Emerald Downs Thursday: Fireworks on the Track and in the Sky!

7/3/2025

(Auburn, Wa) Thursday night was the annual 3rd of July Fireworks spectacular and a massive crowd turned out as usual. The Fireworks were first set off on the track with 10 races, big fields and big pays!

Leading off was 15-1 Cheering for Layla with a $33.98 $2 win, a 103-1 pay-off on the $1 exacta and a $1,400+ $1 superfecta. In the 5th there was a $500+ $1 trifecta and a $2,350 $1 superfecta but we were just warming up.

How about a $733 trifecta in the 8th or more than $1,400 on the $1 bet or a new high superfecta pay for the season of $2,354.29 for the 10-cent bet! Yes a dime! Or had you bet the $1 superfecta nof 7-1-2-6 you took home $23,542.90!

Let’s finish it off with another single winner of the 20-cent pick 6 but there was no carryover so it was good for $4,878. The 50-cent pick 5 had chances of a 50k winner, a couple of 25k a few more 10k and the low pay of about $2,000. But the 2-5 favorite got beat and if you had 9-1 Guard Your Spot in the final leg you took home $10,109.26.

At the end of the day a total of $2,053,885 were bet on the 10-race card. This doubles the number of 2-million+ handle days from last year when the only time to top that mark was on Longacres Mile day.

Sad to Happy just a wide range of emotions on this day

Bonnie Jenne winning the Irish Day Stakes in 2022

There were a couple of deeply emotional moments as well, beginning with the Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial purse in the 3rd race and Doug McPhee returning to the training ranks also related to the recent passing of beloved trainer Bonnie Jenne. More on those below.

The night was completed with another outstanding Fireworks display, an on your face and feels like you’re literally under the bursts overhead. It’s a great show from a distance but up close it’s SPECTACULAR!! Check out the Grand finale and some pictures at the bottom of this story.

The Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial Purse

The 3rd race was named the Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial Purse. The Jenne’s have been an important piece of Northwest racing for decades. Wally passed in 2020 from complications with covid and Bonnie passed last week after a battle with lymphoma cancer. We’ll have a much larger “Spotlight” story coming out next week.

This race was for the hundreds of folks mourning the loss of Bonnie who was everyone’s friend, always had a big smile and at the same time could compete with the best of them in the Northwest. The Jenne’s were the epitome of what and how a smaller barn works and can be super successful in this very difficult game.

In the race itself, 5-2 Always On Cay and Alex Cruz came from just off the pace to win by 1 1/2 lengths. When the owners, Lusk Racing and trainer Vince Gibson came to the winner’s circle for the picture they were wondering how are we going to do this as it was packed with friends and loved ones of the Jenne’s.

Track Photographer Reid Palmer had everyone go onto the track because there was no room in the winner’s circle. He had to stand on a platform to get the perfect picture.

We talked with owner Gary Lusk after the race and he was of course excited to win but just in awe of the turnout and couldn’t have been more proud to win the Jenne Memorial. Lusk said, “I only knew Bonnie casually and she was always so nice and smiling, it is a big loss without her so winning this race is pretty special and we couldn’t be more honored.”

There were a lot of tears, smiles and hugs. Bonnie and Wally’s daughter Kandie Jennings was there and she was more than touched by the turnout and the love for both of her parents. Jennings said, I just can’t believe the amount of people here tonight and over the last week who have reached out to me with such kind things to say. It’s overwhelming and very much appreciated.”

The Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial Purse an annual tradition?

Kandie Jennings was extremely thankful to Emerald Downs for making this Memorial race happen on July 3rd. Jennings says that her dad was such a huge fan of Fireworks and the celebration that July 3rd would be the best day for a Memorial purse.

Jennings wanted to thank Kathy Coffey and Emerald President Phil Ziegler for making this happen on such a late notice. She says, this day was a great day for her folks and to be part of it this year is something she will never forget.

With that in mind the thought was can the Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial purse be an annual event? The idea is to keep it as the 3rd race on July 3rd. Additionally, there would be an ask to raise some money in their name that could go directly to help pay for the free dinner provided to the backside on July 3rd.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done to get the horses prepared for the Fireworks show. Or the raised money could go to the Chaplaincy or other services that directly help all those day-to-day workers behind the scenes in the barns that make this sport happen.

