6/22/2025
(Auburn, WA) After a sloppy and wet-fast track on Saturday, the 1st Super Stakes day of the season the sun came out and the track was fast. The rain on Saturday certainly tightened the track that ended with fast times and a bit of a front-end bias.
The day belonged to Blaine Wright for winning the first 3 stakes races in a row. Tying the record for 3 stakes wins in a single day…it happened to be his own record that he tied. Frank Lucarelli held on by a neck to win the 4th Stakes.
Silvio Amador was aboard 2 of the Stakes wins for Wright and David Haldar won the other while Isaias Enriquez took the 4th Stakes race.
Below are the 4 Stakes Races in the order they were run followed by a re-cap of the other 6 races. Let’s get to Super Stakes Sunday #1.
The Numbers
Sunday’s card had 10 total races with 81 starters to average 8.1 starters per race. The handle was a season high and first 2-million plus handle of the year and matching the number of 2-million dollar handles for all of last year.
A total of $2,268,892 was bet on the 10 races, averaging $226,889 per race. We’ll have a full stats update coming out in this week’s Track Wire.
The Auburn Stakes $50,000 Stakes
A field of 8 was reduced to a field of 7 when He’s not Talking broke free from the post parade and lost Juan Gutierrez. He’s Not Talking ran all the way back to the backstretch entrance where he was caught and taken back to the barn.
The field of 7 then broke from the watchful eye of Emerald Downs Starter Mark Gibson in the first Stakes race of the season in the Auburn Stakes. Si That Tiger with Silvio Amador came in as the 4-5 morning line favorite after opening the season on May 25th with a huge 5 1/2-length win.
When the gates flew open 9-1 Candy Caballo with Carlos Montalvo while 22-1 Goin South and Alex Cruz sat right off Candy’s hip. 1-9 Si That Tiger and regular rider Silvio Amador broke a bit slow and didn’t get their usual lead but settled in on the rail and followed the leading pair closely.
The first quarter was a quick 21.77 and the front end wasn’t slowing down so Amador and Si That Tiger had to start to ease off the rail to get position for the stretch run.
Candy Caballo was digging in and stubbornly gave ground to Goin South. Si That Tiger began to roll on the outside as the trio hit the top of the stretch Goin South got his first lead but it wouldn’t last long as Si That Tiger would catch the two front runners at the 1/8th pole with a head in front and stretched it out to a 2 length win in a final time of 1:08.62.
Goin South and Candy Caballo both ran huge and never gave up with Goin South getting 2nd by a 1/2 length over Candy and then further back Tiz’s Harbor and David Haldar ran on for 4th.
ESN talked with Alex Cruz, the rider of Goin’ South and stablemate of Si That Tiger. Cruz says, “I saw that Si That Tiger didn’t break well and my horse wanted to go so I went and settled in right with the front runner. I thought at about the 1/4 pole I might be able to steal this race. But then at the 1/8th pole I felt Si That Tiger coming and knew he was the better horse. But I am so proud of my horse, he ran huge, and I couldn’t have asked him for more just really happy with his run.”
We also caught up with winning trainer Blaine Wright, who also sent out Goin’ South about the start of the race and just how impressive both runs were in the Auburn Stakes.
ESN talks with Blaine Wright
Si That Tiger is owned by John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider and trained by Blaine Wright and assistant trainer Corey Delp. Si That Tiger earned $27,500 to push his career earnings to $83,650 and improved to 4-0-0 from 6 lifetime starts for a 67% win rate.
Purse Pays: 1st Si That Tiger $27,500, 2nd Goin’ South $10,000, 3rd Candy Caballo $6,000, 4th Tiz’s Harbor $3,000, 5th F B I Bob $2,000, all others $750
Pay-Outs
2 Si That Tiger (Amador) $2.28 $2.22 $2.10
4 Goin’ South (Cruz) $5.74 $2.64
3 Candy Caballo (Montalvo) $2.24
$1 Ex 2-4 $5.14
$1 Tri 2-4-3 $12.54
$1 Super 2-4-3-6 $31.30
$1 DD 2-2 $3.80 Consolation DD 2-7 $2.96
50-cent Pick (3) 7-2-2/7 $17.26
Race Replay
The Hastings Stakes $50,000 Stakes
8 fillies and mares went 6-furlongs in the Hastings Stakes and Attracted was the one to beat as the 4-5 morning line favorite. Sprint Champion Aloha Breeze and Carlos Montalvo were expected to go to the lead and did break well but was surrounded by other speed in Fun Money on the outside and longshot Smiling Lady on the rail. That trio would blaze to a 21.49 1st quarter with Attracted sitting back in 5th, unhurried by Silvio Amador.
