Later this afternoon marks the biggest day on the racing calendar at beautiful Emerald Downs in the Pacific Northwest where it is Longacres Mile Day. 1/ST BET and Xpressbet are proud partners of Emerald Downs and look forward to a great day. To help make it that much more fun, we have put 3 millioin 1/ST Rewards Points up for grabs over the course of the afternoon. 1M points will be split amongst those that connect on the early Pick 4, while the same is true for the All-Stakes sequence that starts with Race 6, and the late Pick 4 that commences with the feature at 6:20 PM local time. I dove into the late sequence below.


Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.

Race 9: Longacres Mile, presented by 1/ST BET
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5 Executive Chef; 1 Touchy
Backups: 3 Si That Tiger

Forecast: The featured event goes through 7-5-ML favorite #1 Touchy. Trainer Wesley Ward has not started a horse at Emerald Downs over the last five years, but ships this colt into Washington where he draws the rail. He is likely to have company on the front end if attempts to take them gate-to-wire, so a pocket trip is probably the likeliest scenario for the Three Chimneys Farm homebred that is class of the field. I will use him, but also include long shot #5 Executive Chef. The Virginia-bred will probably be hard pressed to run by this entire field if the speed horses fire their best shot, but if not, he is the one I trust most at this stage of their career to come with a strong rally late at a playable price. Hopefully, he gets the pace to chase.

Picks: 5-1-3


Race 10: Washington Oaks, presented by 1/ST BET
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 8 Bewitching Joy
Backups: 4 Tipitap

Forecast: The top four from last month’s Kent Stakes return in this $50k event for 3YO fillies at 1 1/16-miles where I will hope for a contentious battle in the early going. Last time, it was #5 Alluring Valentine and #6 Falling Leaves leading early through moderate fractions and eventually running 1-2 around the track, but there appears to be more speed signed on in this spot. This should benefit #8 Bewitching Joy. The 6-5-favorite in the aforementioned Kent was in a good spot along the inside much of the way, but was forced to steady when beginning to make her move at the two speed horses. She ended up falling flat in the end, but moves outside and should get a more favorable race shape and trip for in the Washington Oaks. I expect her second two-turn trip to go better than that first one. #4 Tipitap is the other runner who should benefit if I am correct about the race dynamics. She had a cleaner trip last out than my top choice and beat her a head. The daughter of Tacticus makes her third local start for trainer Blaine Wright.

Picks: 8-4-6


Race 11: Muckleshoot Derby, presented by 1/ST BET
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 8 Chase; 1 Robin Racer
Backups: None

Forecast: The top four from last month’s Seattle Slew Stakes headline this full field 1 1/16-miles event for 3YOs where #1 Robin Racer was made the 8-5-ML favorite. The son of Connect has done little wrong since returning to Washington after a try in the Turf Paradise Derby in March. He got a great trip last out under Frank Alvarado to get the best of first-time router #8 Chase in the lane. On paper, he should get a similar trip as last time making him tough to toss. That said, Chase ran too good to lose in his first try at two-turns. He is likely to have to settle off an honest pace once again and have enough left late to hold off the chalk, but a move forward is certainly within the range of outcomes. He seems like the better bet of the two at his far higher ML offering.

Picks: 8-1-3


Race 12:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 2 Bobs Honey
Backups: None

Forecast: I like #2 Bobs Honey in the finale. The California-bred makes her second start of the summer after competing at Santa Anita Park this winter and spring for trainer Tim McCanna. She comes off an off-the-pace second to a dominant stalking winner at this level on July 26 and should get a great mid-pack trip along the inside under veteran jockey Kevin Krigger. Hopefully, Krigger saves ground early and gets the best of this group late to close down Longacres Mile Day at Emerald Downs!

Picks: 2-5-1