Owner Gary Lusk has already committed to pitch in and says, “if I put up the entire $1,000 goal each year then we’ll make it happen. Hopefully, we can raise a few more dollars and really help a lot of these folks who care for our horses and make sure they are safe and sound. I think the Jenne’s are the perfect choice to represent the Northwest horsemen and women and I’d be honored to be a part of making this happen.”

We had some preliminary talks with track officials and it was met with enthusiasm but details will need to be worked out and when we can put it all toghether we’ll post an official announcement and how folks can contribute.

Jenne gets one last win!

The Jenne story doesn’t end with the 3rd race. It comes full circle in the 10th. When Jenne passed she did have a small stable of less than 15 horses and different owners. The majority of the horses were owned by The Q Stable which are John and Nancy McPhee, the Friendship Stable was Bonnie and Craig Frederickson. The Friendship Stable is now Bonnie’s daughter Kandi Jennings.

Jenne had a few other owners including Frank McDonald and the Club Lucky Racing stable. Since Jenne got sick and could not come to the barn on a daily basis, John McPhee stepped in to run the day-to-day operations.

McPhee is a former trainer who trained from 1978 to 1991 and then again in 1996 but since then he has not been a regular trainer. So, McPhee had the experience to handle the barn although he admittedly said he was a little rusty.

Since Jenne passed, the owners had decisions to make and who they want to train their horses. Club Lucky went with Debbie Peery and McDonald looks like he is connecting with Vince Gibson, although we have not confirmed that.

The McPhee’s, Jennings and Frederickson then discussed what they wanted to do and the McPhee’s who also owned several on their own that Jenne trained decided they wanted to go a different direction than Jennings and Frederickson.

The group got together and they worked out who gets which horses and came away with an agreement that satisfied all 3 parties. Jennings under the Friendship Stable will continue to partner with Frederickson and will have Debbie Peery handle their horses.

Peery had worked for Jenne prior to getting her trainers license and Jenne had recommended Peery to her owners. Jennings told us, “Mom was super protective of all the horses in her care and she had a certain way she wanted things done. Debbie has a very similar approach and Mom trusts Debbie to do it like she did. For me, this was an easy decision and I am thrilled Craig wants to continue with me.”

Frederickson, who calls Jennings his lost sister, said, “it was a no brainer for me. If Bonnie said this is who she recommends then I’m not going to second guess her advice.”

The McPhee’s had a different thought and wanted to take a different path. Frederickson was quick to say,”I 100% understand John and Nancy’s position. John is a former successful trainer and they want to be sure of what they want to do in the future. They have the luxury of being able to do that. I have never trained a horse in my life and Kandie has run and owned an extremely successful automotive shop for more than 30 years in West Seattle. We are not in the same position as John and Nancy. So, yes we absolutley support their decision.”

McPhee hasn’t lost his touch!

Last night in the final race Guard Your Spot owned by the McPhee’s and McPhee was listed as the official trainer for the 1st time since 1996. Silvio Amador was aboard and went to the front and turning for home opened up by 5 lengths and won by nearly 6 in an emotional win for Amador.

When John McPhee and his wife came to the winner’s circle they were overcome by emotion knowing what the win meant to them, to Kandie and Craig because it was Bonnie’s horse and she won the last race on the day they were honored and memorialized.

We talked with McPhee who is very reserved and was trying to take in the entire moment and it was overwhelming. So overwhelming when track photographer Reid Palmer asked him how many pictures he wanted Mcphee said, I seriously don’t know! 6?! Really I don’t know and Palmer smiled, how about 5 and a free one?” Perfect, thank-you” said McPhee.

He turned back to me and smiled and said, “seriously I haven’t had to think about these things in nearly 30 years, Bonnie always took care of it”.

When asked the obvious question of what this win meant to him and his wife? With tears in his eyes, he just said, “look around, I don’t have words.”

This group has been through so much in such a short amount of time you can understand trying to understand the moment. They will be processing this for days and weeks to come.

Amador and Gutierrez also struck by the moment

Jockey’s Juan Gutierrez and Silvio Amador had been two of the barn’s top riders. Bonnie and Juan grew especially close to the point Bonnie introduced Juan to his wife, Stephanie. Juan was in the winner’s circle picture of the Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial purse holding the silks of the Friendship stable.

