6/7/2025
(Auburn, WA) It’s Belmont Stakes Day at Emerald Downs and boy the folks in New York sure wish they had our weather. Pouring rain has disrupted the 14 race card at Saratoga where the Belmont Stakes will be run again this year as Belmont race track is completing a major renovation.
The rain has postponed two of the big turf stakes today and there were several scratches but the big race was still the highlight and a battle between the 1-2 finishers in the Kentucky Derby. Results and links to coverage listed below followed by our Emerald race re-caps.
Strong Numbers
The 8 races on Saturday drew 61 entrants for a per race average of 7.6 and had the 2 horses in the 6th not acted up and scratched it would have been 63 runners and a 7.9 average.
The bettors did well wagering $1,460,089 for a per race average of $182,511 per race.
Streaks Continued
Both Kevin Krigger and Manny Americano were both on consecutive wins streaks coming into Sunday’s races and both continued them. Krigger took the 6th on Creme de Menthe to push his run to 9 straight days. Americano came through in the finale to push his streak to 8.
2 Wins
Silvio Amador was the only rider to double up on Saturday. Amador took the 4th on 7-1 Beau Mischief and then took the 5th on 5-1 Roper. The Amador double paid $165.25.
Veteran rider Frank Alvarado is starting to feel the groove getting his 2nd win of the season as he begins to settle in. Carlos Montalvo also recorded his 2nd win of the year winning the 1st race and Alvarado won the 2nd race.
Julien Couton won his 2nd race in as many days taking the feature race with a great ride on Chuckanut Bay.
Ride em Cowboy
In a scary moment jockey Alex Cruz was tossed out of the gates by Hannahaza Hetty after she got restless. Cruz was thrown out of the back of the gates but was fine and finished riding the card.
ESN talked with Cruz after the races and he said he was prepared as Hetty doesn’t like to spend a lot of time in the gates. Cruz says that’s why they load her last. Cruz says the horse next to them, Victoria’s Charge jostled which triggered Hetty. Victoria’s Charge was also scratched by the track vet at the gates to be safe. Both jogged back to the paddock and appeared to be ok.
Cruz shook it off and said unfortunately that was probably his best chance at a win on the day but that’s horse racing.
1st Owner to 3 wins
Owners Chad and Josh became the 1st owners to win 3 races for the year when Classic American won. Trainer David Martinez picked up his 1st win of the year with Classic American. The 2nd owner to win 3 came in the 5th race when Roper won for owner/trainer Sergio Perez.
No owner has yet to win 2 races in a single day. There were 8 different owners getting their pictures taken on Saturday.
Trainer Race remains tight
Howard Gibson won the feature race with Chuckanut Bay giving him 9 wins on the year and ties Tim McCanna for the top spot after McCanna took the lead on Friday. They have a 2 win lead over a traffic jam at 3rd place with 4 trainers tied with 7 wins.
Blaine Wright, Justin Evans, Isidro Tamayo all with 7 were joined by Frank Lucarelli when Creme de Menthe won on Saturday.
Still No Joe
Joe Withee dealing with a bug missed his 2nd day on Saturday and once again filling in gallantly was track President Phil Ziegler and track announcer Tom Harris. Ziegler had more help on Saturday as regular weekend handicapper John Lindley was along as he and Phil delivered the pre-race analysis from their regular perch on track level overlooking the paddock.
Withee may return on Sunday but Ziegler says he needs to get well first. The fill-in crew has done a great job filling in for the long time voice of NW Racing. Get well Joe and congrats to the crew.
The Belmont Stakes
Sovereignty proved the was much the best blasting down the stretch and flying by Journalism to win easy. For more on the Belmont Stakes check out the following reports:
The 157th Belmont Stakes
Emerald Downs Races
7th Race & Featured Raced The Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
A big field of 11 started from the Emerald Downs gates from the 6-furlong marker and 7-5 favorite Chuckanut Bay got off a step slow according to pilot Julien Couton. But quickly got her legs underneath her and settled into 4th 2 or 3 lengths off the lead while the early speed churned out a 21.39 first quarter.
By the time they reached the quarter pole Chuckanut Bay had blazed past the front runners and had a 2 length lead going 43.81 for the half. At the 1/8th pole Chuck built up a 3+ length lead with only Prisoner and Kevin Krigger with an outside chance but Chuckanut and Couton had it measured perfectly for about a 2 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:08.09.
Prisoner was a clear 2nd with 6-1 Poverty Bay and Manny Americano took 3rd while 41-1 Tiger Too and Alex Cruz ran on well to be 4th.
Chuckanut Bay is owned Remmah Racing and trained by Howie Gibson. Chuckanut Bay is a Washiongt0n bred by Abraaj out of Zenovit by Private Gold and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen.
