By Doug Parry / Special to The Herald
AUBURN — The starting gates are set to spring open Saturday at Emerald Downs. Post time is 2 p.m. for the nine-race card, the first of 67 days of live racing this spring and summer.
The season will feature a highly competitive group of older horses pointing toward the highlight of the meet, the Longacres Mile on Aug. 11. Washington horse of the year Sippin Fire, last year’s champion 3-year-old, is in training with an eye toward the Mile. Barkley, the popular 2018 Mile victor, also returns, as does top sprinter Riser, who dominated until his 2018 campaign was derailed by an injury.
Champion 3-year-old filly Bella Mia is also in training for a return to Emerald Downs. She will face older rivals this season, including champion mare Reginella. Others working toward a return include last year’s top 2-year-olds, Baja Sur and Money Inthe Starrs.
Among the non-equine athletes, Rocco Bowen, the three-time defending champion rider, will spot his rivals a head start this season in the jockey standings. He’s reportedly recovering from an injury, but plans to return. Leading trainer Jeff Metz has relocated his stable, opening up the race for top conditioner. Top candidates include veteran Emerald Downs trainers Frank Lucarelli and Blaine Wright.
Wright, who grew up in the Northwest and is the son of longtime Longacres trainer Richard Wright, could give local fans a rooting interest in the Kentucky Derby on May 4. His colt Anothertwistafate is among those vying for a spot in the starting gate, but he will need a few others to drop out. He’s 23rd in the points system that determines who gets in, with the top 20 given the option to run. If Anothertwistafate doesn’t get into the Derby field, he’s almost certain to run in the Preakness Stakes on May 18.
Along with the $200,000 Longacres Mile, three other stakes races are on tap for Aug. 11, dubbed “Championship Sunday.” Other major racing days include July 21, with four stakes races including the last major prep for the Mile. The $100,000 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds is the traditional closing-day feature on Sept. 22.
Other attractions include the annual fireworks show on July 3; bulldog and beagle races June 9; wiener dog races July 7; corgi races Aug. 4; and camel, ostrich and zebra racing May 19.
First post time is 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-July, when Saturdays shift to evening cards with a 5 p.m. start. To learn more, visit www.emeralddowns.com.
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