OLYMPIC ROMPS BACK IN WINNING FORM PREVAILS IN ASHBAUGH BEAL PURSE AUBURN, Wash. (July 29, 2010) – Hard-trying Olympic Lights took advantage of an early pace duel and scored a 3 ¾-length victory Thursday in the $12,100 Ashbaugh Beal Purse for older sprinters at Emerald Downs. With leading rider Ricky Frazier aboard, Olympic Lights ran six furlongs in 1:09 1/5 and paid $7.60, $4.40 and $3.60. It was the 6-year-old gelding’s first win in three starts this year and his eighth in 17 starts overall at Emerald Downs. Doris Harwood was the trainer for the Shady Valley Ranch of Ivan and Delores Christiansen. Ernie Owl, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, continued in fine form with a second-place finish and paid $3.80 and $3.40. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred has two wins, two seconds and a third from five starts at the meeting. It was a half-length back to Carry On John, ridden by Inoel Beato, and a $4.20 show payoff. Highdleburg, Flaming Bullet, Chet the Jet and Get You completed the order of finish. Olympic Lights stalked the pace as Highdleburg and Get You scorched the track with fractions of :21 3/5 and :44 2/5, slipped through inside into the stretch, collared the leaders a furlong out and drew off late.  The winner was re-claimed, however, by trainer Charles Essex for $15,000 on behalf of Moon Glow Farms. Harwood and the Christiansen’s claimed Olympic Lights for $17,500 in his previous start June 25. Olympic Lights has compiled an overall record of 9-5-1 in 21 starts with earnings of $72,269. NOTES: Tim McCanna saddled two winners and leapfrogged over Vann Blevoir 40-39 in the trainers’ standings. The nine-time Emerald Downs champion trailed Belvoir 22-11 on June 1…Frazier rode two winners and leads Juan Gutierrez 74-59 in the jockeys’ standings…Get You also was claimed for $15,000 from the feature race by Dan Agnew and John Xitco. Mike Chambers is the new trainer…Live racing continues Friday with first post at 6 p.m. ASSESSMENT AND NOOSA BEACH SET FOR REMATCH IN FINAL TUNE-UP FOR THE 75TH LONGACRES MILE Who is the best horse at Emerald Downs in 2010? Three weeks ago the answer was simple: Noosa Beach. The Harbor the Gold gelding captured his first three races of the season including the track's first two stakes races for older horses this season. In last month's Budweiser, he dominated an eight-horse field with a 9 ¼-length triumph. And in each of those three races, Noosa Beach has beaten almost every suitable contender at least twice. Sunday's $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap at 1 1/8 miles *the final tune-up for the $250,000 Longacres Mile*will help to separate the contenders from the pretenders in the handicap division. Assessment, defending Mile champ and Horse of the Meeting, clouded the picture just a bit, after he snapped Noosa Beach's 6-for-6 sprint record with a neck victory in the Governor's Handicap on July 11. However, Assessment's trainer, Howard Belvoir said Noosa Beach should still be considered the horse to beat. "Noosa Beach is a nice horse," Belvoir said. "He's good enough to where he can make mistakes and still find a way to win. Assessment is still a race behind most of these horses, but he's coming up to this race good." Assessment scored a 2 ¼-length victory in the last year's Mt. Rainier, becoming the third Mt. Rainier-victor in four years to capture the Mile in the same year. The Jump Start gelding suffered an ankle chip last September and after two disappointing starts in 2010, questions arose about his ability perform at the top level. Assessment's performance in the Governor's proved to his skeptics that he still possessed the ability to compete with the best horses. The field for the 15th running of the Mt. Rainier Handicap: Senor Rojo, Miguel Perez, 116 lbs.; Gallon, Juan Gutierrez, 116; Wasserman, Jennifer Whitaker, 114; Rooster City, Kevin Krigger, 117; Dixie Meister, Inoel Beato, 113; Noosa Beach, Ricky Frazier, 121; Assessment, Gallyn Mitchell, 120. TALENTED SIX-HORSE FIELD WILL TAKE CENTER STAGE IN SUNDAY'S $50,000 BOEING HANDICAP The older filly and mare stakes