About halfway around the turn longshot Smiling Lady would start to tire and was coming out which opened a big hole along the rail where Attracted and Amdor shot through with an eye-catching turn of foot to get the jump on Aloha Breeze who was forced a bit wide.
As they straightened away for home Attracted had cleared by 2 lengths at the 1/8th pole as Amador continued with left-handed urging. Aloha Breeze fought hard and actually came back on Attracted but it was too little too late as Attracted won by more than a length in a final time of 1:09.15.
Aloha Breeze did hold onto 2nd but was under attack from a big late run from 19-1 Brookys Gal. Francisco Monroy swung the Brookys Gal to the outside and came running late to be a 1/2 length short of Aloha Breeze. Shocking Grey with Manny Americano closed well to grab 4th on the rail.
There was an incident after the race where Attracted apparently took a bad step and Amador pulled her up near the 6-furlong chute on the run out. Attracted was taken back to trainer Blaine Wright’s barn where she was being examined. She walked into the horse ambulance and walked into her stable, Wright hopes to have more information after additional examinations.
ESN talked with Silvio Amador’s agent Leo Rodriguez who says Amador relayed that he wanted to be overly cautious with Attracted and signaled the outriders for assistance immediately.
Rodriguez also talked about the ride. He said, “Patience was the key to this race and a little luck. I think he would have still won had he had to go wide but being able to cut the corner and get the jump on the others turned out to be a race winning move.”
Attracted is owned by Peter Redekop and trained by Blaine Wright and earned $27,500 to push her bank account to $79,750. Attracted is now 4-1-0 from 5 career starts for an 80% win clip and 100% exacta finish.
Purse Pays: 1st Attracted $27,500, 2nd Aloha Breeze $10,000, 3rd Brookys Gal $6,000, 4th Shocking Grey $3,000, 5th Smiling Lady $2,000 All others $500
Pay-Outs
4 Attracted (Amador) $4.02 $2.82 $2.52
5 Aloha Breeze (Montalvo) $4.80 $3.68
2 Brookys Gal (Monroy) $8.52
$1 Ex 4-5 $7.25
$1 Tri 4-5-2 $36.20
$1 Super 4-5-2-3 $164.70
$1 DD 2-4 $3.40
50-cent Pick (3) 2-2/7-4 $5.54
50-cent Pick (4) 7-2-2/7-4 $31.66
Race Replay
The Budweiser Stakes $50,000 Stakes
An early scratch left the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes with 8 starters and the expected battle between odds-on choice Clovisconnection and fan favorite at 5-2 Slew’s Tiz Whiz did not disappoint.
On paper, the front speed pace looked like a blazer, and it was with one huge exception, Clovisconnection. The last time Emerald fans saw Clovis was in the 2024 Longacres Mile where he went to the front and led by 2 lengths into the stretch but could not hold off Five Star General who got him on the wire by a head.
So, when the gates opened on Sunday in the Bud and Clovisconnection from the 1 hole was in 6th place the concern was up immediately from his backers but not his handlers. More on that in a moment.
17-1 Company’s Dream broke first with 27-1 Tougherthantherest right there in 2nd, 7-1 Listentothemusic and Coastal Jazz were in the mix and on the far outside was 24-1 Papa’s Golden Boy who normally would be on the front as well, but the 9-year-old couldn’t clear in this test.
Meantime, Clovisconnection dropped back 6th and jockey David Haldar was looking to ease off the rail to get a clear run on the outside. Slew’s Tiz Whiz who ran much closer to the pace in his 2025 debut win, was off a step slow and last down the backstretch.
The front runners did go fast setting fractions of 21.52 and 43.71. At the half mile mark Haldar said go and you could visually see him hit his stride and at the 1/8th pole took the lead away from Company’s Dream. Slew’s Tiz Whiz had as usual, gathered himself and jockey Julien Couton found running room and launched his big kick just behind Clovisconnection.
At the 1/16th pole Clovisconnection took about a 2-length lead with Slew gobbling up the ground. As they were approaching the wire Slew looked like he slowed a bit as Couton gathered him and he finished 3/4 of a length behind Clovisconnection in a final time of 1:08.56.
