5/17/2025
(Auburn, WA) Day 5 was Preakness Stakes day, the 150th running along with 8 races. It’s also teacher appreciation weekend where teacher’s will get a chance to run on the track on Sunday.
Saturday was a great day of racing at Emerald Downs and was run on the first off track of the season. Races 1 and 2 were run on a sloppy track and the 3rd through 8th races on a wet-fast track. Last year there was only 4 days of off-track racing, 1.5 over a sloppy track and 2.5 on a wet-fast surface.
Of course the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes was one of the two main events on Saturday but with Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipping the second jewel of the Triple Crown the excitement was muted ands continues to stir conversations if the Triple Crown format needs to be tweeked. More on the Preakness below.
The feature at Emerald Downs was also star studded with fan favorites Slew’s Tiz Whiz and Papa’s Golden Boy both getting their 1st starts of the year and were among other likely Stakes runners in 2025.
And Alex Cruz who is the defending Jockey Champion and is on a state record 5 straight jockey titles streak got off to a slow start winning 1 race over the 1st 4 days at a 4% win rate. Some may have thought with a much deeper jockey room that this might be the end of Cruz’s streak.
Well he won half the races on Saturday, the 1st rider of the year to win 4 in a day, raised his win percent 10 points to 14% and after trailing Kevin Krigger and Silvio Amador 6-1 he is now in 3rd with 5 wins 1 behind Amador and 2 back of Krigger. This is going to be an exciting race for top rider in 2025.
Let’s get to Saturday’s races!
The Preakness Stakes
(Baltimore, Md) The 150th running of the Preakness stakes lost much of it’s luster when Kentucky Derby winner Severeignty skipped the Preakness and ending any chance of a Triple Crown winner.
This left 9 runners with only Derby runner-up Journalism, 7th place finisher Sandman and 16th placed American Promise in the gates for the Preakness. Journalism with Umberto Rispoli were the 1-1 favorite while the 2nd choice ended up being the pick of many of the experts was Clever Again. Sandman and John Velasquez were 6-1 and Goal Oriented with Flavien Prat the 8-1 4th choice.
As the runners approached the top of the stretch, Clever Again and Jose Ortiz led 15-1 Gosger with Luis Saez by a half length while Journalism was trying to close along the inside. As they straightened away Journalism, desparate for room saw a slight opening between a tiring Clever Again and Goal Oriented as Rispoli knew his only shot was to get in that space before it closed or he’d have to put on the brakes and likely lose all chance.
When he made the move Goal Oriented came down creating contact with Journalism who then bumped Clever Again who came out since he was on the rail. This could have easily squeezed Journalism out and he could have backed down but instead Journalism plowed through then had to make a run at Gosger who avoided all the nonsense and had opened up a 5 length lead.
Once clear, Rispoli got after Journalism and he closed with an eye-popping burst running down Gosger to win by a 1/2-length. The spectacular run wowed the large crowd at Pimlico at what they just witnessed.
Gosger was clear by more than 2 lengths for 2nd after a tremendous effort but after seeing what Journalism did to get this win he was clearly 2nd best. Sandman made a nice late run to get up for 3rd and Goal Oriented ended up 4th.
The Stewards called an inquiry into the stretch incident but quickly found that Journalism had established his place when Goal Oriented came down and initiated the contact. Despite that leading to contact with Clever Again they ruled Clever Again was already retreating and was done so they made no change to the official order of finish. Clever Again ended last after Ortiz eased him after the incident.
Journalism ran the 1 3/16-miles in 1:55.47. He is owned by multiple owners and trained by Michael McCarthey.
Preakness Pay-Outs
2 Journalism (Rispoli) $4.00 $2.80 $2.40
9 Gosger (Saez) $9.00 $5.40
7 Sandman (Velasquez) $3.60
$1 Ex 2-9 $16.90
$1 Trifecta 2-9-7 $73.50
$1 Superdecta 2-9-7-1 $303.40
Link to full Preakness Payouts
The 150th Preakness
Saturday’s Races at Emerald Downs
7th Race Feature Race The Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
A field of 8 went 6-furlongs and the public did not miss on this one. Slew’s Tiz Whiz was the 6-5 betting favorite and had a new rider aboard for the 1st time since June 23, 2021. Julien Couton was the 4th rider in Slew’s 25th start. Lorenzo Lopez rode Slew in his maiden debut followed by 2 rides with Eddie Martinez who broke his maiden in Slew’s 2nd start. The next 21 races with 8 wins, 5 places and 4 shows was under Jose Zunino and included the 2022 Longacres Mile.
Couton got the call because Zunino retired after last season so trainer and part owner Tom Wenzel went looking for Zunino’s replacement. Couton got the first audition and did not disappoint. The main threat was going to come from the speedy Papa’s Golden Boy in the 3/4-mile sprint.
Couton has up close experience of the main competition as he has ridden Papa several times. So when the gates popped it was no surprise that Papa’s Golden Boiy with Manny Americano aboard broke 1st and quickly built up a 5 length lead down the back stretch while setting blazing fractions of 21.54 and 43.37.
