Rivalry resumes in Mt. Rainier

Barkley had never been worse than second in nine career starts prior to his fourth-place finish behind Mach One Rules in the $50,000 Budweiser on June 18. In five of Barkley’s seven wins, Mach One Rules was the runner-up.

They meet again in the $50,000 Mt. Rainer at Emerald Downs on Sunday in what is becoming a legendary local rivalry. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew 10 and is the gem of four stakes on the 10-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

The Mt. Rainier is the final local prep for the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 13.

Barkley, trained by Howard Belvoir, didn’t have the best trip in the 6 1/2-furlong Budweiser. He appeared to be full of run at the top of the stretch, but Javier Matias was looking for somewhere to go and couldn’t find it. First, he tried to find room inside of Mach One Rules, but when that hole closed, he moved him outside the winner, with no luck there either.

“I am just hoping for a better trip and that everyone rides their own horse,” Belvoir said. “When you’re the top dog, they are always looking for you.”

Belvoir was mostly referring to Isaias Enriquez, the rider of Mach One Rules. Enriquez was clearly searching for Barkley when he glanced over both of his shoulders at the top of the stretch in the Budweiser. It did appear that Mach One Rules, trained by Frank Lucarelli, kept a straight path though.

“It’s a good rivalry,” Belvoir said. “It isn’t that often two horses go at each other for this long. Usually, one of them falls by the wayside. My horse is doing well, Frank’s horse is doing well, and I bet if you asked the rest of the trainers with horses in the race, they would say the same.”

Barkley drew post 5, with Matias retaining the mount. He should have the edge over Mach One Rules, who has never won a race longer than 6 1/2 furlongs. The son of Harbor the Gold has come pretty close though, losing by a neck to Barkley in the onemile Coca-Cola, a head to Barkley in the 1 1/16-mile Seattle Slew, and a neck to The Press in the one-mile Washington Cup for 3-year-olds.

Mach One Rules will break from post 3 under Enriquez and should get a good trip stalking what figures to be an honest and contested pace.

Speed will be provided by Prime Engine and Moon King, who is coming off a 4 1/4-length romp in a $25,000 optionalclaiming race for trainer Greg Tracy at Northlands Park on June 24. Moon King will be Tracy’s first starter at Emerald since 2009.

Two-time Longacres Mile winner Stryker Phd would benefit the most if Prime Engine and Moon King get carried away up front.

Field of nine for Boeing

It’s hard to take a firm stand on any of the nine fillies and mares entered in the $50,000 Boeing. Most are questionable at the one-mile distance, including Profound Moment, who was a two-length winner over Citizen Kitty going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators on June 17.

Profound Moment, a Mike Puhich-trained daughter of Haynesfield, was an impressive winner in her last race but failed in two previous route attempts at Emerald and Churchill Downs.

Princess Katie might be worth a stab at what should be a decent price. Trained by Rob Gilker, the daughter of Finality won the one-mile Irish Day in her only start at Emerald last year and has been training forwardly at Hastings.

Following the Irish Day, she didn’t start again until June 17, when she showed speed prior to fading in a $35,000 optionalclaiming race at Hastings.

“She was lame after the Irish Day, and it took us forever to figure it out,” Gilker said. “We finally discovered a deep bone bruise. She’s training great right now, and she obviously likes it here.”

Princess Katie drew the rail, with Amadeo Perez riding.