Company’s Dream with a big run on the front for Francisco Duran held on for 3rd and Lonesome Boy with Kevin Orozco closed well to get up for 4th in the final 100 yards.
We talked with Couton after the race and asked about the start of the race. Couton said, “he got off a step slower than he did in his first race this year, but I also knew the pace was going to be fast so I jsut wanted to get hiom settled. He got some dirt kicked in his face and that bothered more than the slow start.”
Couton said, “going into the turn he was his old self and beginning to pick up momentum and turning for home we had a big hole to run through, and he did his thing coming up just short.” We asked Couton about the end of the race and he said, “the leading horse came out on us a little bit just before the finish line and Slew took kind of a sideways step and it definately slowed him a bit but it didn’t impact the finish.” After looking at the head on you can see Clovisconnection come out late but did not bump or impede Slew which is why there was no objection or inquiry.
Slew’s trainer and part owner Tom Wenzel said, “He ran big, did get off a bit slow but we’re pretty happy with his effort especially knowing 6-furlongs is not his distance.” Wenzel says, “the Longacres Mile is the goal as always so we’ll see how he comes out of this and try to keep him on track for the big goal.”
The was trainer Blaine Wright’s 3rd Stakes win in a row, and he couldn’t have been more pleased with how Clovisconnection ran, and the job David Haldar did on Clovis. We asked Wright about the lack of early speed. especially from the 1 hole. Wright said, “I told David not to hurry out of the gate and let the other speed do their thing. Let him settle and then look to get to the outside so you don’t get trapped.”
Wright said, “I know folks think he’s a front runner, but I knew he could come from off the pace and he doesn’t mind getting dirt kicked in his face.” Wright says, “when I train him in company I have start him well behind the other horses or he’ll just run off on them so I know, I’ve seen him do it a hundred times of coming from behind getting dirt kicked in his face, it don’t bother him.”
We also talked with Haldar after the race, and he was excited to get his 1st stakes win at Emerald Downs and the 5th of his career. See his interview below.
ESN talks with Jockey David Haldar
Clovisconnection is owned and was bred by William Hedrick and trained by Blaine Wright. He earned $27,500 for the win to push his career earnings to $491,300. With the win Clovisconnection is now 12-3-1 from 20 lifetime starts for a 60% win rate and 80% top 3 finish.
Purse Pays: 1st Clovisconnection $27,500, 2nd Slew’s Tiz Whiz $10,000, 3rd Company’s Dream $6,000, 4th Lonesome Boy $3,000, 5th Tougherthantherest $2,000, All others $500
Pay-Outs
1 Clovisconnection (Haldar) $3.60 $2.46 $2.30
7 Slew’s Tiz Whiz (Couton) $2.98 $2.54
3 Company’s Dream (Duran) $5.42
$1 Ex 1-7 $4.68
$1 Tri 1-7-3 $12.55
$1 Super 1-7-3-8 $109.00
$1 DD 4-1 $5.67
50-cent Pick (3) 2/7-4-1/2 $2.42
Race Replay
The Seattle Stakes $50,000 Stakes
A late scratch from paddock of Sapello Sonrisa left 9 to battle in the 6-furlongs Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Topping the competition was a pair of Washington breds by Barkley. Saleen G T was the betting choice at 1-1 with Beauty Bark at 5-1. The game plan in the 4th stakes race of the day mirrored the Bud stakes. Sit mid pack and make a run and start last and make a run worked again.
Race a Roany, the 5-1 2nd favorite broke first and dueled with Kir Royale and Recycleyourheart setting a fast quarter of 21.93 but then slowing down to just a 45.07 half and the 3 on the front end were done.
This set up Saleen G T and Isais Enriquez who was stalking brilliantly, swung to the mid track turning for home and came over the top to take the lead inside the 1/8th pole. Meantime, Beauty Bark and Frank Alvarado were closing fast on the rail and at the top of the stretch found a hole between horses right at the 1/8th pole with some minor contact but got through with a slight hesitation which allowed Saleen G T to take the lead.
Beauty Bark had great momentum and came flying on the rail gaining on the favorite and at the wire Saleen G T held on by a neck over Beauty Bark. That slight hesitation at the 1/8th pole may have been the difference in this one as both Barkley daughters went at it in deep stretch.
Maximum Sparkle and Carlos Montalvo also closed late even further out than Saleen G T’s path and Ima Margarita Girl and Kevin Krigger ran a hard fought 4th place.
