By Bloodhorse.com
AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 16, 2015) — Stryker Phd closed with a huge rally and soared clear to victory in the $200,000 Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) Aug. 16 at Emerald Downs, taking his home state’s marquee race for a second year in a row.
The 6-year-old Washington-bred son of California stallion Bertrando finished the mile dirt race in 1:34.06 under jockey Leslie Mawing, sent off the 6-5 favorite and 123-pound highweight in a field of 11.
Sammy Mandeville came flying but could not catch the winner, who held safe by about three-quarters of a length. Alert Bay was third.
Owned by Jim and Mona Hour, Stryker Phd came off back-to-back wins in the July 19 Mt. Rainier Handicap and the June 14 Budweiser Handicap, both at Emerald, to claim his eighth win in 21 starts for trainer Larry Ross. Last year he followed the same pattern, and in 2013 he was second in the Longacres Mile when running in the grade III stakes for the first time.
The winner returned $4.60, $3, and $2.40 while Sammy Mandeville paid $5.60 and $4.20 with Alert Bay bringing $3.60.
Stryker Phd was bred by Char Clark Thoroughbreds & Todd Havens out of the Smart Strike mare Striking Scholar.