7/23/2023

It is one of the more anticipated Sunday’s of the year it was Corgi race day. The Sunday card featured 9 races, including 2 Stakes, the Washington Legislator’s Stakes for fillies and mares in the 4th race and the 2nd Longacres Mile prep race the Governor’s Stakes in the 8th.

It was a huge day for both jockey Jose Zunino and trainer Tom Wenzel as they swept the Stakes races with an upset in the State Legislators Stakes while the clear favorite for the Longacres Mile has now been established. Plus the 2nd highest pay-off of the season was collected by 1 lucky winner of the Jackpot 20-cent Pick 6 of more than $15,000.

There was a total of 62 starters just 1 short of an average of 7 per race and there were 6 late scratches. The handle was a hefty $1,807,214 which averaged $200,802 per race.

Corgi’s take over

Sunday was Corgi Race day and began with preliminary heats with the winners qualifying for the Championship run. The races will again be featured on ESPN later this Summer and the winners are not being reported at this time as they want the winners to be revealed during the ESPN broadcast. But at the bottom of the page is a collections of the many entrants and the fun of Corgi day at Emerald Downs.

Picture Credits: Thanks to Reid Palmer and Erin Palmer the Emerald Downs official photographers for their contributions in many of our stories and also thanks to Wayne Nagai for his photos especially of Stakes races.

Let’s get to the Races

4th Race Washington Legislators Stakes $50,000

A field of 7 3-year-olds and up were let loose by starter Mark Gibson for the 6 1/2-furlong $50,000 Washington Legislators Stakes. Blazingbellablu and Alex Cruz were bet down to 8-5 and were the favorite after coming off a convincing win in the Hastings Stakes on June 25. At the break Bella hesitated and was a step slow into stride so Cruz had to change his strategy from the start.

Meantime, 11-1 Cause She’s a Lady with Silvio Amador broke to the lead and took on 30-1 outsider Young Life Laura and Zippin Sevenz was 3rd. The 1st quarter went in 22.02 and the half in 44.35 but that pace was too hot as Blazingbellablu came cruising up toward the leaders but had to go wide around 5-2 Slack Tide. By the time they straightened away Cruz had taken the lead over the floundering early speed and looked to have it in the bag.

However, veteran rider Jose Zunino was content to sit far back and on the rail with 14-1 Our Lyla Grace while 5-2 Tiz a Macho Girl and Rocco Bowen circled even wider getting to the outside of Blazingbellablu. Our Lyla Grace cut the corner and came charging catching Bella inside 50 yards to go to stretch her neck out for the win. Tiz a Macho Girl ran on to be 3rd behind Blazingbellablu and She’s a Lady did well to hold 4th.

We talked with Bella’s rider Alex  Cruz after the race who said the start was a bit of a problem but thought he was fine going down the backstretch and was looking for a chance to get inside of Slack Tide but that position never opened. Cruz said “Slack Tide kept drifting further and further out on the turn and cost me a lot of distance which is what I was afraid of and it likely cost us the race.” After looking at the replay it was Cause She’s a Lady that drifted forcing Slack Tide to push out and of course Blazingbellablu was the far end recipient. Cruz gave Zunino kudos and says he rode a smart race and when it opened up he took advantage, simply great race riding.

We talked with Jose Zunino his interview is below. Our Lyla Grace races for Code Four Stable and is trained by Tom Wenzel who collected his 3rd stakes win of the year. He and Zunino just missed last week with Lloyds Logic losing by a nose to Clovisconnection in the Irish Day stakes.

Our Lyla Grace ran the 6 1/2 in 1:15.38 and earned $27,500 which pushes her career earnings over the 100k mark at $102,882 and she is now 6-2-0 from 13 career starts. This was Lyla’s 1st Stakes win.

ESN talks with winning Jockey Jose Zunino

Replay of the Wa State Legislator’s Stakes

8th Race Governor’s Stakes $50,000

All eyes were on Slew’s Tiz Whiz, last year’s Longacres Mile Champ and horse of the year. Slew won the Bud, Governor’s and the Longacres Mile last season. This year he settled for 2nd in the Bud behind 5-2 Bridleuptothebar but left no doubt Slew is ready to defend his Mile Championship after a dominating performance in Sunday’s Governor’s Stakes.