We talked with jockey Frank Alvarado after the race, and he said the gap did close in on him but was thankful to get through. Alvarado said, “I couldn’t ask for a better effort from Beauty Bark. She ran her heart out and yes getting through that hole was key to her race and she was bothered slightly but sometimes that’s all it takes.”
We also talked with trainer Kay Cooper who said, “She has been training so well but we knew getting by the favorite was going to be a big challenge and we almost got there.” Cooper agreed the key point was getting through that opening at the top of the stretch, “it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if she got through clean, but you can’t take anything away from Frank’s horse, she is special.”
Saleen G T is trained by the all-time leading trainer and Hall of Famer Frank Lucarelli who was sweating through the photo finish but then had to sweat through an objection called by Kevin Krigger on Ima Margarita Girl. Krigger was just inside Saleen G T turning for home and Saleen G T did come down in front of Ima Margarita Girl, but the stewards denied the objection.
We talked with Lucarelli after the race and he was pleased with Saleen G T’s performance. He said “we knew we’d have to go around, we didn’t want to get stuck behind a wall of pace setters turning for home but we did go a little more wide than I thought we’d have too.” I thought we had a comfortable win when I saw Beauty Bark come running and she made it a whole lot closer than I was hoping for, a great run by her.”
We talked more about this budding rivalry with Lucarelli:
ESN talks with Frank Lucarelli
Saleen G T is owned by R. E. V. Racing and trained by Frank Lucarelli and assisted by Bartolo Villa. Saleen G T is a Washington bred by Barkley out of Knight Club by Matty G and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen. Saleen G T earned $27,500 for the win and now has bankrolled $74,940 and is now 4-0-1 from 5 lifetime starts for an 80% win rate and 100% top 3 finish.
Purse Pays: 1st Saleen G T $27,500, 2nd Beauty Bark $10,000, 3rd Maximum Sparkle $6,000, 4th Ima Margarita Girl $3,000, 5th Recycleyourheart $2,000, All others $375
Pay-Outs
7 Saleen G T (Enriquez) $4.18 $2.98 $2.24
9 Beauty Bark (Alvarado) $4.58 $3.10
8 Maximum Sparkle (Montalvo) $$3.10
$1 Ex 7-9 $8.71
$1 Tri 7-9-8 $13.26
$1 Super 7-9-8-4 $237.30
$1 DD 1-7 $4.03
50-cent Pick (3) 4-1-7/10 $5.92
50-cent Pick (4) 2/7-4/8-1/2-7/10 $5.86
Race Replay
The rest of the Sunday’s races.
With 4 Stakes races on the card the rest of the races will have very short re-caps.
1st Race
Trainer Bob Bean thought he had his 1st win on Friday but got photo’d out. This time he was guaranteed his 1st win in another photo as both runners were his. After My Own Heart with Manny Americano nosed out Vhagar and Kevin Krigger. Infinite Love with David Haldar was 3rd and Bet the Chalk 4th with Julien Couton.
After My Own Heart is owned by Luann Bean and the Three Quarter Ranch, the winning time was 1:36.84.
Pay-Outs
4 After My Own Heart (Americano) $5.16 $2.64 $2.10
1 Vhagar (Krigger) $2.44 $2.10
2 Infinite Love (Haldar) $2.79
$1 Ex 4-1 $5.10
$1 Tri 4-1-2 $10.96
$1 Super 4-1-2-5 $23.90
Race Replay
2nd Race
The first 2-year-old race of the season and two had raced prior in Arizona. That experience helped the 8-5 favorite Cantcatchthiscat with Isaias Enriquez. Blackberry Jam and Kiaman McGregor set the early pace and held 2nd, Lead the Charge and Francisco Duran the 4-5 favorite was 3rd and Three Putt and David Haldar took 4th.
Cantcatchthiscat is owned by Margaret Root, trained by Frank Lucarelli and is a Washington bred by Cat Burglar out of Mahee Moon by Malibu Moon and was bred by Dr and Mrs. Jack Root Jr. Final time was 57.05 for 5 furlongs.
Pay-Outs
2 Cantcatchthiscat (Enriquez) $5.54 $3.48 $2.10
1 Blackberry Jam (McGregor) $10.60 $4.28
6 Lead the Charge (Duran) $2.1o
$1 Ex 2-1 $28.73
$1 Tri 2-1-6 $64.78
$1 Super 2-1-6-4 $153.40
$1 DD 4-2 $6.81
Race Replay
3rd Race
Bob’s Vai went straight to the front and won his 2nd race in a row with Manny Americano also winning his 2nd race of the day. The Great Haynes and David Haldar ran a solid 2nd, Diamond Dee with Kevin Orozco closed well for 3rd and Madame Gizelle with Francisco Monroy was 4th Bob’s Vai races for Ramon Chavarria-Delgado, Kevin Chavarria and Rosales Racing F1 and trained by Jorge Rosales. Race time for the 6 1/2-furlongs was a new fast time by a hundredth of a second at 1:15.54.