Pay-Outs
4 Chuckanut Bay (Couton) $4.96 $2.80 $2.34
2 Prisoner (Krigger) $3.52 $2.76
6 Poverty Bay (Americano) $3.06
$1 Ex 4-2 $7.98
$1 Tri 4-2-6 $26.38
$1 Super 4-2-6-9 $369.60
$1 Daily Double 6-4 $10.77
50-cent Pick (3) 2-6-4 $51.26
ESN talks with Julian Couton
Race Replay
And the rest of the Saturday card.
1st Race
In the Saturday opener a field of 6 went 5 1/2-furlongs and 3-1 2nd favorite Delayed Not Denied went striaght to the lead and set a blistering 1st quarter of 21.74 which would have an impact as the filly would back out to finish 5th. 2-5 favorite Maximum Sparkle and Carlos Montalvo sat in 3rd down the backstretch and slowly closed the gap as 24-1 Bella Ciao Ciao and Silvio Amador took over the lead on the turn and then tried to steal it. But Maximum Sparkle had too much rolling up to win clear in a final time of 1:03.50. Maximum Sparkle is owned by George Todaro and trained by Tom Wenzel.
Bella Ciao Ciao held 2nd, Chatty Leroybrown with Francisco Monroy closed to be 3rd and longshot Valid Gold after a shaky start as a 1st time starter stgraightened out for Kevin Orozco and finished with a good run to get 4th.
Pay-Outs
4 Maximum Sparkle (Montalvo) $2.84 $2.36 $2.10
3 Bella Ciao Ciao (Amador) $7.96 $3.92
2 Chatty Leroybrown (Monroy) $4.12
$1 Ex 4-3 $9.46
$1 Tri 4-3-2 $35.18
$1 Super 4-3-2-5 $202.70
Race Replay
2nd Race
7 fillies and mares went 6-furloings in the 2nd race and Classic American got bet down to 7-5 favoritism. Jockey Frank Alvarado was patient stalking the early pace and then past the tiring front speed that set fractions of 21.86 and 44.82. Classic American split horses at the top of the stretch and then pulled away inside the 1/8th pole for nearly a 3 length win in a final time of 1:10.05. Classic American is owned by Chad and Josh and trained by David Martinez. Chad and Josh become the first 3-time winners of the 2025 season.
Chokechery Shari and Francisco Duran closed well for 2nds, Unbridled Scholar kept top her task with a solid run for Kevin Orozco and Kiss of Spice with Alex Cruz completed the superfecta.
Pay-Outs
7 Classic American (Alvarado) $4.96 $3.38 $2.86
3 Chokecheri Shari (Duran) $8.44 $5.10
1 Unbridled Scholar (Orozco) $4.38
$1 Ex 7-3 $22.36
$1 Tri 7-3-1 $132.42
$1 Super 7-3-1-5 $427.00
$1 Daily Double 4-7 $4.39
Race Replay
3rd Race
A late scratch dropped the field to 7 older fillies and mares going a mile. Chrome’s Best Copy went to the front with 9-5 2nd choice Greatful Attitude and David Haldar riding the rail behind the speed and top choiced 8-5 Poker Alice also in prime position along the outside.
On the turn Greatful Attitude made a move surging to the lead with Poker Alice also moving in tandem while 4-1 Shelby Gold also began to stir along the inside. At the top of the stretch Greatful Attitude had a clear lead while Poker Alice faltered and finished off the board. The threat left was Shelby Gold as Kevin Krigger got after the 5-year-old Washingtonm bred but the gap was too much and Greatful Attitude won by 2 lengths in a time of 1:36.64. Greatful Attitude is owned by Silvano Martin, Jose Paredes and Victor Trujillo and trained by Trujillo.
Shelby Gold ran a solid 2nd while Class Code with Manny Americano closed well for 3rd and Alex Cruz got English Danger up for 4th.
Pay-Outs
1 Greatful Attitude (Haldar) $5.60 $3.78 $2.98
6 Shelby Gold (Krigger ) $4.64 $3.20
7 Class Code (Americano) $3.56
$1 Ex 1-6 $14.07
$1 Tri 1-6-7 $54.88
$1 Super 1-6-7-4 $143.60
$1 Daily Double 7-1 $39.04
50-cent Pick (3) 4-7-1 $12.16
Race Replay
4th Race
8 went the flat mile and 7-1 Beau Mischief went to the front but no one pressed him so Silvio Amador slowed the pace to a pedestrian 24.09 and 47.92. This left plenty in the tank for Beau and “Batman”, who stretched their lead easily denying the closers to win clear in a final time of 1:37.81. Beau Mischief races for Cold Boy Stables and is trained by Elodio Madrigal.