The surprising thing was Slew’s Tiz Whiz broke 3rd and was just 6 lengths back at the 1/2 mile pole. Couton knew that Papa would go fast and then try to hold on. Couton couldn’t be too far behind so kept him closer than we’re used to seeing.
As they turned for home 5-1 Town Performer with Silvio Amador had been sitting in 2nd but when asked came up empty but Couton had plenty under him in Slew who cruised past the 1st tiring pace speed and took dead aim on Papa’s Golden Boy.
At the top of the stretch Papa held a 3 length lead over Slew but began to drift out as he began to tire. This happened when Couton truly popped the question and the big bay gelding roared past Papa to pull away for a 3-length win. Papa’s Golden Boy had done enough damage on the front end to clinch a clear 2nd by more than 2 lengths.
7-1 Executive Chef with Juan Gutierrez ran on well for a daylight show placing while 14-1 Perfect Dude and Frank Alvarado got up to be 4tgh by a head over Town Performer. Naval Escort and Whiskey Harbor rounded out the placings.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz stopped the clock in a swift 1:08.20. He races for Slew’s Crew Racing and trained by Tom Wenzel. Slew is a Washington bred by Slew’s Tiznow out of Ros’s Girl by Rosberg. The 7-year-old as bred by Karl Kreig.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz earned $14,250 to push his career earnings to $335,972 and is 10-5-4 from 25 career starts winning at a 40% rate and top 3 finish clip of 76%.
Pay-Outs
8 Slew’s Tiz Whiz (Couton) $4.22 $2.60 $2.28
2 Papa’s Golden Boy (Americano) $4.40 $2.84
7 Executive Chef (Gutierrez) $2.68
$1 Ex 8-2 $9.47
$1 Tri 8-2-7 $24.54
$1 Super 8-2-7-5 $111.40
$1 DD 2-8 $29.39
50-cent Pick 3 5-2-8 $71.16
Race Replay
The Rest of Saturday’s Card
1st Race
A field of 6 older horses went 5 1/2-furlongs and 9-5 favorite Surprise Fashion kick started a huge day for Alex Cruz as he stalked the leaders and rolled to a 3+ length win. 4-1 El Berrinches with Pablo Castillo sat 2nd got the first run while taking the lead in the upper stretch but couldn’t hold off the winner. Its Five Somewhere at 10-1 closed from last to get 3rd for Manny Americano and Tribunal Love set the pace with Jose Rodriguez and faded to 4th.
Surprise Fashion is owned by Rosales Racing F1 and Jose Bruno Salgado-Mendoza and trained by Jorge Rosales. The final time was 1:04.54 over the sloppy surface.
Pay-Outs
4 Surprise Fashion (Cruz) $5.60 $3.74 $2.60
5 El Berrinches (Castillo) $6.08 $4.54
1 Its Five Somewhere (Americano) $3.78
$1 Ex 4-5 $15.29
$1 Tri 4-5-1 $91.00
$1 Super 4-5-1-2 $187.00
Race Replay
2nd Race
8 older $2,500 claimers lined up for a 5-furlong dash in the 2nd also on a sloppy track. Precedent Luke with Kevin Orozco as the 2-1 favorite sat just off the early speed and closed wedll to roll to a 3 1/4-length win in a final time of 57.66. 10-1 Roper with David Martin up closed well on the rail to grab 2nd by a nose over 3rd place Jacob Yen at 5-q with Kevin Krigger. 7-2 Rail Town and Alex Cruz completed the superfecta.
Precedent Luke is owned by Hat Trick Racing and trained by Isidro Tamayo.
Pay-Outs
7 Precedent Luke (Orozco) $6.32 $4.66 $3.04
2 Roper (Martin) $8.52 $6.30
8 Jacob Yen (Krigger) $3.68
$1 Ex 7-2 $18.60
$1 Tri 7-2-8 $60.80
$1 Super 7-2-8-4 $365.70
$1 DD 4-7 $6.26
Race Replay
3rd Race
In the 3rd, Alex Cruz and Jorge Rosales would connect for a 2nd time when Diamond Dee and Cruz stalked the pace and pulled away in the stretch for a 2 length victory over the now wet-fast track at a nice 6-1 price. Clay’s Opal Lady at 8-1 with Silvio Amador closed from far back to get 2nd by a neck. Meantime, 8-1 Yoderando and Jose Rodriguez just missed the place for 3rd and 29-1 Topanticipation and David Haldar to complete a big superfecta. Diamond Dee races for Eliana Thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales and ran the 6-furlongs in 1:10.12.
Pay-Outs
8 Diamond Dee (Cruz) $13.90 $4.82 $4.12
6 Clay’s Opal Lady (Amador) $7.22 $4.94
1 Yoderando (Rodriguez) $5.32
$1 Ex 8-6 $42.12
$1 Tri 8-6-1 $203.88
$1 Super 8-6-1-5 $3,147.00
$1 DD 7-8 $16.85
50-cent Pick (3) 4-7-8 $31.53
Race Replay
4th Race
The Cruz/Rosales connection struck again. This the bettors were on it with Company’s Dream as the 8-5 favorite. Cruz and Company’s Dream went straight to the lead setting quick fractions of 21.63 and 43.64. Turning for home, although setting these fast times, Cruz had saved plenty and Company’s Dream pulled away to win by nearly 4 lengths in a final time of 1:09.21.