division took another step forward heading into Sunday's $50,000 Boeing Handicap at 1-1/16 miles*the final prep for the $75,000 Emerald Distaff on Aug. 22. Already containing quality multiple stakes-winners Clair Annette and Gadget Queen, the division added even more depth with shippers Kimmyv and Pretty Katherine. Pretty Katherine has faced some of the best fillies and mares in the country including St. Trinians and runner-up Horse of the Year Zenyatta*arguably one of the best mares to ever set foot on a racetrack. Pretty Katherine has only raced three times on a dirt surface and will likely come from off the pace. Kimmyv comes off a 6 ¼-length romp at Churchill Downs, where she led the entire duration of the race. Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. purchased Kimmyv privately after her win and moved barns from trainer Bob Baffert to Dino Condilenios. The daughter of El Corredor has never routed and with her sprint speed, she could be a pace factor that Clair Annette would have to contend with. However, Condilenios said that he would be surprised to see her on the lead. "I'm not positive what to expect from her, " Condilenios said. "Her last work really impressed me. She showed that she is really ratable." A Beau Genius mare, Clair Annette is pure speed and will likely be the one to catch going into the final turn. Clair Annette upset 6-to-5 favorite Gadget Queen with a wire-to-wire, 5 ½-length score on the Fourth of July in the King County Handicap. Trainer Blaine Wright said he was surprised that Gadget Queen was the favorite. "I didn't think we could win that race because there was no pace," Wright said. "Nobody can beat Clair Annette if she doesn't get hooked on the front end. Every time Clair Annette gets headed, she gets beat." Gadget Queen should have plenty of speed to run at with Clair Annette and Cliff's Secret, who also won her last race from start-to-finish. The Cliff's Edge Filly has been an interesting story at Emerald Downs this season. Cliff's Secret is 3-for-3 in her career, which she started in a $5,000 maiden claimer. Steadily climbing up the class ladder, her most recent victory came on July 9, when she captured a $17,500 claiming race by 5 ¾ lengths. She received an 88 Beyer Speed Figure*the highest last-out number posted by any horse in this field. The field for the 15th running of the Boeing Handicap: Barbara's Love, Gallyn Mitchell, 116 lbs.; Pretty Katherine, Juan Gutierrez, 120; Gadget Queen, Frazier, 119; Clair Annette, Kevin Krigger, 122; Cliff's Secret, Francisco Duran, 113; Kimmyv, Chad Hoverson, 118. CONDILENIOS: TEIDE AND BURJ DUBAI ARE MILE POSSIBILITIES The 75th Running of the Longacres Mile is less than one month away, and the possible contenders from outside Emerald Downs have started to emerge. Trainer Dino Condilenios holds a pair of aces, who will run in the Mile if they can overcome a few potential obstacles. Condilenios said Teide, who finished third the '09 Mile, is listed as questionable after suffering a quarter crack on July 1. The injury occurred during his victory in the Lieutenant Governor's Handicap at Hastings Park, in Vancouver, B.C. "If you would have asked me a week ago, if Teide would be in the Mile, I would've said no, " Condilenios said. "He seems to be doing a lot better now, and if all goes well, he'll be there." Condilenios said that his up and coming star Burj Dubai would run in the Mile*if he were assigned a high enough weight to qualify. The 4-year-old by Distorted Humor has only raced three times, but according to Condilenios, Burj Dubai has more raw talent than Teide, who has reeled off five career stakes races. NOTES: Week 15 honors: Jockey-Gallyn Mitchell (5 wins); Trainer-Blaine Wright (3 wins on 36th birthday); Owner-John & Janene Maryanski (Newfound Man, Seattle Slew Handicap); Groom- Gabriel Moreno (Rigoberto Velasquez, West Seattle Boy)*Bell Adieu, who finished third to stablemate Carrabelle Harbor in the NWSS Knights Choice Stakes on July 18, will attempt to break her maiden in Saturday's second race*a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds *Federal Way Handicap