When the gates flung open it was actually Slew who broke best but jockey Jose Zunino quickly gathered him in and put him 6th about 5 lengths off the pace. Zunino moved him to the rail for the backstretch run and then just outside the 1/4 pole Zunino angled to the far outside, he was not going to gamble that the rail would open up. This move was a rider knowing his horse and what he has left and he had plenty.

As they turned for home Bridleuptothebar and Isaias Enriquez got 1st run after sitting off the fading early speed and burst to the lead by about 2 lengths. 5-1 Zestful had been sitting on the outside about 4th and Alexis Valdes put his ride into a drive and gave chase into 2nd. However, the looming shadow of inevitability darkened the hopes of those two as Slew’s Tiz Wiz, despite being 6 or 7 wide into the stretch, pinned his ears back and with a spectacular eye-catching turn of foot closed the gap just inside the 1/8th pole and roared past Bridleuptothebar and Zestful and cruised to nearly a 2 length win.

Slew’s Tiz Whiz covered the 6 1/2-furlongs in a blazing 1:14.09 about 4/10ths off the stakes record. Slew’s Tiz Whiz races for Slew’s Crew Racing and trained by Tom Wenzel. Slew is a Washington bred by Slew’s Tiznow out of Roe’s Girl by Rosberg and was bred by Karl Krieg. Slew earned $27,500 for the win and is now 7-3-2 from 17 career starts and has a bankroll of $222,857.

Bridleuptothebar held 2nd while Zestfield finished 3rd and 9-1 Smiling Goodbye with Luis Negron ran an even 4th. Slew’s Tiz Whiz paid $5.60 on the $2 win while the 10-cent superfecta paid well at $30.66 which equates to a $306.60 pay-out on the $1 bet with the top 2 favorites finishing in order 1-2.

ESN talks with winning Trainer Tom Wenzel

Replay of the Governor’s Stakes

1st Race

A field of 5 went the one-lap mile and turning for home 3-2 favorite Get My Point with Alex Cruz had slipped away to take the lead over the tiring early front speed and ran the 6-furlings in 1:11.47. That pace was a little too fast as 9-5 2nd choice Western Dream with Isaias Enriquez aboard and 3-1 3rd fav Camden High with Rocco Bowen both made a sweeping move but Western Dream had more in the tank to draw off for a clear win. Camden High was 2nd, Get My Point held 3rd with Luvahappyending running 4th. Western Dream ran the 1-mile in 1:37.69 and races for the Jack and Jill Stable and trained by Kay Cooper.

2nd Race

7 2-year-olds went 5-furlongs and 3 were 1st time starters. Parker’s Fifteen was bet down to 6-5 favoritism after an even debut run in the Angie C. Alex Cruz was aboard and set the filly 3rd out of the gate of the 5-furlong dash and turning for home gobbled up stablemate and front speed Lucca’s Legacy with Rocco Bowen and easily fended off the late closing Shilshole Bay with Silvio Amador for the win. Shilshole Bay ran 2nd Lucca’s Legacy 3rd and Terni Valentino was 4th. Parker’s Fifteen ran the 5/8’s in 58.38 and is owned by John Parker and trained by Candi Cryderman. The 1st daily double of the day paid $16.80

3rd Race

7 broke from the gate in the Handy N Bold Purse on Sunday and leaping to the lead was 8-5 favorite Stay Sassy with Alex Cruz up as the 3-year-old filly set a blazing fraction of 21.94 for the 1st quarter. Putting pressure on Sassy was 9-1 Nation’s Belle with Kevin Orozco while Square Fun and Luis Negron sat on the rail in 3rd. Avanti Leah with Alexis Valdes was further back while here stablemate Nation’s Belle took over the lead. Turning for home Stay Sassy re-engaged the leader and re-took the lead but Avanti Leah was flying and the 2 went head and head to the wire and Valdes got Avanti Leah’s head down first for the win at 6-1. Avanti Leah ran the 6 1/2-furlongs in 1:16.66 and she races for the Primo Posto Racing and trained by Kay Cooper her 2nd win of the day. The 6-1 shot paid $14.00 on the $2 win. The 1st 50-cent pick 3 returned $36.55 and the $1 superfecta paid off $962.