Pay-Outs
1 Bob’s Vai (Americano) $3.68 $2.92 $2.20
5 The Great Haynes (Haldar) $6.16 $3.18
4 Diamond Dee (Orozco) $2.36
$1 Ex 1-5 $9.52
$1 Tri 1-5-4 $22.50
$1 Super 1-5-4-6 $78.00
$1 DD 2-1 $11.36
50-cent Pick (3) 4-2-1 $9.25
Race Replay
4th Race
In the 2nd 2-year-old race of the year and of the day, Tom Wenzel and George Todaro dominated the race with 4-1 Falling Leaves leading gate to wire in the 5-furlong dash with Carlos Montalvo riding in a final time of 57.72. Wenzel and Todaro also took 2nd with Candy Creek and Julien Couton aboard. Chica Tigre ran 3rd under Frank Alvarado and Empire Bella with Kevin Krigger was 4th.
Pay-Outs
7 Falling Leaves (Montalvo) $10.64 $6.42 $3.90
3 Candy Creek (Couton) $8.80 $6.44
2 Chica Tigre (Alvarado) $4.38
$1 Ex 7-3 $42.26
$1 Tri 7-3-2 $282.34
$1 Super 7-3-2-4 $1,227.50
$1 DD 1-7 $13.08
50-cent Pick (3) 2-1-7 $18.78
50-cent Pick (4) 4-2-1-7 $46.82
Race Replay
5th Race
Field of 10 went 6-furlongs and Sir Dreamer at 2-1 ran a perfect stalking trip with David Haldar guiding the 4-year-old gelding to a clear win in a time of 1:09.53. Sawyer’s Speed and Juan Gutierrez broke well from the rail and set all the fractions holding on to 2nd, Locallyworldfamous and Kevin Krigger ran an even 3rd with Reach Higher and Francisco Monroy taking 4th. Sir Dreamer races for Chappell Alpine Farms and trained by Blaine Wright.
Pay-Outs
2 Sir Dreamer (Haldar) $6.38 $3.54 $2.80
1 Sawyer’s Speed (Gutierrez) $9.40 $5.82
5 Locallyworldfamous (Krigger) $3.22
$1 Ex 2-1 $29.10
$1 Tri 2-1-5 $118.76
$1 Super 2-1-5-3 $733.10
$1 DD 7-2 $22.54
50-cent Pick (3) 1-7-2 $28.88
Race Replay
10th Race
It was a huge day for favorites, and it didn’t stop in the finale where 4-5 Miss Double Down cruised to a front running 4 length win. Kevin Krigger extended his consecutive day win streak to 15 with the win over 6-furlongs in 1:11.04. 55-1 Internet Bidder with apprentice Talliyah Timentwa on her 2nd career start getting the place. Burnin at Midnight and Frank Alvarado ran 3rd while Chatty Leroybrown and Francisco Monroy finished 4th, Roman Bronze and David Haldar completed the Super High 5.
Miss Double Down is owned by Little Barn Racing and Randy Pray and trained by Debbie Peery. Miss Double Down is a Washington bred by Slew’s Tiznow out of Dance with Effie by Chihaya Dance and was bred by John Parker.
Pay-Outs
4 Miss Double Down (Krigger) $3.38 $2.78 $2.30
5 Internet Bidder (Timentwa) $34.34 $14.94
7 Burnin At Midnight (Alvarado) $3.38
$1 Ex 4-5 $62.89
$1 Tri 4-5-7 $197.08
$1 Super 4-5-7-9 $586.50
50-cent Super High Five 4-5-7-9-2 $998.52
$1 DD 7-4 $5.32
50-cent Pick (3) 1-7/10-4 $5.22
50-cent Pick (4) 4/8-1/2-7/10-4 $12.13
50-cent Pick (5) 2/7-4/8-1/2-7/10-4 $11.25
20-cent Pick (6) 2-2/7-4/8-1/2-7/10-4 $17.02
Race Replay
Photo Gallery of Super Stakes Day #1
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