Horse Racing | Assessment breaks through

AUBURN — The running lines for Assessment are a who's who for the unlucky.

That was before the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred broke through for his first stakes Sunday, stamping himself a contender for the track's signature race, the $300,000 Grade III Longacres Mile on Aug. 16.

Assessment, under jockey Gallyn Mitchell, stayed close to the pace, avoided trouble and won by a neck over hard-charging stablemate Wasserman in Sunday's $50,000 Budweiser Emerald Handicap at Emerald Downs.

The top two finishers give trainer Howard Belvoir a potential duo for this year's Mile, won last year by Wasserman.

Assessment, fourth in the 2008 Mile, ran a mile in 1 minute, 36-1/5 seconds and turned the tables on division leader Kruger Park after a pair of second-places finishes to that rival. The son of Jump Start held off Wasserman's late kick under Jennifer Whitaker, who handles most of Belvoir's morning gallops and workouts.

"Wasserman came back to his work today and he was scrappin' along today, but I've always said Assessment was the better of the two," Belvoir said. "This was probably the first time he hasn't gotten in trouble in a long, long time."

Mitchell picked up the mount four races ago and the win's significance was magnified by the presence of a pair California invaders — Dixie Meister and Z Humor — who have each made more than $600,000.

Z Humor, who ran 14th in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, finished last of eight after showing brief speed. Dixie Meister was sixth.

Mitchell, who had three wins on the card, moved back into a tie with Ricky Frazier for all-time stakes wins at Emerald with 55.

"Howard just said to keep him out of trouble," Mitchell said.

By sitting closer to a slow pace, Mitchell won the race by getting the jump on Whitaker and Wasserman, who had one horse beat at the midway point before launching his customary late bid.

Assessment boosted his career record to five wins, three seconds and three thirds from 22 starts and earnings of $153,480.

Fifth-place Kruger Park was shooting to become the first horse in Emerald history to win the first three legs of the Mile series. He won the $30,000 Seattle Handicap at 6 furlongs on May 3 and $50,000 FSN Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs on May 25.