winner Feeling Fancy will make here second start since recovering from a foot abscess in Sunday's $21,500 allowance race for 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Sky Mesa will be the likely betting favorite facing multiple stakes-winner Knight Raider and stakes-placed Zenovit in Sunday's ninth race*Longacres Mile hopeful Gallant Son finished third as the 13-to-10 favorite Wednesday in the $75,000 Wickerr Stakes on the turf at Del Mar. Blue Chagall ($24) was the winner by 1-¼ lengths and Aggie Engineer finished second, a nose ahead of Gallant Son, who might have been compromised by a tardy break*. Washington-bred 4-year-old filly Point of Reference, runner-up in three stakes last year at Emerald Downs, broke an eight-race losing streak in a $26,000 allowance race Wednesday at Santa Rosa*Newfound Man and Posse Power both earned 84 Beyers for last Sunday's Seattle Slew Handicap, which Newfound Man won by a nose*Call On Carson, a double stakes winner at Emerald Downs in 2007 and sixth in the 2008 Longacres Mile, finished fourth in a $5,000 claiming race at Arapahoe Park last week. SANTA ANITA ANNOUNCES MAIN TRACK REPAIRS, PLANNED STABLE AREA MAINTENANCE ALSO UNDERWAY ARCADIA, Calif.  (July, 27, 2010)—Santa Anita Park, which closed this past Sunday for training for the first time in two years, and which will host the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting beginning Sept. 29, began repair work on its synthetic main track on Monday and embarked upon significant scheduled maintenance of its stable area as well.              “For the most part, this is regularly scheduled maintenance,” said Santa Anita President George Haines.  “Beyond that however, we are working toward mitigating our drainage issues with the main track.  The Pro-Ride surface was very safe and it performed beautifully this past meet, except for the fact that we continue to have drainage issues through the (home) stretch and in particular, in the area near the finish line.             “We’re in the process of repairing this area now.  We’ve gone down to the base and we’re going to try and address the drainage problem as best we can.  Again, the only time we had a problem with the main track this past meet was when we received significant rainfall and during those periods of rain, we were closed.  We’re hoping this procedure will enhance the track’s ability to drain.”             Haines also noted that Santa Anita, which opened in 1934, is a facility in continual need of regular maintenance.              “This is the first time in two years that we’ve had an opportunity to get into the stable area and address some of our maintenance issues in a comprehensive way.  We’re going to be doing work on some of the stalls and tack rooms, and we’re going to re-grade all of the roads back there, including those that run between shed rows.  We’ve been here for 76 years now and with regular maintenance, this plant will continue to be the most beautiful racing facility in America.”             Santa Anita will reopen for training at the conclusion of the Del Mar race meeting on Sept. 8.  Following the Oak Tree meet, which ends on Oct. 31, Santa Anita will be open for training in advance of its traditional winter/spring meeting, which begins Dec. 26. LONGACRES MILE PREVIEW DAY FEATURES MT. RAINIER/BOEING TWINBILL AUBURN, Wash. (July 25, 2010) – Mile Preview Day, Sunday, Aug. 1, is the final chance for local aspirants to prepare for the 75th running of the $250,000 Longacres Mile (GIII) on Sunday, Aug. 22. The stakes doubleheader features the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap for older horses at one and one-eighth miles, and the $50,000 Boeing Handicap for older fillies and mares at one and one-sixteenth miles. The latter stakes is the final tune-up for fillies and mares on the road to the $75,000 Emerald Distaff, also on Aug. 22. The Mt. Rainier has accomplished what it was designed to do. In fact, history says it’s a good bet the Mt. Rainier winner will also prevail in The Mile. Assessment (2009), The Great Face (2007) and Flamethrowintexan (2006) all swept the