Noosa Beach, who earned a spot in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs when he won the Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) at Emerald Downs last month, has instead been turned out for the winter, trainer Doris Harwood said.
The 4-year-old Harbor the Gold gelding captured an Emerald Downs-record fifth stakes race of the season in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Sept. 12. He arrived at Harwood’s Auburn, Wash., farm Sept. 16 for some well-deserved time off, she said.
Noosa Beach, who was bred by Harwood and her husband, Jeff, who owns him, was not nominated to the Breeders' Cup and would have required a supplemental payment of $150,000 to start in the BC Dirt Mile in spite of winning the designated "Win and You're In" race Aug. 22.
Harwood said Noosa Beach would be geared toward an encore of his Washington campaign in 2011.
“Our goal with Noosa Beach is to have a great season in 2011, at Emerald Downs,” Harwood said. “He and Margo's Gift were turned out and are already having a great time. They are best friends.”
Five-year-old Margo's Gift won the $250,000 Favorite Trick Stakes for Harwood at Monmouth Park in 2007.
Noosa Beach was only a neck away from sweeping the older horse stakes division at the Emerald Downs meet, losing only the Governor's Handicap to 2009 Longacres Mile victor Assessment July 11. But he produced a sensational season nonetheless, winning six races, including a record-tying performance running six furlongs in 1:07 flat in the Seattle Handicap, and a 1 ½-length victory in the Longacres Mile.
Out of the Basket Weave mare Julia Rose, Noosa Beach owns a 10-3-2 career mark in 16 races with earnings of $366,770.