Amador has been working for Bonnie ever since arriving in the NW a few years ago and arrived early this season and also grew close to not only Bonnie but all the owners.

Amador was extremely emotional, winning the final race on Guard Your Spot for what it represented. Amador said, “this was Bonnie’s horse and now she’s John’s horse. I just had to win, there was no other option.”

We talked with Silvio after the race and he asked if his wife Adrianna could help. English is a second language for Amador and although he regularly speaks english when we talk with him and he does so very well he wanted to answer in spanish because he did not want to say it wrong. He was so overcome by emotion he wanted to make sure what he said was exactly what he meant.

We were more than happy to give him the platform he needed at this time. Amador is a very accomplished rider and in fact won 2 stakes races on the 22nd and many others in his career. Yet, he called this win, “the most important win of my career.” That’s a little slice of why this was such an emotional moment. Here is our interview with Silvio Amador with help from his wife Adrianna.

It was the perfect end to a great evening of racing.

Let’s get to the July 3rd Races!

9th Race and Feature Race Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse

The feature race on Fireworks night was a field of 9 going 6-furlongs with Fun Money going off as the betting choice at 3-2 odds. Fun Money broke clean and Kevin Krigger urged her to the lead where the fleet footed mare set some blistering fractions of 21.24 and 43.86.

Fun Money was hassled along the inside Chalkoneupformom and Silvio Amador encouraging that pace but today the front speed has not held on for the most part and as they straitened away at the top of the stretch closer LaPush at 8-1 began to roll. Jockey Julien Couton knew they were blazing away on the front end and stayed patient making his move on the far turn.

At the 1/8th pole LaPush was in high gear chewing up ground and the early pace took it’s toll on the front runners. Couton could feel LaPush surge and get by the tiring Fun Money to get the win. 17-1 Hannahaza Hetty with Alex Cruz also had a strong run down the stretch nearly catching Fun Money for the place but settling for 3rd and Chalkoneupformom did well to hang in for 4th.

We talked with Couton who said this filly got a solid run in already this year and was ready to close the deal. “She is relentless when she gets clear and after we worked away around the traffic she was ready to fire.” “I knew the pace was going to be fast and just had to have the patience to wait and trust LaPush when I asked her and she came through with a big run.”

LaPush stopped the clock in a final time of 1:09.32 . The 4-year-old filly races for James Carlin and trained by Tom Wenzel. LaPush is now 5-0-1 from 9 lifetime starts and earned $14,250 to push her career earnings to $91,200.

Pay-Outs
8 LaPush (Couton) $18.58 $6.56 $4.94
9 Fun Money (Krigger) $3.32 $2.96
7 Hannahaza Hetty (Cruz) $6.06
$1 Ex 8-9 $23.02
$1 Tri 8-9-7 $303.46
$1 Super 8-9-7-1 $2,477.20
$1 DD 7-8 $85.53
50-cent Pick (3) 2-7-8 $288.15

Race Replay

The rest of the Thursday’s races.

1st Race

A field of 8 went 6 furlongs and the top 2 favorites Always a Diva and Clubhouse Drama caused their own drama ripping off fractions of 21.65 and 44.96 and would cost them both with neither hitting the board. This opened the door for the closers and ended in a 3 horse blanket finish with 15-1 Cheering for Layla getting her nose down 1st with an aggressive ride from Manny Americano. Cheering for Layla races for Amy Hobson and is trained by Simon Hobson.

Just missing was Max’s Maxine with Silvio Amador and between the two a head back was Smoocherro under Kevin Orozco while Toodle Loo and Alex Cruz was 4th.

Pay-Outs
2 Cheering for Layla (Americano) $33.98 $12.70 $6.66
7 Max’s Maxine (Amador) $9.28 $5.16
3 Smoocherro (Orozco) $4.28
$1 Ex 2-7 $104.53
$1 Tri 2-7-3 $417.52
$1 Super 2-7-3-1 $1,488.40

Race Replay

2nd Race

The betting public ignored the 2nd leading Manny Americano in the 1st race when he won on a 15-1 shot. They did not make the same mistake in the 2nd betting It’s Saul Right down to odds-on at 3-5. Saul and Americano rolled to their 3rd straight win on the year running the mile in 1:38.32. It’s Saul Right is owned by Leesly Villegas-Morales and trained by Jorge Rosales.

