5/18/2025

(Auburn, WA) Day 6 of the 2025 season and the influx of horses from Northern California and Turf Paradise is now beginning to really show at the starting gates. There were 59 that ran on Saturday, that’s 7.4 per race average and 71 for 9 races on Sunday for a 7.9 average and for the weekend 7.6. Last year the season average was 6.4 and that number stayed between 5.9 and 6.5 for the entire season.

Saturday also saw our first off-track of the season with races 1 and 2 sloppy and then 3-8 wet-fast. Last year there were only 4 days of non-fast tracks. On Sunday the sun was out and a breeze dried the track out quickly and was fast.

Manny Americano won 4 races on the day matching Alex Cruz’s 4 win day on Saturday. Two time defending training champ Justin Evans started his first runners of the year and finished 1-2 to start his season at Emerald with a training exacta.

The bettors showed as well as they wagered $1,597,221 for an average of $177,469 per race.

It was also the final day of the Teachers Appreciation Weekend. There was a school mascot race followed by the the men’s and women’s teacher races.

Be sure to check out “The Track Wire” on Wednesday for more news and notes from this weekend’s racing and Teacher’s Dash. Let’s get to Sunday’s card.

8th and Feature Race The Bud Light Purse
In the feature race the field of 8 went the flat mile and Club Mesquite with Kevin Krigger was bet down to 6-5 favoritism. At the break 6-1 Hey Batman with Jose Rodriguez went straight to the front from the rail. Fantastic Dream with Pablo Castillo at 26-1 went with Hey Batman while Club Mesquite sat in 3rd from the outside around the 1st turn.

Down the back stretch Hey Batman slipped away and drew out to a 3-4 length lead while setting fractions 23.52 and 46.52 as they headed into the far turn. Club Mesquite began to stir and started after the leader as did 7-2 I’m Noble and Manny Americano. At the 1/8th pole Hey Batman still had the lead but was beginning to tire as Club Mesquite got first run and collared Hey Batman about the 16th pole.

However, Club Mesquite had no answer as Americano and I’m Noble uncorked a huge rally to run down the favorite going away to win easily in a final time of 1:36.26. Hey Batman held on for 3rd and Fantastic Dream finished 4th.

I’m Noble races for Rusty George Warwick and trained by Joe Toye. This was Toye’s 1st start of the meeting and is a perfect 1 for 1. The 4-year-old gelding I’m Noble earned his 5th career win and is now 5-7-3 for a win percent of 20% and 60% in the top 3 while pushing his bankroll to more than $87,000.

Pay-Outs
4 I’m Noble (Americano)  $9.20  $3.62  $3.04
8 Club Mesquite (Krigger)  $3.00  $.2.42
1 Hey Batman (Rodriguez)  $3.44
$1 Ex 4-8 $11.38
$1 Tri  4-8-1  $38.22
$1 Super  4-8-1-5 $206.60
$1 DD  8-4  $86.39
50-cent Pick (3)  7-8-4 $203.42

Race Replay

The rest of Sunday’s Card

1st Race

Leading Trainer for the last two years Justin Evans entered his first horses of the season with 11-year-old Surprisinglyperfect with Kevin Krigger and Bedrock with Alex Cruz going the 1 mile. Surprisinglyperfect at 6-5 sat back in 4th and stalked until the far turn when his stablemate 4-1 Bedrock hugged the rail and took the lead at the top of the stretch. Bedrock could not hold off his elder who rolled to the win in the final time of 1:37.41. Enos Slaughter with Francisco Monroy took 3rd and Vulin with David Haldar was 4th. Surprisinglyperfect races for Rakoczy Racing and Justin Evans and trained by Evans.

Pay-outs
2 Surprisinglyperfect (Krigger)  $4.44  $3.24  $2.12
1 Bedrock (Cruz)      $4.54  $2.98
3 Enos Slaughter (Monroy)  $3.46
$1 Ex 2-1 $9.23
$1 Tri 2-1-3 $21.64
$1 Super 2-1-3-4 $140.10

Race Replay

2nd Race
Last Sunday on Mother’s day trainer Blaine Wright visited the Winners Circle 4 times. This Sunday it didn’t take long for him to head back down to the WC in the 2nd race with a solid run from Louie the First. Louie the First broke in the top trio with Conrad Meadows and Secret Hottie while Fruit Lutes and Bourban Dancer trailed in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint Francisco Duran let Louie the First settle in as Secret Hottie wanted the lead with Juan Gutierrez and those two battle to the top of the stretch running the 1/2-mile in 45.37.

