It appears Poker Brad is heading back to the Longacres Mile (gr. III) after his decisive two-length win in the $100,000 Mt. Rainier Breeders' Cup at Emerald Downs on Sunday. Ridden by Ricky Frazier, the 6-year-old son of Go For Gin will likely make his next start in the $250,000 Longacres Mile on Aug. 22. Poker Brad finished second to Sky Jack in last year's Longacres Mile. The Tim McCanna-trained Poker Brad earned his eighth win in 34 career starts. The win was worth $55,000 to increase his career earnings to $374,165. Poker Brad covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 3/5 over a fast track and paid $6.80, $5.20 and $3.60. Mr. Makah returned $6.80 and $3.40, while Demon Warlock returned $3.40 to show. Poker Brad, who also won the 2003 edition of the stakes race, stalked the pace before overtaking the field of nine nearing the mile mark. He drew away from there. ""It unfolded exactly the way we wanted it to," Frazier said. "Once I cut him loose down the stretch, he just flew by everyone."
Gratitude Attack, the 6-5 betting favorite in the race, set fractions of :22, :45, and 1:09 before surrendering the lead heading into the second turn and finishing seventh."The pace really helped us today," said McCanna, who saddled three winners on the card. "They were smoking out there today and it paid off for us."(Chart, Equibase)