5/11/2025
(Auburn, WA) A big 10-race card welcomed thousands to Emerald Downs on Mother’s Day. 64 horses ran averaging 6.4 per race with the 9th race being the featured race. A tough field of 6 battled the 5 1/2-furlong sprint. It was another large crowd on hand at the Auburn oval as many Mom’s wanted to spend their special day at the track.
There were a couple of other firsts for the season as well, we had our first 4-win day by a trainer, our first 6 1/2-furlong race, our first 10-race card and two first ever wins at Emerald Downs for a jockey and two trainers.
There fast times and chances to win some good money while several favorites did not disappoint. Bettors were excited for the 10 races and bet more than 1.8-million dollars or an average of more than $180,000 per race.
In this post we’ll be re-capping the races from Sunday with full pay-outs. We’ll catch up later this week with more details of what happened this weekend with the “The Track Wire” and our first Jockey Power Rankings will be released this week after 4 days of racing in the books.
Let’s get to the Mother’s Day race re-caps!
9th Race Featured Race The Samantha Smith’s Memorial Purse
A field of 6 went 5 1/2-furlongs for 3-year-olds and up and the odds-on favorite was Tougherthantherest with Silvio Amador in the saddle. Tougherthantherest was simply that as he dazzled the multiple backers breaking from the gate in 1st and quickly extending his lead to nearly 2 lengths hitting the 1st 1/4-mile in 22.03 which was a slower pace on this particular day. The early break allowed him to build a 3 length lead at the top of the stretch.
It was now up to the closers to make a run and his stablemate, Elder Mack with David Haldar at 5-1 to take the first run. Elder Mack began chewing into Tough’s lead. Also cranking up was 7-1 Veritas Aequitas and Kevin Krigger who was near the back of the pack early on.
Approaching the 16th pole the two closers were cutting into Tougherthantherest’s lead but it was clear Amador had left plenty in the tank and would resist the attempts of the the two coming late to win by more than a length. Veritas Aequitas got the nose down to take 2nd over Elder Mack. 17-1 Graceful Mischief and Pablo Castillo came from last to pass Firewalker and Dynamic Secret for 4th. Dynamic Secret showed some early speed but tired in the land while Firewalker ran an even effort.
Tougherthantherest races for Dale Varbel and Chrissy Reimers and is trained by Blaine Wright. This was Wright’s 3rd career 4-win day at Emerald Downs. Wright came within a nose of a training exacta in this race as well as he also trains Elder Mack. Tougherthantherest stopped the clock in a time of 1:02.95. The 4-year-old Kentucky bred is now a career 3-1-1 from 9 starts and earned $14,250 to push his career earnings to $72,370.
Pay-Outs
2 Tougherthantherest (Amador) $3.58 $2.58 $2.20
4 Veritas Aequitas (Krigger) $5.22 $3.50
3 Elder Mack (Haldar) $3.06
$1 Ex 2-4 $9.21
$1 Tri 2-4-3 $33.10
$1 Superfecta 2-4-3-6 $142.40
$1 DD 7-2 $5.69
50-cent Pick 3 1-7-2 $8.69
Tougherthantherest rolls in the Feature
The rest of the Mother’s Day card
1st Race
A field of 6 went 6-furlongs in the opener and the favorite Getemdusty had a late jockey change after the horses had gone to the track. Just moments before post time Track Announcer Tom Harris announed Getemdusty was returning to the paddock to change riders from Kevin Krigger to Pablo Castillo.
Also in the race was apprentice Jairo Moreno making his first ever ride as a jockey in North America. Moreno had been riding in South America. Moreno was aboard 13-1 longshot Park Road Cowboy and broke fast setting the early fractions. Park Road Cowboy went 21.96 and 45.40 before fading to last inside the 16th pole.
Meantime, 5-1 Gianola and Javier Matias was biding his time toward the back of the pack while 9-2 Beer Begone with Manny Americano and Getemdusty sat just behind the early speed. Down the stretch it was anyone of the 3’s race to win with a perfectly timed headbob for Gianola to nose out Beer Begone and Getemdusty right there 3rd. They were clear Rimrock Lake with Francisco Diaz-Lopez who took 4th.