Mt. Rainer and Longacres Mile en route to Horse of the Meeting honors. And in 2008, Wasserman missed by a head to Chhaya Dance in the Mt. Rainier before posting his stunning upset in the Longacres Mile. Assessment, back in form after a 6-to-1 score over Noosa Beach in the July 11 Governor’s Handicap, and Wasserman, who just became the all-time leading earner in races at Washington tracks, are back for another crack in the Mt. Rainier. Noosa Beach, the early favorite for Horse of the Meeting, lost little in the Governor’s defeat. The 4-year-old has had a brilliant campaign that includes victories in the Seattle and Budweiser handicaps. The 2009 Boeing produced the first dead-heat for win in an Emerald Downs stakes race, as Elusive Horizon and Holy Nova hit the wire as a team. Veterans Clair Annette and Gadget Queen will be formidable in the Boeing. A triple stakes winner at Emerald Downs, 7-year-old scored a 5 ½-length gate-to-wire victory in the July 4 King County Handicap. Gadget Queen, a 6-year-old, has finished first, second or third in eight stakes at Emerald Downs, including victories in the 2009 Washington State Legislators Stakes and 2008 Belle Roberts Handicap. Cliff’s Secret, on the other hand, is a 4-year-old filly nominated to her first stakes after three straight victories in claiming races. Mt. Rainier Handicap—3&Up—1 1/8 Miles—15th Running Nominee   Owner    Trainer Assessment (6-KY) Tice Ranch Stables LLC   Howard Belvoir Dixie Meister (8-TX) Johanna Louise Glen-Teven Michael Puhich Gallon (5-KY)  Michael & Amy Feuerborn  Jim Penney   Lowther Street (5-KY) Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. Dino Condilenios Noosa Beach (4-WA)  Jeff Harwood   Doris Harwood Rooster City (4-KY) Victor G. Bahna Jr.  Tim McCanna Senor Rojo (4-KY) Tres Hombres   David Forster Wasserman (8-WA) Howard Belvoir   Howard Belvoir Boeing Handicap—3&Up F&M—1 1/16 Miles—15th Running Nominee   Owner    Trainer Barbara’s Love (5-CA) L.T.D. Stable             John Holmes Clair Annette (7-WA)  Nina Egbert             Connie Bouslaugh Cliff’s Secret (4-KY) Michael & Amy Feuerborn         Jim Penney  Gadget Queen (6-WA) John & Janene Maryanski       Blaine Wright Kimmyv (4-KY)  Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. Dino Condilenios Perfect Finish (4-WA) Howard Belvoir   Howard Belvoir Pretty Katherine (4-ONT)DeBrgh/Sikura/Hdrfr/Todaro Jerry Hollendorfer -##- OAK TREE RACING TO BE CONDUCTED AT SANTA ANITA, NON-PROFIT GROUP’S 42^ND ANNUAL MEET TO BEGIN SEPT. 29 ARCADIA, Calif. (June 23, 2010)—The Oak Tree Racing Association will conduct its 42^nd annual meeting at Santa Anita Park, with opening day set for Sept. 29, it was announced at a meeting of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Tuesday.             Oak Tree, which had its lease with Santa Anita’s corporate owner, Magna International Development (MID) voided this past May, was originally inked to run at Santa Anita through 2016.              At Tuesday’s CHRB meeting, MID Chairman Frank Stronach agreed to a special one-year lease agreement with Oak Tree that will enable the non-profit group to operate this fall as originally scheduled.             “Mr. Stronach has generously changed his mind and allowed us to stay for another year,” said Oak Tree Director and Executive Vice President Sherwood Chillingworth.  “I think it’s (new one-year lease) good for the industry and for all of us.”             Oak Tree, which conducted its first meeting in 1969, is a not-for-profit, non-dividend-paying group of active California owners and breeders whose directors serve without compensation.              Since 1969, the Oak Tree Racing Association has contributed more than $26 million to projects benefiting the racing industry and Oak Tree has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on five different occasions, in 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008 & 2009.             For more information on the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, including racing and group sales updates, fans are encouraged to call (626) 574-6308, or to visit www.oaktreeracing.com.