Secret Hottie would hit the wall and faded to 4th but Louie the First had plenty left and held off the closing 5-1 Fruit Lutes with Kevin Orozco and 8-5 co-favorite Bourbon Dancer with Silvio Amador who took 3rd. Louie the First is owned by Dillan Miller and Calvin Figley and trained by Blaine Wright and finished in a time of 1:04.85.

Pay-Outs
5 Louie the First (Duran)  $5.24  $2.98  $2.10
3 Fruit Lutes (Orozco)  $5.08  $2.60
4 Bourbon Dancer (Amador)  $2.36
$1 Ex 5-3 $12.85
$1 Tri 5-3-4  $22.14
$1 Super  5-3-4-6  $48.90
$1 DD  2-5 $12.02  Consolation DD 5-1 $2.52

Race Replay

3rd Race
The first 1 mile-70 yard race of the year featured 7 fillies and mares 3 years-old and up. 3-1 Ready to Gig, 7-2 Spicy Ride and 34-1 A Crown for Kitten all went to the front and set reasonble fractions of 22.87 and 46.32 but the distance seemed to catch up as the front runners collapsed at the top of the stretch.

Meantime, 2-1 favorite Gold Coast Girl was biding her time when Manny Americano swung wide and ran down the stopping speed rolling on by for the win. 11-1 Austin City Girl and Ronald Richard also came from the back to get up for 2nd while Bold Daughter and Kevin Krigger also made up late ground for 3rd while A Crown for Kitten with David Haldar did complete the superfecta.

Gold Coast Girl is trained by Howie Gibson and is owned and was bred by Ron and Nina Hagen finishing the trip in 1:44.28. Gold Coast Girl is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Ms Moscow Mattie by Matty G.

Pay-outs
4 Gold Coast Daughter (Americano)  $6.10  $3.66  $2.42
2 Austin City Girl (Richard)   $8.60  $4.24
1 Bold Daughter (Krigger)  $2.56
$1 Ex 4-2  $29.04
$1 Tri  4-2-1 $58.68
$1 Super  4-2-1-7  $413.90
$1 DD  5-4 $9.18
50-cent Pick (3)  2/1-5-4 $8.27

Race Replay

4th Race

Front speed was having a hard time hanging on Sunday and it was on full display in the 4th with 7 going 6-furlongs. The winner and place finisher overwhelmed the field sweeping with a massive stretch run led by 7-1 Shelby Gold with Francisco Duran down the outside. Duran and Shelby just held off the hard charging 8-1 Purrfect Moon with Alex Cruz who snuck through the inside and dove for the finish line coming up a head short.

Front runner Bobby’s Genie at 5-1 with Kevin Orozco held well to be the show horse and 3-2 favorite Cocktail Princess and Silvio Amador ran an even 4th. Shelby Gold is owned by Hern/LePley Racing and trained by Tim McCanna. Shelby Gold is a Washington bred by Harbor the Gold out of Donadue by Uh Oh Bango and was bred by Eric Jensen. The final time was 1:10.41.

Pay-Outs
1 Shelby Gold (Duran)  $17.38  $7.56  $4.48
3 Purrfect Moon (Cruz)  $5.74  $3.02
5 Bobby’s Genie (Orozco)  $4.10
$1 Ex 1-3 $57.23
$1 Tri 1-3-5 $469.28
$1 Super  1-3-5-2 $1,306.50
$1 DD 4-1 $32.11
50-cent Pick (3) 1/5-4-1 $41.91
50-cent Pick (4) 2-1/5-4-1 $82.19

Race Replay

5th Race

A field of 10 3-year-old maidens went 5-furlongs and this time the front speed held. 7-2 Adios Jojo with Kevin Orozco broke 2nd but quickly took the lead up the backstretch setting splits of 21.84 and 44.99. Turning for home race favorite Rock N Tiger with Juan Gutierrez had battled through some traffic problems and took his shot at Jojo but Orozco had the race measured perfectly and kicked in the afterburners to pull away and win by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 57.78.

Rock N Tiger was a clear 2nd and the race was on for 3rd with Locallyworldfamnous and Alex Cruz getting up for the show by a neck at 9-2 and 5-1 Calmcollncollected and Manny Amreicano getting the nose down for 4th. Adios Jojo races for Chad ands Josh and is trained by Howie Johnson.