Gianola stopped the clock in 1:10.99 and races for WillWin Stable and trained by Debbnie Van Horne.
Pay-Outs
4 Gianola (Matias) $12.78 $4.52 $2.80
2 Beer Begone (Americano) $5.00 $2.92
6 Getemdusty (Castillo) $2.50
$1 Ex 4-2 $28.98
$1 Tri 4-2-6 $98.34
$1 Superfecta 4-2-6-1 $595.70
Race Replay
2nd Race
A field of 6 older horses went 6-furlongs in the 2nd race of the day and the front speed remained too fast for the frontrunners as 3-1 Mister Mafioso with Julien Couton and 9-1 Mister Midas with Jose Rodriguez set down a 21.51 quarter and a blazing 43.80 setting up both 4-1 Rollin Dice with Francisco Duran and 3-1 Fifty Cinco with Manny Americano.
Down the stretch Rollin Dice got first run on the outside while Fifty Cinco clung to the rail and came flying late in another nose bob that went to Rollin Dice on the outside. Fifty Cinco finished 2nd with Mister Midas holding on well to be 3rd and Mister Mafioso was 4th.
2-1 betting favorite Owhatarush stumbled badley out of the gate and jockey Kevin Krigger lost his irons which means he was basically riding bareback with his feet dangling and fell way behind early and never had a chance.
Rollin Dice finished off the 6-furlongs in 1:09.41 and races for Tracy and Paula Henline and trained by Blaine Wright.
Pay-Outs
6 Rollin Dice (Duran) $10.04 $4.30 $3.16
2 Fifty Cinco (Americano) $3.52 $2.98
5 Mister Midas (Rodriguez) $4.52
$1 Ex 6-2 $16.78
$1 Tri 6-2-5 $124.26
$1 Superfecta 6-2-5-1 $230.60
$1 DD 4-6 $75.72
Race Replay
3rd Race
The 1-1 betting choice Don’t Hit Me Bash with Manny Americano broke well from the 7 hole and positioned themselves just off the hip of speedster Gunnin For Gold and Alex Cruz. Gold and Cruz sizzled the quarter in 21.36 and laid down a 43.64 half mile in the 6-furlong run.
Turning for home the pace caught up to Gold and faded to last while Don’t Hit Me Bash tookover the lead. The only concern was a fast closing Moonlightnwine at 9-2 with Kevin Krigger. Moonlightnwine looked like he put his nose in front just inside the 16th pole but Bash had more in him and surgerd back to get the head win in a final time of 1:09.06. He races for Mike Hill and is trained by Frank Lucarelli.
Awesome Move with Javier Matias at 19-1 closed well to complete the trifecta and 17-1 Mr Fighter with Pablo Castillo finished 4th.
Pay-Outs
7 Don’t Hit Me Bash (Americano) $4.16 $2.68 $2.28
2 Mooonlightnwine (Krigger) $3.74 $2.68
5 Awesome Move (Matias) $5.44
$1 Ex 7-2 $10.95
$1 Tri 7-2-5 $65.90
$1 Superfecta 7-2-5-3 $151.20
$1 DD 6-7 $11.79
50-cent Pick 3 4-6-7 $66.56
Race Replay
4th Race
The field of 7 was reduced to 6 when 2-1 Harney Lane sat down in the gate and was the first gate scratch of the year. That left a wide open field and another photo finish as Brookys Gal with Francisco Monroy closed to catch Simply Gracious with David Haldar in the final strides. Simply Gracious set the early fractions and were more reasonable which saw the filly almost hold on for the win. She set early times of 22.09 and 44.43.
Brooksy Gal ran the 3/4’s mile in 1:09.97 and races for Frankly Speaking LLC andf trained by Isidro Tamayo. This was Tamayo’s first win at Emerald Downs.