5th Race

A field of 7 going 6-furlongs and the odds-on 4-5 choice Super Classic did not disappoint his backers as Luis Negron spotted the front runners several lengths to begin with and bided his time on the rail. 2-1 Summanus with Kevin Radke wanted the early lead and was challenged by 35-1 longshot Attorney Louis with Alex Anya. The pair set fractions of 22.25 and 45.10 but still wasn’t slow enough to deny the rail closing favorite Super Classic to get up and win by a length. The Summanus 2nd place finish denied trainer Kay Cooper of a triple on the day and Attorney Louis did well as a clear 3rd. Northern Blend and Rocco Bowen rallied late to cap the superfecta. Super Classic is owned and trained by both the leading owner and trainer Justin Evans. Despite the 4-5 winning and 2-1 2nd the 10-cent superfecta paid $25.53. Betting the Super Classic over Summanus over all over all would have cost you $2 or on the $1 $20 and returned $255.30.

6th Race

Rousing Rubble was crushed at the window at the bell dropped from 2-1 to 3-5 odds on and Alex Cruz went straight to the front where Rubble likes to be. Problem today is no one has gone wire-to-wire and it didn’t change here in the 6th. Rubble went 21.78 in the 1st quarter and 44.58 for the half which set this race up for an upset. Silvio Amador was ready to pounce with The Calabrese Kid at 21-1. The Kid and Amador swept by a tiring Rousing Rubble to the front and rolled to the upset win. 5-1 D K’s Crown and Rocco Bowen ran 2nd while 2-1 2nd choice El Chavo Del Ocho and Javier Matias ran 3rd and Rubble held 4th. The Calabrese Kid is owned by Joe Abrahamson and trained by Hilario Perez and ran the 6-furlongs in 1:08.51. The Kid paid $45.00, $15.80 and $5.80 or $66.60 on the green ticket $2 combo. $10 across will get you $333 for the $30 bet. The $1 exacta cracked $100 at $105.40 and the 2nd pick 4 returned $1,170.40.

7th Race

Top Executive flashed his back class in his 1st race at Emerald Downs this year with a patient ride from Silvio Amador. Amador pulled Top Exec back into 5th on the rail early while a group of 4 bunched up in front as they all were willing to allow someone else to take the lead but no one wanted it and they went 22.56 for the quarter and 44.64 for the half. Amador swung Top Exec off the fence as they were turning for home and when they straightened up Amador pressed go and 5-year-old gelding knew what to do and pulled away for an easy win. Arma D’Oro and Rocco Bowen ran a nice 2nd battling with Lucky Lad and apprentice Wedlfin Orantes who took 3rd and Exclusive speaker with Alex Cruz flattened out to run 4th, Top Executive blistered the 6 1/2-furlongs in a time of 1:14.87 and is owned by John and Janene Maryanski and the Riverbend Stable and trained by Blaine Wright. The 21-1 to 8-5 Silvio Amador daily double paid $88.90.

9th Race

In the finale Whatwasithinking went off as the 4-5 odds-on choice and became the 1st winner of the day to lead start to finish. Luis Negron bucked the trend and sent Whatwasithinking to the lead and set fractions of 21.82 and 44.59 in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint and was never seriously challenged winning by more than 4 lengths in a final time of 1:02.65. The 8-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Justin Evans. 6-1 Democrat with Alex Cruz ran 2nd, 5-2 2nd choice Gold Rush Candy and Rocco Bowen was 3rd with Ididntseethatcomin and Silvio Amador 4th while capping the 50-cent Super Hi-5 was Street Demand with Welfin Orantes. The favorite handed 1 lucky pick-6 Jackpot ticket holder the whole pot of $15,675.38 which was a few hundred short of the highest pay-out of the season. The 50-cent Pick 5 paid $439.50 and the Super Hi-5 paid $98.00.

Corgi’s run wild!

www.elisportsnetwork.com