8-1 Stephen James and Julien Couton closed well to get up for 2nd while Hickory Wind made a moved 0n the turn but settled for 3rd after flattening out and 5-2 2nd choice Exclusive Speaker with Manny Americano ended up 4th.
Pay-Outs
4 Beau Mischief (Amador) $16.78 $7.28 $4.46
6 Stephen James (Couton) $7.06 $4.16
8 Hickary Wind (Gutierrez) $5.18
$1 Ex 4-6 $47.65
$1 Tri 4-6-8 $306.28
$1 Super 4-6-8-1 $1,216.30
$1 Daily Double 1-4 $37.74
50-cent Pick (3) 7-1-4 $58.40
50-cent Pick (4) 4-7-1-4 $80.05
Race Replay
5th Race
5-1 Roper and Silvio Amador broke well from the 2 hole and were quickly joined by race favorite Tigersun. The pace was reasonable going 22.11 and 44.77 but it wasn’t Tigersun’s day as he backed out to finish off the board. This was the 3rd start for Roper and when Amador asked Roper for more and he had plenty left to pull away and deny the late charges to win by 6 lengths or so in a time of 1:16.17 for the 6 1/2-furlongs. Roper is owned by Sergio Perez and is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Port Wakefield by Katowice and was bred by Howard Belvoir.
Dekudylan made a nice late move to get up for 2nd with Javier Matias, El Dimante Negro and Francisco Monroy closed on the rail for the show while Rail Town completed a healthy superfecta.
Pay-Outs
2 Roper (Amador) $12.80 $6.50 $4.34
5 Dekudylan (Matias) $6.50 $4.08
6 El Diamonte Negro (Monroy) $5.46
$1 Ex 2-5 $37.89
$1 Tri 2-5-6 $443.64
$1 Super 2-5-6-1 $4,008.00
$1 Daily Double 4-2 $165.25
50-cent Pick (3) 1-4-1 $131.51
Race Replay
6th Race
After two got scratched at the gate it reducded this well matched field to just 4 starters, the smallest field of the season. Miss Dynamic and Juan Gutierrez became the even money favorite and went right to the front. 3rd favorite Creme de Menthe at 2-1 broke well under Kevin Krigger and kept the pressure on Miss Dynamic as 2nd choice Avoir with David Haldar was further back in 3rd and 11-1 longshot My Little Lady and Kevin Orozco trailed throughout.
In the stretch Creme de Menthe made her move and pulled even with Miss Dynamic about the 1/8th pole and then eased away for a clear win. Miss Dynamic held well for 2nd with Avoir threatening at the top of the stretch but flattened out to take 3rd.
Creme de Menthe ran the 5 1/2-furlongs in 1:02.43 and is owned by Mike Hill and trained by Frank Lucarelli. Creme de Menthe is a Washington bred by Curlin to Mischief out of Creme Chi by Somersham and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen.
Pay-Outs
6 Creme de Menthe (Krigger) $6.26 $2.90 $2.10
2 Miss Dynamic (Gutierrez) $2.66 $2.10
3 Avoir (Haldar) $2.10
$1 Ex 6-2 $6.51
$1 Tri 6-2-3 $9.04
$1 Super 6-2-3-1 $13.10
$1 Daily Double 2-6 $28.66 Consoltion 2-4/5 $6.56
50-cent Pick (3) 4-2-6 $213.41
50-cent Pick (4) 1-4-2-6 $524.95
Race Replay
8th Race
8 starters in the finale and 5-1 It’s Saul Right flashed the closing move that every other off the pace runner on Saturday sling shotted down the stretch to run past the odds-on favorite Lucy Treasure and Kevin Krigger in the final 50 yards. Manny Americano timed it perfectly to get the win traveling from last to 1st in a final time of 1:10.46 for the 6-furlongs. It’s Saul Right is owned by Leeslye Villegas-Morales and trained by Jorge Rosales.
5-1 Slice of Pie with Isaias Enriquez was all alone on 3rd, 7-1 Heat Seeking Leta and Alex Cruz was up for 4th and completing the Super High 5 was 22-1 Hey Barmaid and Francisco Monroy.
Pay-Outs
1 It’s Saul Right (Americano) $12.52 $3.50 $2.52
3 Lucy Treasure (Krigger) $2.72 $2.20
7 Slice of Pie (Enriquez) $2.88
$1 Ex 1-3 $12.39
$1 Tri 1-3-7 $35.92
$1 Super 1-3-7-8 $130.20
50-cent Super High Five 1-3-7-8-5 $249.11
$1 Daily Double 4-1 $10.82
50-cent Pick (3) 6-4-1 $42.96
50-cent Pick (4) 2-6-4-1 $292.71
50-cent Pick (5) 4-2-6-4-1 $3,264.51
20-cent Pick (6) 1-4-2-6-4-1 (5 correct) $163.81 Carryover $6,465
Race Replay
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