Mars on Fire and Silvio Amador ran a clear 2nd chasing the winner and holding off the rest of the pack, Square Cat and David Haldar threatened at the top of the lane but didn’t have a closing punch to take 3rd and 20-1 Bertacchi and Kevin Orozco got up for 4th.
Company’s Dream is owned by Rosales Racing F1 and Kevin Chavarria and trained by Jorge Rosales for his 3rd win of the day. Company’s Dream is a Washington bred by Jersey Town out of Double Dip by French Envoy and was bred by Joseph Dipietro.
Pay-Outs
5 Company’s Dream (Cruz) $5.42 $3.62 $2.58
6 Mars on Fire (Amador) $5.50 $3.30
7 Square Cat (Haldar) $3.04
$1 Ex 5-6 $20.24
$1 Tri 5-6-7 $70.78
$1 Super 5-6-7-4 $476.80
$1 DD 8-5 $25.91
50-cent Pick (3) 7-8-5 $35.17
50-cent Pick (4) 4-7-8-5 $81.58
Race Replay
5th Race
A field of 7 lined up to go 5 1/2-furlongs and 2-1 Smilingatthemoon and Kevin Krigger broke well sitting 2nd behind 5-1 Caly Bali and Silvio Amador. Turning for Caly Bali dug in and Krigger and Moon chipped away and pulled even just inside the 16th pole before edging out to a 1/2-length win. 18-1 Pocket Knife and Frank Alvarado closed well for a good 3rd place finish and 9-5 Union Harbor and Manny Americano ran an even 4th.
Smilingatthemoon is owned by the Horseplayers Racing Club and Tim McCanna and trained by McCanna and stopped the clock in a time of 1:04.80.
Pay-Outs
5 Smilingatthemoon (Krigger) $6.46 $4.42 $3.70
1 Caly Bali (Amador) $5.26 $4.54
8 Pocket Knife (Alvarado) $6.66
$1 Ex 5-1 $18.51
$1 Tri 5-1-8 $133.28
$1 Super 5-1-8-3 $260.10
$1 DD 5-5 $9.61
50-cent Pick (3) 8-5-5 $28.91
Race Replay
6th Race
A hat trick wasn’t enough for Alex Cruz and capped off the 2nd 4 win day of the season matching trainer Blaine Wright from last Sunday. Cruz did so with deep closer Moonlight Grey who became the 1st double winning horse of the season. Cruz scored on Grey on day 2 of the live season. Another fast pace set up the closing speed of Moonlight Grey who came from 7th to winning by a length at 9-1.
Her Blind Side with Javier Matias at 8-1 won a 4 horse photo for 2nd, Rebel Gal and Julien Couton was 3rd at 5-2 and 5-1 Smoocherro with Kevin Orozco took 4th.
Moonlight Grey is owned by Joe Crawford and trained by Charles Essex and ran the 5-furlong sprint in a time of 58.58
Pay-Outs
2 Moonlight Grey (Cruz) $21.90 $10.00 $4.70
4 Her Blind Side (Matias) $6.72 $4.34
8 Rebel Gal (Couton) $3.32
$1 Ex 2-4 $51.69
$1 Tri 2-4-8 $192.72
$1 Super 2-4-8-3 $892.20
$1 DD 5-2 $26.71
50-cent Pick (3) 5-5-2 $58.82
50-Cent Pick (4) 8-5-5-2 $523.26
Race Replay
8th Race
In the finalen going 5 1/2-furlongs 8-5 Tieton River pulled away at the top of the stretch to win by more than 5 lengths giving Francisco Diaz-Lopez his 1st win of the season. Tieton River finished in a time of 1:05.56 and races for Clemans View Farm and handed trainer Joe Navarro his 1st win of the season as well. Tieton River is a Washington bred by Conveyance out of Windy Pointe by Coast Guard and was bred by Clemans View Farm.
9-2 Lotsa Salita with Alex Cruz ended up a well beaten 2nd, Emory’s Rose at 2-1 with Manny Amricano was 3rd followed by 3-1 Roman Bronze and Silvio Amaddor with Fae Allanah with David Haldar compldeting the Super High 5.
Pay-Outs
3 Tieton River (Diaz-Lopez) $5.54 $3.50 $2.44
4 Lotsa Salita (Cruz) $5.52 $3.26
6 Emery’s Rose (Americano) $2.66
$1 Ex 3-4 $11.59
$1 Tri 3-4-6 $34.46
$1 Super 3-4-6-7 $51.40
50-cent Super High 5 3-4-6-7-1 $108.44
$1 DD 8-3 $7.10
50-cent Pick (3) 2-8-3 $68.41
50-cent Pick (4) 5-2-8-2/3/9 $158.33
50-cent Pick (5) 5-5-8-2/3/9 $499.24
20-cent Pick (6) 8-5-5-2-8-2/3/9 $4,435.76
Race Replay
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