Pay-Outs
9 Adios Jojo (Orozco)  $9.16  $4.14  $2.96
4 Rock N Tiger (Gutierrez)  $3.72  $3.06
5 Locallyworldfamous (Cruz)  $3.70
$1 Ex 9-4 $18.32
$1 Tri 9-4-5  $66.24
$1 Super 9-4-5-6  $173.70
$1 DD  1-9  $39.49
50-cent Pick (3)  4-1-9  $86.17

Race Replay

6th Race
The tide may have begun to turn with front speed beginning to hang on better than earlier in the card. G G Gilley and Manny Americano sat just off the front speed of 8-1 Star Travel and got first run in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint and tookover inside the quarter pole while Star Travel threw in the towel. G G Gilley had plenty left to hold off Whiskeythenwine and Silvio Amador by more than a length. 6-1 Sir Dreamer with David Haldar ran on well to be 3rd just missing 2nd place by a neck and Verdi with Julien Couton completed the superfecta.

G G Gilley ran the 5 1/2-furlongs in a final time of 1:03.81 and races for Hector Ramiro Preciado and trained by Serjio Garcia.

6 Whiskeythenwine (Amador)   $6.56  $3.14
8 Sir Dreamer (Haldar)  $4.86
$1 Ex 7-6 $14.86
$1 Tri 7-6-8 $95.56
$1 Super 7-6-8-2  $510.80
$1 DD  9-7 $11.55
50-cent Pick (3)  1-9-4/7  $100.64
50-cent Pick (4) 4-1-9-4/7 $293.96

Race Replay

7th Race

A field of 10 went 6-furlongs to begin the final Pick 3. Softer fractions set up a literal calvary charge at the top of the stretch and it was 11-1 Mashad Flats with Kevin Krigger breaking through and getting the jump on 7-1 Hickory Wind with Juamn Gutierrez who ran a hard 2nd. Getting hung up with traffic 5-2 Artemus Gordon closed well for 3rd with Manny Americano while Hot Journey at 12-1 with Kevin Orozco also rallied late to get 4th.

Mashad Flats races for Joseph Budinich and Paula Meta Woods and is trained by Shelly Crowe and ran the 3/4’s in 1:10.39.

Pay-Outs
8 Mashad Flats (Krigger) $24.74  $9.50  $7.22
3 Hickory Wind (Gutierrez)  $8.38  $5.14
5 Artermus Gordon (Americano)  $3.46
$1 Ex 8-3 $124.08
$1 Tri 8-3-5 $519.08
$1 Super  8-3-5-10  $3,278.70
$1 DD 7-8  $66.30
50-cent Pick (3) 9-7-8 $256.75

Race Replay

Replay not available

9th Race
There was a solid field of 9 lined up for the finale but the bettrors were not fooled as they had co-8-5 favorites in Red Leader and Dominate. Dominate with Alex Cruz ended up being the slight favorite. It was just a 5-furlong spring and Red Leader with Manny Amricano exploded out of the gate and quickly separated from 2nd place Dominate by 2 1/2-lengths.

Red Leader set soft fractions of 22.16 and slowed it to 45.50 at the halfmile leaving plenty for the stretch. Cruz and Dominate waited patiently for Red Leader to come back to them but there was no reversing Red Leader finishing the weekend with a dominating 4 length win in a final time of 57.42. Dominate was clearly second bet while 24-1 Fly By John and Carlos Montalvo got up for 3rd, 9-1 Gran Senor Del Oro and Kevin Krigger at 9-1 was 4th and completing the Super High 5 was 14-1 Little Boy Lute and Juan Gutierrez.

Red Leader is owned by White Diamond Syndicate and Lusk Racing and trained by Vince Gibson. Red Leader is a Washington bred by Barkley out of Flowers for Teagan by Flower Alley and was bred by Vince Gibson, Ashley Potts and Gary Lusk.

Pay-Outs
8 Red Leader (Americano)   $5.42  $3.16  $2.74
2 Dominate (Cruz)  $2.90  $2.34
5 Fly By John  (Montalvo)  $5.78
$1 Ex -8-2 $7.57
$1 Tri 8-2-5 $56.70
$1 Super 8-2-5-1  $179.00
50-cent Super High (5) 8-2-5-1-6  $887.52
$1 DD 4-8  $24.36
50-cent Pick (3) 8-4-8  $230.70
50-cent Pick (4) 4/7-8-4-8  $693.70
50-cent Pick (5) 9-4/7-8-4-8  $4,435.24
20-cent Pick (6) 1-9-4/7-8-4-8  $448.54  Carryover $734

Race Replay

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