Frank Lucarelli and Winning Machine both gunning for overdue win

In a span of about 1 minute and 34 seconds Sunday afternoon, two Emerald Downs greats could finally fill a big gap in their impressive resumes.The odds are 15-1 against it. But bet against Winning Machine and trainer Frank Lucarelli in the Longacres Mile at your own risk. They are proven winners, and seem due to win the Grade III, $200,000 Mile. Maybe even overdue.Lucarelli, the second-leading trainer in Emerald Downs history, is leading the standings again this year after winning the training title the past two years.

Winning Machine, whom Lucarelli started training in summer 2010, has been one of the best horses on the grounds since winning the Emerald Downs Derby as a 3-year-old in 2009.It would seem only fitting that the two can finally check off the Longacres Mile on their to-do list at the same time."For anyone who races horses in the Northwest, you want to win the Longacres Mile," said Lucarelli, 56, who remembers sneaking into Longacres in Renton when he was a kid. "It's a race I would love to win."

He almost did last year. Winning Machine had never been better than he was a year ago, and he took the early lead in the Mile. At the top of the stretch, favored Taylor Said, an invader from Canada, passed Winning Machine and seemed headed to an easy win.But Winning Machine fought back and the two horses waged a stirring duel to the finish, with Winning Machine falling a head short."I thought we were beaten, but our horse ran on," Lucarelli said. "It was one of the most courageous performances I have ever seen. I think he got his head back in front in midstretch. I've never been more happy and disappointed at the same time.