Emerald Downs Director of Racing Bret Anderson has released a list of
25 horses* nominated to the 74th running of the $300,000 Longacres Mile
(GIII), to be run Sunday, Aug. 16.
The 2009 renewal of the
Northwest's richest and most prestigious race is the annual centerpiece
of the 91-day meeting and caps a weekend that includes the $100,000
Emerald Distaff for older fillies and mares and the $75,000 Washington
Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
The 25 Mile nominations (*pending
fax or late mail) suggest that the starting gate will again be full for
the eight-furlong classic. Since 2000, the Longacres Mile has averaged
over 11 starters with full fields of 12 in both 2007 and 2008. Weights
for this year's Mile will be released Saturday, Aug. 8, and with high
weights preferred, would decide who gets in the race. And once again,
the winner of the Longacres Mile automatically qualifies for the
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park.
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