Code Ribbon with Frank Alvarado ran a clear 3rd and Aliceshouseofheart with Alex VCruz closed late to be 4th.
Pay-Outs
7 Brookys Gal (Monroy) $8.16 $4.04 $2.74
1 Simply Gracious (Haldar) $4.84 $3.20
2 Code Ribbon (Alvarado) $3.02
$1 Ex 7-1 $17.14
$1 Tri 7-1-2 $72.16
$1 Superfecta 7-1-2-5 $208.60
$1 DD 7-7 $8.07 (consolation DD 7-6 $1.77)
50-cent Pick 3 6-7-7 $31.35
50-cent Pick 4 4-6-4-7 $367.35
Race Replay
5th Race
An early scratch left 7 to run in the first 6 1/2-furlong race of the season and 2-1 betting Bob’s Vai got the jump on the field out of the chute to lead by a length over 6-1 Pineapple Cruise with Francisco Monroy and set early splits of 22.65 and 45.64. Longshot Shelby Shortstop also showed early speed but faded finishing off the board.
Acclaimed Preacher with Francisco Duran sat a chilly 4th down the backstretch. As they hit the quarter pole Acclaimed Preacher shifted to the outside as Bob’s Vai held tight on the rail and Pineapple Cruise was between but started to back out. It came down to Bob’s Vai and Acclaimed Preacher where Acclaimed Preacher had a little more momentum to get the win by a long neck at the wire. 13-1 Vhagar and Alex Cruz came flying late to take 3rd with Pineapple Cruise rounding out the superfecta.
Acclaimed Preacher stopped the clock in 1:17.25. The 4-year-old filly races for Floriberta Trujillo and trained by Marcelino Trujillo.
Pay-Outs
6 Acclaimed Preacher (Duran) $9.70 $5.08 $3.98
3 Bob’s Vai (Haldar) $4.86 $4.42
7 Vhagar (Cruz) $6.00
$1 Ex 6-3 $23.57
$1 Tri 6-3-7 $189.72
$1 Superfecta 6-3-7-2 $762.90
$1 DD 7-6 $35.39
50-cent Pick 3 7-7-6 $37.86
Race Replay
6th Race
2 late scratches reduced the field to 5 going 5 1/2-furlongs. Bring A Smile was the favorite before being a late scratch leaving the race wide open for the 5 left to run. 4-1 Autism Inspiration and David Haldar jumped to the lead and led by a length over 2-1 Elwood Road and Kevin Krigger at the quartermile in a time of 21.75. 6-5 favorite Unbridled Scholar and Jose Rodriguez settled into 3rd on the rail.
Turning for home after a 44.53 half mile Autism Inspiration had plenty in the tank and Haldar let 3-year-old filly go and she pulled away to an impressive 5 length win in a final time of 1:03.20. Autism Inspiration races for Taboada Racing Stables and trained by Isidro Tamayo, his 2nd win on the card.
12-1 Pop Chart and David Martin closed well to get 2nd while Elwood Road held 3rd and Unbridled Scholar finished 4th.
Pay-Outs
3 Autism Inspiration (Haldar) $10.02 $4.26 $2.88
6 Pop Chart (Martin) $7.90 $4.42
4 Elwood Road (Krigger) $2.98
$1 Ex 3-6 $35.65
$1 Tri 3-6-4 $164.26
$1 Superfecta 3-6-4-1 $278.20
$1 DD 6-3 $30.62 (Consolation DD 6-2 $4.35)
50-cent Pick 3 7-6-3 $88.00
Race Replay
7th Race
A field of 7 fillies and mares went 5 1/2-furlongs and the early speed in this one by Nation’s Belle of 21.29 set the table for closer Avoir and David Haldar. The early speed of Nation’s Belle and Special Diva set fractions of 21.29 and 44.04. The speedy beginning took care of 13-1 Nation’s Belle as she tired to finsih 2nd last. Special Diva and Manny Americano did gut out a tremendous effort but the fast pace also caught up to her as well.
