and held off Jersey Town in the lane.

It was the second Longacres Mile victory for Frazier and his record 71st stakes wins at Emerald Downs. The 46-year-old Little Rock, Ark. Native brimmed with justified confidence throughout Mile week at Emerald Downs, but did encounter minor problems at the break.

“I was a little anxious out of the gate,” Frazier said. “Noosa Beach broke great on his first step, but after his second step Gallon stepped straight down on the middle of his foot. I could tell it was bothering him, but I knew that he would fight through it.

“When we reached the stretch, I wanted to see how far I could open up on the field. Noosa Beach ran right by Winning Machine, and I was confident we had the race won. He beat the best of the best. He just does it all. He has shown from the get-go that he is a special horse. I put a lot of pressure on myself to win this race. I am just starting to let it sink in. I really want to relish this victory.”

Harwood added to her illustrious career with a capstone victory. She won the $250,000 Favorite Trick Stakes with Washington-bred Margo’s Gift in 2007, but said the Longacres Mile is special.

“It feels fantastic, it’s really the highlight of my career,” said Harwood, who began training two decades ago after a riding career at Longacres.

Harwood, 57, is the track’s all-time leader with 47 stakes wins—38 of which have come in the last four seasons.

Noosa Beach became the 10th horse to win four stakes in a season at Emerald Downs, and is only the fifth horse with seven career stakes wins. His overall record is 9-3-2- in 15 starts with earnings of $340,590. The victory automatically qualified Noosa Beach for the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs in November. But because he isn’t Breeders’ Cup eligible, the supplemental nomination fee would be $90,000.

In the $75,000 Emerald Distaff for fillies and mares, Canadian shippers dominated as Kimmyv scored a one-length victory over Summer Song in 1:49 1/5 for a mile and one-eighth. Chad Hoverson rode the winner at 117 lbs for trainer Dino Condilenios and owner Swift Thoroughbreds of Vancouver, B.C.

Kimmyv, a winner in five of eight career starts, earned $41,250, and paid $23.60, $9.60 and $6.

Summer Song, ridden by Mario Gutierrez at 121 lbs, was clearly second best and paid $6.20 and $4.40. Christmas Ship, Mawing riding at 119 lbs, finished third and paid $2.80.

Rewritten, the lone 3-year-old in the race, rallied from last to finish fourth, and was followed by Blue Sky Holiday, Gadget Queen, Barbara’s Love, Crocodile Tuff and Clair Annette.

Clair Annette, the 2.10-to-1 betting favorite ridden by Krigger, weakened after leading through six furlongs in 1:13 4/5, and faded to last.

News and Notes

Gallyn Mitchell notched career victory No. 2,500 on first-time starter Mack’s Golden Bullet ($4.80) in the first race. The only jockey to ride all 15 years at Emerald Downs, Mitchell is the track’s all-time leader with 1,234 victories…Mawing speculated Gallant Son might have struggled with the surface switch from turf to dirt. “He started to make his move at the half-mile pole, but he never really gave me his usual spurt,” Mawing said. “It was hard to make up the ground. The leaders were just too far ahead.”…Jersey Town earned $50,000 for his runner-up effort, the second time trainer Tim McCanna has finished second in The Mile. Krigger was happy with the second-place finish. “I had the perfect stalking trip,” he said. “He made his move on the leader, but by then (Noosa Beach) had already made a big lead. He’s a really nice horse, and Tim (McCanna) has done an awesome job with him.”…In addition to becoming the only four-time stakes winner at the meet, Noosa Beach also became the first horse to win five races. He began the meet with a neck victory over Winning Machine in a six-furlong allowance race April 18.