Slew’s Tiz Whiz to attempt rare feat at Longacres Mile

AUBURN – Slew’s Tiz Whiz will try to score one for persistence in the $125,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday at Emerald Downs.

Should the 7-year-old gelding win the Northwest’s most prestigious horse race, he would pull off a remarkable feat. Only five horses have won the Longacres Mile twice in 89 previous editions, and only one of them, 1946 and 1948 winner Amble In, did it in non-consecutive years. Jockey Julien Couton will try to guide Slew’s Tiz Whiz to victory three years after his 2022 triumph. He tried in both 2023 and 2024, finishing third both times.

The 9-5 morning-line favorite, Slew’s Tiz Whiz comes into this year’s race in top form. In his most recent start, he scored a record fourth victory in the Governor’s Stakes, the 6½-furlong prep race for the Mile at Emerald Downs. A winner of 11 of 27 starts and $373,472, Slew’s Tiz Whiz will break from post 8 in the 10-horse field.

Arrowthegreat, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, will vie for favoritism with Manuel Americano aboard. Owned by celebrity chef Brian Malarkey of “Cutthroat Kitchen,” Arrowthegreat ships to Emerald Downs after crossing the wire first and being disqualified from a victory against tough competition last month at Del Mar racetrack near San Diego.

The 5-year-old Arrowthegreat has only three wins from 17 lifetime starts but has found his niche at the 1-mile distance. All of his wins have come in his seven starts at a mile; he’s also finished second three times and third once. He’ll break from the rail post position and likely will be among the pacesetters.

Clovisconnection is back for another try at the Mile after a heartbreaking defeat last year, when he led nearly every step of the race before Five Star General rallied from far back to beat him by a head. Kevin Krigger will take the reins aboard the 5-1 third choice on the morning line, who will break from post 7.

The Longacres Mile field also features two horses shipping in from Canada: long-shot Masen and 8-1 contender Apprehend. Last seen winning a $75,000 stakes race at Century Mile racetrack in Edmonton, Apprehend comes into the Mile on a six-race winning streak.

The Mile, for 3-year-olds and up, anchors a card featuring six stakes races, including the $50,000 Emerald Downs Distaff for older fillies and mares and the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds. The ninth of 11 races on Sunday’s card, the Mile will be run at approximately 5:46 p.m.

The field for the $125,000 Longacres Mile:

1: Arrowthegreat, Manuel Americano, 5-2

2: What a Dude, Juan Gutierrez, 10-1

3: Moneyshot, Frank Alvarado, 20-1

4: Seas of Normandy, Carlos Montalvo, 30-1

5: Masen, Kerron Khelawan, 12-1

6: Fifty Cinco, Adrian Castellanos, 30-1

7: Clovisconnection, Kevin Krigger, 5-1

8: Slew’s Tiz Whiz, Julien Couton, 9-5

9: Bearings, Alex Cruz, 15-1

10: Apprehend, Amadeo Perez, 8-1