6/28/2025
(Auburn, WA) Saturday had a solid 8 race card and a big promotional day with the first Dog Races of the year. The Bulldogs got to run on Saturday after being postponed earlier in the season because of high temperatures. Check out the Emerald Downs Bulldog coverage at the bottom of the page.
Let’s get to our Saturday coverage!
The Numbers
There were 8 races with a total of 56 runners for an average of 7 per race. The bettors didn’t quite get to a million, wagering $992,832. This is an average of $124,104 per race.
Sunday’s card has 8 races as well with 64 entries before any scratches are announced. If those numbers can hold there are some challenging races and shoulod attract a good betting day.
3rd of July and then Recess
Just a reminder racing will resume Thursday, July 3rd for the annual Fireworks Spectacular. But race officials this year have decided to take a short break after July 3rd’s races and won’t return until Friday July 8th. With this new format it is giving trainers a chance to maybe run horses like they would at the end of a race meet knowing they are getting extra time off.
The card for Thursday is 10 races and 86 entries with one 7-horse field before any scratches set to go to celebrate the 4th of July and Emerald Downs’ 30th season. Tickets are on sale for Thursday and there is a point of a sell-out so don’t wait long to get your tickets for Thursday.
Doubling Up
Julien Couton was the only rider to double on Saturday with 6 other riders notching wins. Couton took the 2nd race on Princess Payton for trainer Tom Wenzel and the feature race on Chuckanut Bay for trainer Howie Gibson.
Speaking of doubling up, trainers Howie Gibson and Rigo Velasquez both got their pictures taken twice on Saturday. For Gibson, the wins keep him right in the middle of the trainer’s race tied for 3rd with Tim McCanna. Both with 12 wins and they trail Blaine Wright who leads with 16 and Justin Evans with 15.
Rigo Velasquez’ double were his 1st two wins of the year. He snapped his 0-17 streak in the 1st race with Fortyshadesoftiger winning by a nose with a strong ride from David Haldar. He didn’t have to hold his breath with win #2 as Juan Gutierrez blew out the field by 6 lengths in the 4th race on Solo Un Beso.
The 11-year-old Phenom does it again!
11-year-old Surprsinglyperfect remains perfect at Emerald Downs for 2025. Perfect was the first horse to win 3 races in 2025. Regular rider Kevin Krigger had to work a little harder for his 3rd win of the season holding off stablemate Great King for the neck win running the mile in 1:34.25, the fastest mile time of the season.
Rakoczy Racing and Justin Evans own the 11-year-old Kentucky bred gelding and Evans is the trainer. Rakoczy and Evans claimed Surprisnglyperfect in Mrch of 2024 at Turf Paradise. Evans brought him north last year and the NW agreed with him going 4-1-1 from 7 starts and ran in the Longacres Mile but finished 8th.
Surprisnglyperfect is off to a 3-0 start winning on May 18, June 20 and Evans wheeled him back in 8 days to win again on Saturday.
For the first time, Emerald Downs is taking a mini-break after the 3rd of July until July 11th and some trainers are running back sooner knowing they will have a built in longer break to set up the second half of the season.
Overall, Surprisnglyperfect is 27-16-14 from 95 career starts for a 28% win rate and a 60% top 3 finish. He has a bankroll of just shy of 400k at $399,021.
Fast Times!
There were two new fastest times of the meet set on Saturday. As medntioned above, Surprisnglyperfect clocked the mile in 1:34.25 crushing the 1:35.18 set by Fifty Cinco on June 6th.
The other one was for the 6 1/2-furlongs and Chuckanut Bay sizzled with a 1:14.05 toppiing Moneyshot’s 1:14.55 by a hlaf second. Chuckanut Bay would have beaten the 6-furlong time as well where he went 1:07.58 a hundreth of second over the official top 3/4’s time of 1:07.59 set by Company’s Dream on June 14th.
Let’s get to the Friday Races!
7th Race and Feature Race Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
By Vince Bruun
Chuckanut Bay delivered another awesome performance Saturday at Emerald Downs, taking command into the turn and powering home for a 2 ¼-length victory over Jin Tong in the $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
With Julien Couton at the controls, Chuckanut Bay zipped 6 ½ furlongs in a meet-fastest 1:14.05 and paid $2.96 as the prohibitive choice in a strong field of eight. Howie Gibson is the trainer for Remmah Racing (Dee Hammer, Stanwood, Wash.).
With the victory, Chuckanut Bay joined Surprsinglyperfect as the only three-time winners at the meet.
A 5-year-old Washington-bred by Abraaj out of stakes-winning dam Zenovit, Chuckanut Bay appears to still be improving. He earned Beyers of 89 and 85 in his first two victories this season, both at six furlongs, and might have bettered that Saturday. Moneyshot, with a 1:14.55 had the previous best time this season at 6 ½ furlongs, but Chuckanut Bay shaved two ticks off that while geared down in the final strides by Couton.
