From Emerald Downs Publicity
AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 13, 2017) – Returning to the track where his career began two years ago, California-bred Gold Rush Dancer raced to a dominant 4 ¾-length victory Sunday in the 82nd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by 19-year-old Evin Roman, Gold Rush Dancer ran one mile in 1:33.85 under 120 lbs and returned $8.40, $4.20 and $3.80. Vann Belvoir is the winning trainer for owner/breeder John Parker of Lake Bay, Wash.
A 4-year-old California-bred colt by Private Gold-Dances On Water, Gold Rush Dancer earned $110,000 to push his bankroll to $510,613. His record is 6-3-3 in 18 starts including five stakes wins—three vs. state-breds in California and the Longacres Mile and Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs.
Mach One Rules, ridden by Isaias Enriquez at high-weight of 123 lbs, rallied from sixth to edge Dedicated to You for second by a head and paid $4.40 and $3.60. Winner of the Budweiser and Mt. Rainier Stakes, Mach One Rules was favored by a scant $77 over Gold Rush Dancer in the wagering—$42,648 to $42,571—and earned $40,000 Sunday for owner R.E.V Racing.
Dedicated to You, with Leonel Camacho-Flores riding at 117 lbs, held on well for third at odds 0f 82-1 and paid $16.20 to show, while Barkley turned in another solid effort for fourth. Point Piper, the defending champion, finished fifth, and 2014-15 Mile winner Stryker Phd closed ground to finish sixth.
Seattle Serenade, third choice at 5-1, surprisingly showed no speed and finished seventh, while Papa Frank, Chief of Staff, Bistraya, Togrammashousewego and Black Sona completed the order of finish.
Belvoir becomes the first person to win the Longacres Mile as both a jockey and trainer, and Sunday’s victory was never in doubt. Tracking Dedicated to You through fractions of :22.86, and :45.81, Gold Rush Dancer took command a half-mile from home, opened a three-length lead on the turn and poured it on through the stretch.
“When he broke well and was in a good position going into the first turn I thought he had a good chance,” said Roman, a native of Puerto Rico and current leading rider at Del Mar. “When we started going down the backstretch I had a lot of horse. When we hit the half-mile pole I knew he was the winner. “
Belvoir said the Mile victory culminated a plan that began last winter.
“This was our goal for a long time,” he said. “(Gold Rush Dancer) had no issues but we gave him a break. This was his third start back and he ran his best race.”
For Parker, leading owner the last two years at Emerald Downs, winning The Mile naturally is a great thrill.
“My horse has been awesome, and Vann has done a great job with him the last two years,” Parker said. “It was awesome to have the horse come back home to win the big race.”