Kentucky-bred Posse Power, who competed in this year’s Santa Anita Derby, heads a field of six 3-year-olds entered in Sunday’s $50,000 Pepsi-Cola Handicap at Emerald Downs.
The one-mile Pepsi Cola is the first two-turn assignment for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs, and Posse Power is the probable favorite after his 1 ¾-length victory in last month’s Auburn Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs.
Owned by Claire Lein of Fall City, Wash., Posse Power was tested against some of the West Coast’s top sophomores this spring while finishing a troubled third in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate and eighth in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. Trainer Frank Lucarelli has big plans for the son of Posse, including the $75,000 Emerald Derby in August.
Trainer Doris Harwood could spoil the Posse Power party with Koala Beach, a lightly raced Washington-bred by Harbor the Gold who ran away with last year’s Gottstein Futurity and Dennis Dodge Stakes.
A Koala Beach victory, incidentally, would make Harwood the all-time leading stakes trainer at Emerald Downs. She tied Bud Klokstad at 42-all last Sunday as the brilliant 4-year-old Noosa Beach scored by 9 ¼ lengths in the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap at one mile. Harwood also has enjoyed great success in the Pepsi-Cola, finishing first and second with Noosa Beach and Winning Machine in 2009 and first with Margo’s Gift in 2008.
Ricky Frazier, scheduled to ride Koala Beach, also could make history with a victory in the Pepsi-Cola. On pace for his fifth riding title in seven years, Frazier is tied with Gallyn Mitchell for most stakes victories at Emerald Downs at 64 apiece. Moreover, Frazier and Harwood has been a lethal tandem in stakes races at Emerald Downs. They are a combined 16-for-38 in added-money events, 42.1 percent, including two Noosa Beach victories this season.
Newfound Man has won two-of-three career starts for trainer Blaine Wright and owners John and Janene Maryanski of Auburn, Wash. The Washington-bred gelding will be asked to carry his speed around two turns, but his breeding (his sire is by Storm Cat and his dam by Temperence Hill) strongly suggests that added distance will be a blessing.
Silk Street and Michael the Man are new shooters for trainers Michael Puhich and Lucarelli, respectively. The former tries dirt after a pair of tries, including a maiden special weight victory, on the turf at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.
A Kentucky-bred colt by Wild and Wicked, Michael the Man compiled a 2-1-1 mark in six starts this spring while competing in claiming and starter allowance races at Golden Gate. And if Posse Power and Michael the Man finish first and second, Lucarelli would equal Harwood’s feat of Noosa Beach and Winning Machine finishing one-two in 2009.
Bogachiel is another one new to the route game. The Frank McDonald homebred also is by Harbor the Gold and comes off a runner-up finish to Blame the Jockey in a six-furlong optional claiming event.
The field 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, Duran 121; Newfound Man, Inoel Beato, 116; Kola Beach, Frazier, 120.