Settling just off Hockey Dad after a quarter-mile in :22.21, Chuckanut Bay blitzed to a commanding advantage off the turn after a half in :43.93 and was never threatened through the stretch run.
Stakes-placed twice at Emerald Downs as a 2-year-old, Chuckanut Bay is 8-5-4 in 25 starts with earnings of $149,806.
Jin Tong, ridden by Alex Cruz, closed strongly to finish second, his 10th runner-up finish from 33 starts which includes a string of seven straight seconds last year.
Perfect Dude, apprentice Manuel Americano riding, finished third while rounding out the order of finish were Executive Chef, Hockey Dad, Firewalker, Elder Mack, and Dynamic Secret.
Miss Dynamic was scratched earlier in the day.
Pay-Outs
6 Chuckanut Bay (Couton) $2.96 $2.58 $2.22
3 Jin Tong (Cruz) $5.88 $3.64
1 Perfect Dude (Americano) $3.94
$1 Ex 6-3 $5.35
$1 Tri 6-3-1 $24.00
$1 Super 6-3-1-2 $49.10
$1 DD 2-6 $6.53
50-cent Pick (3) 3-2-6/9 $37.25
Race Replay
The rest of the Saturday’s races.
1st Race
The two favorites battled right to the wire and 5-2 Fortyshadesoftiger got the nose down on the wire first with an aggressive ride by David Haldar to get the win in a final time of 1:36.47 for the mile. Fortyshadesoftiger edged 9-5 West is West and Manny Americano who just missed. 5-2 Golden Affair and Kiaman McGregor was 3rd with 10-1 Just Gotta Shine and Kevin Krigger were 4th.
Fortyshadesoftiger races for Jerald Carmody and is trained by Rigoberto Velasquez. Fortyshadesoftiger is a Washington bred by Smiling Tiger out of Forty Something by Slew’s Saga and was bred by Dr & Mrs Jack Root Jr.
Pay-Outs
1 Fortyshadesoftiger (Haldar) $7.10 $3.84 $2.84
2 West is West (Americano) $4.04 $2.72
3 Golden Affair (McGregor) $2.48
$1 Ex 1-2 $8.96
$1 Tri 1-2-3 $15.54
$1 Super 1-2-3-6 $51.90
Race Replay
2nd Race
5 starters went 6-furlongs in the 2nd and 2-1 Princess Payton got a perfectly timed ride from Julien Couton to run by the 7-1 Sorority Party and Kevin Krigger to win by a length in a final time of 1:10.72. Big Catty with Francisco Monroy closed from last to get 3rd and completing the superfecta was the top choice Stay N Low and Alex Cruz.
Princess Payton races for David Thorner and Tom Wenzel and trained by Wenzel.
Pay-Outs
1 Princess Payton (Couton) $6.84 $3.70 $2.56
6 Sorority Party (Krigger) $6.44 $3.78
4 Big Catty (Monroy) $4.70
$1 Ex 1-6 $19.82
$1 Tri 1-6-4 $71.40
$1 Super 1-6-4-3 $95.70
$1 DD 1-1 $10.87
Race Replay
3rd Race
The 11-year-old wonder Surprisinglyperfect at 3-2 won his 3rd race of the season for Kevin Krigger. He had to work for it today as 5-2 Great King tried to withstand him in deep stretch by lost be a neck. Owhatarush and Silvio Amador ran 3rd and Fifty Cinco and Alex Cruz was 4th. The final time for the mile run was a quick 1:34.25.
Surprisinglyperfect is trained by Justin Evans and owned by Rakoczy Racing and Evans.
Pay-Outs
1 Surprisinglyperfect (Krigger) $5.00 $2.78 $2.10
4 Great King (Americano) $3.24 $2.44
2 Owhatarush (Amador) $2.88
$1 Ex 1-4 $6.50
$1 Tri 1-4-2 $19.74
$1 Super 1-4-2-6 $44.20
$1 DD 1-1 $7.93
50-cent Pick (3) 1-1-1 $13.54
Race Replay
4th Race
Another mile run in the 4th race and 9-5 Solo Un Beso was sent to the lead by Juan Gutierrez and cleared quickly. Guti and Beso set all the fractions of 23.55, 46.87 and 1:10.88 leaving plenty left to finish off the field by 6 lengths in a final time of 1:37.02. Solo Un Beso runs for Rancho Viejo and Lisa Baze and trained by Rigo Velasquez, his 2nd win of the day. Solo Un Beso is Washington bred by Dynamic Impact out of Arlington Getaway by Speightstown and was bred by Bar C Racing Stable.
5-1 Thirsty Nic and Manny Americano ran 2nd, 3-1 Shesayshello took 3rd with Alex Cruz and Belle Weather under Akatsuki Tomita was 4th.
