One of the beauties of the Longacres Mile, the signature horse race in the Northwest, is that there are so many different story lines and questions, and everything will get answered so quickly.

How quickly?

In about 94 seconds. That's pretty close to how long it will take for a horse to etch itself into history when a field of 10 takes off at 5:32 p.m. Sunday at Emerald Downs in Auburn.

Can Awesome Gem, who has made more money than any active horse in North America at $2.85 million, defend his title at age 9, when most horses have long since finished racing? Many will be guessing yes, as Awesome Gem is the morning-line favorite at 5-2. He has two wins this year and can become the first back-to-back winner since the race was moved to Emerald Downs in 1996.

"He's training wonderfully going into the race," trainer Craig Dollase said of Awesome Gem. "He's probably as good or better than last year. He's a gem, that's for sure."

Will local hero Winning Machine give Frank Lucarelli, one of the great trainers in state history, his first Longacres Mile victory?

And if Lucarelli can't win with Winning Machine, what about with 6-year-old Gallant Son, an Emerald Downs star when he was young before going off to chase greater riches in California?

Can the two invaders from British Columbia, the very talented Taylor Said and St Liam's Halo, overcome getting stuck way wide in post positions No. 9 and No. 10?

And what about Assessment? The winner of the 2009 Mile will be mostly ignored by bettors, but his trainer, Howard Belvoir, said the horse is training well.

Can trainer Jim Penney, who has the most Mile wins, claim his sixth with Jebrica, the talented 4-year-old who won last year's Emerald Downs Derby?

Can jockey Russell Baze, the winningest jockey in North American history who spent his early days riding at Longacres in Renton, win his fourth Longacres Mile on California invader Bailouttheminister?

Does Hudson Landing have the winning stuff? He was running against some of California's top horses before winning the Mount Rainier Handicap at Emerald Downs last month after traveling here before the race. He should be better rested this time, and his experience at the track will surely help.

Handicappers can spend hours — even days — trying to sort it out, yet it will take about a minute and a half for it all to become perfectly clear.

Let the race begin.

Notes

• Gladding, a California invader who had been the second choice on the morning line, was scratched Saturday after the horse got sick during the flight north.

• The $65,000 Emerald Distaff, the signature race for older fillies and mares at the meet, is the sixth race of the card. Class Included will undoubtedly be a huge favorite in a field of five at 1-1/8 miles.

• Emerald Downs is giving away 30 iPads during Sunday's card.