Trainer Chris Stenslie made a surprising move Wednesday entering Showme Yourfriends in an allowance race for Saturday, opting not to start the Auburn Handicap winner in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Aug. 14.
Despite her gelding’s success in the sophomore stakes division, Stenslie said she wanted to run Showme Yourfriends in a softer spot after he finished tenth in the Seattle Slew Handicap.
“He’s still doing really well, but I wanted to give him a confidence boost after a couple tough trips in the last two stakes races,” Stenslie said. “I saw some of the other names in the allowance race, and it could be a pretty difficult race to win, too.”
The likely favorite in the 6-½-furlong feature race, Showme Yourfriends will face undefeated Vegas Flyer and Avalon Beach, who beat Showme Yourfriends in an April maiden special weight.
In the older horse division, the public awaits Stenslie’s decision on Hollywood Harbor’s next start. While Stenslie said she would likely nominate the 2009 Top Juvenile to the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Aug. 21, she may not enter him.
“Once I see all the nominations, I’ll have a better idea of whether I’d enter him for the Mile,” Stenslie said. “I’ve been avoiding Noosa Beach all year, but there aren’t too many options left other than Washington Cup Day.”
The MLB’s version of Comeback Player of the Year, Hollywood Harbor has been brilliant since returning from a one-year absence because of a suspensory ligament injury. The 4-year-old gelding has compiled a 2-1-0 record in three starts. His latest victory set the meet record for the fastest 6-½ furlongs going 1:13.80.
JOCKEY RESURGENCE: JAVIER MATIAS ON PACE FOR 60 WINS
It’s been nearly a decade since Javier Matias recorded a career-high 65 wins in the 2001 jockey standings at Emerald Downs. But the Mexico City native has found his niche in 2011 riding first-call for trainer Vann Belvoir.
After the past four years averaging 15.25 wins per Emerald Downs’ meet, Matias has already tripled last year’s output, riding 36 winners with nine weeks to go. On pace for a 60-win season, Matias said he expects his success to continue through the meet’s last two months.
“My goal is to beat my record and get more than 65 wins,” Matias said. “I’m working hard every morning and trainers have been putting me on better horses. I’ll ride some nice horses this weekend, so maybe I can get a little bit closer by the end of the week.”
To reach 65 wins, Matias would have to average over three victories per week, a feat that could prove tough now that Belvoir has shipped more than a dozen horses to Del Mar for its summer meet. The pair has combined for 21 wins in 120 starts thus far, and on paper, the move looks to hurt Matias’s chances at 65 wins. Matias, however, remains optimistic that he’ll retain the same number of mounts, but that those mounts will come from other stables.
“I don’t think Vann (Belvoir) sending horses to Del Mar will hurt me very much because I can ride horses for other barns,” Matias said. “Trainers have been watching me win races this year, and I think I’ve opened a lot of doors with the way I have been riding.”
SUNDAY’S CARD INCLUDES DUANE HAMAMURA MEMORIAL RACE
Emerald Downs will honor the memory of one of the Northwest’s most ardent thoroughbred enthusiasts in the winner’s circle following Sunday’s fourth race.
The Duane Hamamura Memorial Purse will pay tribute to the renowned photographer whose greatest passion was thoroughbred racing.
Hamamura, who was 57-years-old died suddenly of heart disease Jan. 29. Some 22 members of the extended Hamamura family will attend the tribute, along with many of his friends, colleagues and fans. To honor the event, Emerald Downs’ graphic artist Janet Elseth has designed a special program cover that includes a beautiful photo of Duane and his cameras, and several of his most prized works.
For decades, both freelance and in the Valley Daily News, Hamamura produced amazing photos of local horses and horsemen, a collection he selflessly shared with trainers, jockeys, owners and fans.
NOTES: Week 15 Honors—Jockey-Jennifer Whitaker (1-1-0-0); Trainer-Doris Harwood (10-4-0-3); Owner-Shady Valley Ranch (3-3-0-0); Groom-Ernesto Martinez (Jose Navarro)…Noosa Beach earned a 93 Beyer for his half-length victory in 1:41.13 for 1-1/ 16 miles in Sunday’s Mt. Rainier Handicap. That number was up slightly from a 91 in the June 19 Budweiser Handicap…Cliff’s Secret got an 88 for her 5-¾-length triumph in Sunday’s $20,000 claimer at six furlongs. The 5-year-old mare by The Cliff’s Edge ran a meet-best 1:08.21, and now has the meet’s fastest times at 5-½ furlongs (1:02.33) and six furlongs.
Zagreus earned a career-high 85 Beyer for his feature-race victory Saturday. The 5-year-old Yonaguska gelding ran one mile in 1:35.98…Silver Boxcar, a 2-year-old Silver Train colt, got the week’s biggest Beyer by a juvenile, a 58 for his 2-½ length triumph Sunday in :57.59 for five furlongs.
Silver Boxcar capped a three-for- three week for Ivan & Delores Christianson’s Shady Valley Ranch. They also scored Saturday with first-time starter Lady Dakota, a 2-year-old Dehere filly that overcame a poor start to win vs. maiden special weights, and Friday their 3-year-old Matty G gelding Ontheshadyside notched his maiden victory vs. $30,000 maiden-claimers.
Harwood trained all three winners for Shady Valley Ranch…You Me and Ema B, with wins in the Hastings and Boeing Handicaps, breezed four furlongs Thursday in 46 flat (1/22) in preparation for the $65,000 Emerald Distaff on Aug. 21.
Evelyn’s Dancer, who scored a three-length victory for trainer Frank Lucarelli in a June $25,000 maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs, captured a starter allowance race Thursday at Del Mar after she was purchased privately by Mark Dedomenico, LLC and North American Thoroughbred, Inc.
Harwood said Thursday that Carrabelle Harbor would make her next start in the $65,000 Washington Oaks on Aug. 13 and that she “couldn’t be any more confident” that her Harbor the Gold filly could handle the 1-1/8-mile distance.
2008 Top Juvenile Gallant Son failed to rally and finished eighth Wednesday in the $85,000 Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar…
Trainer Tim McCanna needs three wins to reach the 800-win mark at Emerald Downs…McCanna and Lucarelli—who ranks second all-time with 650 wins— are tied for second in the trainers’ standings with 27 wins apiece. Howard Belvoir doubled Sunday and remains on top with 33 wins
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