Pay-Outs
1 Solo Un Beso (Gutierrez) $5.60 $3.80 $2.78
4 Thirsty Nic (Americano) $4.04 $3.36
2 Shesayshello (Cruz) $2.96
$1 Ex 1-4 $18.35
$1 Tri 1-4-2 $46.52
$1 Super 1-4-2-3 $254.20
$1 DD 1-1 $12.22
50-cent Pick (3) 1-1-1/8 $14.81
50-cent Pick (4) 1-1-1/8-1 $39.72
Race Replay
5th Race
Pablo Castillo hadn’t won a race since opening day and got his 2nd race on Friday night. Castillo didn’t want to wait that long for his 3rd win and pulled off a perfect ride on 8-1 El Berrinches with a stalking trip in a 3-way photo by a neck. The final time for the 6-furlongs was 1:10.04. El Berrinches races for Maria Valenzuela and Jose Puentes and trained by Puentes.
Just missing by a neck and getting 2nd by a nose was 6-1 Sunny Spot with Carlos Montalvo, 42-1 Right to Sue and Francisco Monroy just missed lighting up the tote board and the favorite Gypsy Gun with Manny Americano ran 4th.
Pay-Outs
3 El Berrinches (Castillo) $19.86 $8.70 $5.90
1 Sunny Spot (Montalvo) $6.92 $4.50
6 Right to Sue (Monroy) $10.98
$1 Ex 3-1 $59.55
$1 Tri 3-1-6 $859.98
$1 Super 3-1-6-7 $5,213.70
$1 DD 1-3 $19.51
50-cent Pick (3) 1-1-3 $45.00
Race Replay
6th Race
In the 6th race, 5-2 3rd favorite Rollin Dice did not crap out blitzing this group of 7 sitting in the cat birds seat behind front runner Code Charlie and Alex Cruz to the top of the stretch. Manny Americano said go and the 4-year-old gelding turned on the jets winning by 4 in a fast 1:08.22. Rollin Dice races for Chad and Josh and is trained by Howie Gibson.
Code Charlie faded to 4th and was passed by 14-1 Awesome Move and Javier Matias to get the place by a head over 9-5 favorite Cross the Causeway and Kevin Krigger.
Pay-Outs
2 Rollin Dice (Americano) $7.44 $4.44 $3.06
3 Awesome Move (Matias) $10.34 $4.60
1 Cross the Causeway (Krigger) $2.44
$1 Ex 2-3 $26.10
$1 Tri 2-3-1 $38.52
$1 Super 2-3-1-4 $295.70
$1 DD 3-2 $37.94
50-cent Pick (3) 1/8-3-2 $73.32
50-cent Pick (4) 1/3-1/8-3-2 $156.01
Race Replay
8th Race
Alex Cruz sat behind the front speed with Lady Mormont then angled out the top of the stretch and ran by 8-5 favorite Lotsa Salita to win by more than 2 lengths in a final time of 1:11.28 for the 6-furlongs. Lady Mormont is trained by Sam Dronen and owned by Carol Dronen. Lady Mormont is a Washington bred by Dontmesswithkitten out of Unbroken Code by Wilburn and was bred by Steve Meredith.
Lotsa Solikta held on by a nose for 2nd over 8-1 Cantputapriceonfun with Kevin Orozco. 34-1 Beverly T and Chel-c Bailey closed well to be 4th and completing the Super High 5 was 5-1 Lovely Story and Kevin Krigger.
Pay-Outs
4 Lady Mormant (Cruz) $10.66 $3.96 $2.76
9 Lotsa Salita (Americano) $3.16 $2.54
10 Cantputapriceonfun (Orozco) $4.50
$1 Ex 4-9 $15.57
$1 Tri 4-9-10 $132.36
$1 Super 4-9-10-7 $1,248.70
50-cent Super High Five 4-9-10-7-1 no winner carryover $1,880
$1 DD 6-4 $9.28 Consolation 6-2 $1.51
50-cent Pick (3) 2-6/9-4 $20.78
50-cent Pick (4) 3-2-6/9-4 $174.56
50-cent Pick (5) 1/8-3-2-6/9-4 (5 correct) $568.75
20-cent Pick (6) 1/3-1/8-3-2-6/9-4 (6 correct) $368.17
Race Replay
2025 Bulldogs Races!
Coverage by Vince Bruun
AUBURN, WA – The skies cleared at Emerald Downs and Bulldog Races were a go this Saturday afternoon.
The English Bulldog Championship race was won by Penelope of the House Hippo as he led at the halfway mark and held on narrowly to defeat the 2024 winner Sir Nigel Pedington of Snohomish. The winner is owned by Erin Christ & Matthew Rahkonen and their from Seattle.
Warren Antonelli from Port Orchard was victorious in the French Bulldog Championship The winning bulldog is owned by Deena & Jeremey Gelsleichter. Over 40 bulldog owners ventured out to run in the annual races.
HEAT WINNERS
English – Sir Nigel Pedington, Kimberly Houghton, Snohomish; Scuttlebutt, Valerie Pagel, Marysville; Boo, Aron Cowin, Lakewood.
French – Warren Antonelli, Deena & Jeremey Gelsleichter, Port Orchard, ; Rocket, Sarah Savage-Ritchey, Auburn; Rose, Jennifer Strong, Tacoma.