Just inside the 1/8th pole Special Diva would see her lead disappear as Avoir and Haldar unleashed down the center of the stretch to cruise to a 4 length win. Special Diva was visually tiring down the stretch but held off 13-1 Clubhouse Drama and Francisco Monory by a neck for the place finish. 18-1 Kiss of Spice with Alex Cruz completed the top 4 finish.
Avoir races for Peter Redekop and is trained by Blaine Wright, his 2nd win on the day.
Pay-Outs
1 Avoir (Haldar) $7.98 $3.74 $3.00
7 Special Diva (Americano) $5.52 $4.12
6 Clubhouse Drama (Enriquez) $5.94
$1 Ex 1-7 $21.00
$1 Tri 1-7-6 $200.38
$1 Superfecta 1-7-6-3 $707.80
$1 DD 3-1 $17.61
50-cent Pick 3 6-3-1 $104.09
50-cent Pick 4 7-6-3-1 $370.60
Race Replay
8th Race
7 went 5 1/2-furlongs in the 8th and Da Smoke at 6-1 was sent hard setting more sizzling fractions but looming just behind was 3-5 bettors choice Si That Tiger just cruising along. By the time they hit the 1st 1/4 mile Da Smoke set a split of 21.66. Si That Tiger and Silvio Amador was about a neck behind. It was at that point Amador pressed go and frankly the race was over as 3-year-old colt simply extended his lead with every stride opening up to win by 6 or 7 lengths in a final time of a blazing 1:01.98.
That time is just a little over a second off the track record of 1:00.87 set by Hollywood Harbor back in 2012. It was a spectacular run by Si That Tiger. 6-1 He’s Not Talking and Juan Gutierrez closed well to be 2nd while 14-1 Tiz’s Harbor and David Haldar ran a solid 3rd and 2nd choice Candy Caballo with Carlos Montalvo completed the superfecta.
Si That Tiger races for John and Janene Maryanski ands Gerald and Gail Schneider and is trained by Blaine Wright. This was Wright’s 3rd win of the day.
Pay-Outs
7 Si That Tiger (Amador) $3.50 $2.66 $2.50
2 He’s Not Talking (Gutierrez) $4.26 $3.46
3 Tiz’s Harbor (Haldar) $5.92
$1 Ex 7-2 $7.87
$1 Tri 7-2-3 $100.14
$1 Superfecta 7-2-3-6 $301.90
$1 DD 1-7 $11.11
50-cent Pick 3 3-1-7 $25.29
Race Replay
10th Race
In the finale the bettors were spot on the winner betting Tigersrun down to 2-5. Despite being just a 5-furlong sprint jockey Kevin Orozco stayed patient sitting off the pace of 26-1 longshot Furys Gift with Alex Cruz aboard. But about halfway around the far turn it was clear the race would be for 2nd as Tigersrun was let go. By the time they reached the top of the stretch the favorite was out by 2 1/2 lengths and just kept rolling winning by that margin in a final time of 58.53. Tigersrun races for Troy Smith and Ruby Thomas and trained by Ruby Thomas for her 1st Emerald Downs win.
28-1 R D Stimulus with Jose Rodriguez ran hard and got up for 2nd over deep closer First Endeavor with Manny Amricano. Furys Gift held on for 4th after setting the early fractions and Allante with David Martin took 5th to complete the Super Hi 5.
Pay-Outs
5 Tigersrun (Orozco) $2.94 $2.40 $2.10
6 R D Stimulus (Rodriguez) $17.52 $5.54
8 First Endeavor (Americano) $2.64
$1 Ex 5-6 $17.61
$1 Tri 5-6-8 $48.06
$1 Superfecta 5-6-8-2 $503.40
50-cent Super High 5 5-6-8-2-3 $921.05
$1 DD 2-5 $3.78
50-cent Pick 3 7-2-5 $4.03
50-cent Pick 4 1-7-2-5 $14.26
50-cent Pick 5 3-1-7-2-5 $107.13
20-cent Jackpot Pick 6 6-3-1-7-2-5 $84.26 Carryover $2,905
Race Replay
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