Emerald Downs: TV chef Malarkey could win Longacres Mile

When the starting gate opens for Sunday’s $125,000 Longacres Mile, a surprise entrant from California could be the horse to beat at Emerald Downs.

Arrowthegreat, co-owned by celebrity chef Brian Malarkey of “Cutthroat Kitchen,” arrived Thursday from San Diego and is 5-2 on the morning line.

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Washington-bred Slew’s Tiz Whiz, bidding to become only the sixth two-time Mile winner, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 90th running of the race. Post time is 8:53 p.m. EDT.

Trainer Dan Blacker has had to scour condition books and stakes schedules to find suitable races for Arrowthegreat. The 5-year-old son of Arrogate is a 3-for-17 lifetime, but he is a terror going a mile. He is 7: 3-3-1 at that distance.

Even so, Arrowthegreat came to Emerald Downs only because Malarkey put a full-court press on his trainer.

“My family would be so proud if we won this race,” Malarkey said via phone from his San Diego home. “I’ve known about (the Longacres Mile) my whole life.”

Before becoming a famous chef, Malarkey was all about horses. His mother Lesley was a trainer in Portland, and his father Mike was a prominent owner whose Deception Decision won the 1981 Oregon Derby. Malarkey galloped horses daily on a ranch in central Oregon.

His uncle Reed Palmer is Emerald Downs’ track photographer, and Malarkey himself spent seven years in the same position at Minnesota’s Canterbury Park.

Should Arrowthegreat win Sunday, the winner’s circle ceremony might not rival last year’s wild scene where Five Star General repeated as Mile champ for owner Ken Alhadeff. Malarkey said Arrowthegreat still will have a large rooting section Sunday.

Slew’s Tiz Whiz might be as good as ever, which is saying something. Winner of 11 of 27 starts and $373,472, the stretch-running 7-year-old romped to his record fourth straight Governor’s Stakes for trainer Tom Wenzel. That was at 6 1/2 furlongs, and Slew’s Tiz Whiz might be even better at a mile.

Clovisconnection, 5-1 on the morning line, did everything but win last year, losing by a head after leading the entire way. Winner of 12 of 21 races lifetime and $493,300, the Blaine Wright trainee gets a new rider with Kevin Krigger taking over after a rare misfire in the Governor’s Stakes.

Apprehend, winner of five straight races, and Masen, a graded winner on turf in New York, invade from Canada.

What a Dude might be the sharpest non-stakes horse at Emerald Downs with the fastest time this season at both one mile and at one mile and 70 yards. Three-time Mile-winning jockey Juan Gutiérrez will ride.