LONGACRES MILE: A tale of two horses

Howard Belvoir sits in his office in Barn 2 at Emerald Downs.

Over his right shoulder, a cutout-wooden jersey replica of Wasserman’s silks, complete with Belvoir’s pirate logo, sits next to a photo collage of all the past winners of the Longacres Mile.

Wasserman, owned and trained by Belvoir, is on the opposite wall, as well, in a pair of photos commemorating the 7-year-old’s 2008 Longacres Mile victory.

The 65-year-old pauses when asked why the Grade III Longacres Mile race is such a prestigious race.

“I can always quote Herman Sarkowsky,” Belvoir said. “He’s a big sportsman and was an owner of the Portland Trail Blazers. He won the Breeder’s Cup with Phone Chatter (in 1993’s race for juvenile fillies) and the Mile with No Giveaway (in 1995), and when they interviewed him he said (the Mile) meant more than the Breeders’ Cup. He said it was because there has been so few horses to do it and it’s in your hometown. Here’s a guy who has done so much and he thought it was one of the big thrills.”

This year Belvoir is hoping to replicate last year’s thrill by winning his way back into victory circle with either of his two entries, Wasserman and Assessment, into the 74th running of the Longacres Mile on Sunday at Emerald Downs.

Belvoir’s Wasserman will look for consecutive Mile wins, a task completed by just two horses – Simply Majestic in 1988-89 and Trooper Seven in 1980-81.

“I expected quite a bit coming in this year,” Belvoir said. “Everyone had high expectations for Wasserman. He was good last year and he got lucky and won four photos (photo finishes). Lost one and won four. You’re very fortunate when that happens and a horse knows when he wins, so he picks up and thrives and builds on that. He was good. And everybody had confidence in him this year.”

Although Wasserman, ridden by jockey Jennifer Whitaker, has not lit the track on fire this season, finishing third twice and second once in six races, Belvoir holds out hope that his horse can capture the Mile again.

“He’s a horse that has to have the pace in front of him, the speed in front of him to close,” Belvoir said. “He’s also got to have a clean path plus track variant. Sometimes it favors speed and sometimes it favors pace. And it changes day to day. This year the track has favored speed more than normal. But he’s stayed sound.

“The mile is traditionally tough to come back from,” he added. “You can go through the list and the horses that win don’t run much. It’s just kind of hard on them.”

Belvoir also will have a chance to reach the winner’s circle with Assessment, owned by Tice Ranch Stables, who has been the horse to beat in this year’s meet, winning three races and taking second in three more this season. Assessment was fourth in the Mile last year.

“Last year when Wasserman was winning all the races, I kept telling everyone that Assessment was a better horse,” Belvoir said. “But he finds trouble. Any trouble around he’ll find it. But if he finds a clean trip he’s a better horse. Plus he’s younger. Four-year-old is a tough year, which was last year for him. Five years is supposed to be the prime. So he’s in the prime. Wasserman, he’s 7.”

“There has been some mitigating factors, too,” he continued. “Wasserman was turned out to field. He’s like an old football player. It takes longer for him to get ready.”

Assessment, on the other hand, spent the off season in a stall, which Belvoir said enabled him to get off to a quicker start.

“He just got into it more,” he said.

Belvoir said that although he hoped that both horses did well in the race, he still has a soft spot for Wasserman.

“I hope Wasserman comes back and wins the mile this year just to redeem himself,” he said. “He’s run good every time this year, but Assessment has beat him every time, but it’s been close. Me, I’m fortunate that both horses have come out OK and are able to run it again this year.”

Of course, the Mile is not just a two-horse race. Belvoir said he expected tough competition from the other Washington horses and invaders from California.

“It’s a tough field this year,” he said. “Awesome Gem is tough, if he comes.”

Awesome Gem, a 4-year old, has a first-place finish at Hollywood Park under his belt, as well as a second-place finish at California tracks this season.

Also expected to vie for the bouquet is Gallon, a 4-year-old trained by Jim Penney and ridden by Juan Guiterrez who has won the Mile twice. So far this season Gallon has a second and two third-place finishes in this year’s meet at Emerald Downs.

Also in competition for the Mile title are Autism Awareness and Crafty Power from California.

The draw for the Mile was conducted on Wednesday. Wasserman drew a good spot, the No. 2 hole, while Assessment received the precarious No. 12 spot.

“The post position is very, very important in the Mile here,” Belvoir said. “If you get outside the five or six hole, you’re going to get hung out wide on the first turn, they’re going to push you wide, and if you get wide you’re going to run a lot further than a mile. It’s very important, especially this year. There is a lot of speed this year, which should help Assessment and Wasserman. It’s a good field, a good race and it looks like the weather is going to be good.”