32-1 Infinite Love with Adrian Castellanos in his first race at Emerald Downs ran on well to finish 2nd, Turiaf and Silvio Amador finished 3rd and Can’thelpfallin was 4th with Carlos Montalvo.

Pay-Outs
1 It’s Saul Right (Americano) $3.48 $2.76 $2.10
5 Infinite Love (Castellanos) $12.24 $5.12
3 Turiaf (Amador) $2.40
$1 Ex 1-5 $20.33
$1 Tri 1-5-3 $50.66
$1 Super 1-5-3-2 $380.40
$1 DD 2-1 $37.29

Race Replay

3rd Race

The Bonnie and Wally Jenne Memorial purse (see story above) was won by Always On Cay with a nicely timed ride by Alex Cruz pulling away for the win running the 6 1/2-furlongs in 1:16.09. Always On Cay races for Lusk Racing and trained by Howie Gibson.

Dennard ran well to pick up 2nd with Manny Americano up, Travel the Map and Kevin Krigger finished 3rd nand completing the superfecta was Long Lance under Silvio Amador.

Pay-Outs
5 Always On Cay (Cruz) $7.48 $3.66 $3.04
1 Dennard (Americano) $6.18 $3.40
2 Travel the Map (Krigger) $3.52
$1 Ex 5-1 $21.30
$1 Tri 5-1-2 $82.38
$1 Super 5-1-2-6 $425.30
$1 DD 1-5 $7.12
50-cent Pick (3) 2-1-5 $69.20

Race Replay

4th Race

7 ran 6-furlongs in the 4th race and 2-1 favorite Autism Inspiration stalked the early leaders with a patient ride from David Haldar. Haldar and A-I pounced about the quarter pole and pulled away holding a closing Rebel Gal and Kevin Krigger at a safe distance. Silent Beauty and Carlos Montalvo ran a solid 3rd with Her Blind Side and Manny Americano taking 4th.

Autism Inspiration is owned by Gary and Maureen Hallett and John and Tina Hoefert and trained by Vince Gibson.

Pay-Outs
6 Autism Inspiration (Haldar) $6.06 $5.16 $3.30
8 Rebel Gal (Krigger) $3.48 $3.14
5 Silent Beauty (Montalvo) $4.48
$1 Ex 6-8 $16.11
$1 Tri 6-8-5 $40.54
$1 Super 6-8-5-3 $303.90
$1 DD 5-6 $20.35
50-cent Pick (3)1-5-6 $16.21
50-cent Pick (4) 2-1-5-1/6 $296.80

Race Replay

5th Race

11 maidens went 6-furlongs and way on the outside Five Twenty Sunset closed with a rush to catch 7-2 2nd choice Empire Warrior with a perfectly timed run from Aktsuki Tomita finishing in 1:10.39. Empire Warrior and Manny Americano set brisk fractions of 21.88 and 44.95 but did hold off another closer Lucky’s Loaded and David Haldar. Favorite Code Breaker and Frank Alvarado took 4th.

Five Twenty Sunset is owned by Rage #2939 or Terre Firma Farm and trained by Joe Toye. Five Twenty Sunset is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Crafty Dive by Crafty Prospector and was bred by Jean Welch.

Pay-Outs
12 Five Twenty Sunset (Tomita) $19.32 $8.40 $5.00
2 Empire Warrior (Amricano) $4.62 $3.44
6 Lucky’s Loaded (Haldar) $10.04
$1 Ex 12-2 $45.11
$1 Tri 12-2-6 $538.10
$1 Super 12-2-6-1 $2,353.40
$1 DD 6-12 $43.42
50-cent Pick (3) 5-6-12 $85.80

Race Replay

6th Race

Another off the pace runner caught em all with a great over the top ride from Alex Cruz on I’m Telling Mom. The 4-year-old Washington bred filly covered the 6 1/2-furlongs in a quick 1:15.44. I’m Telling Mom by Tale of Ekati out of Great Mom by Pioneer of the Nile was bred by Connie Belshay. She’s owned by Rage ‘n Rydrx and trained by Joe Toye.

Simply Gracious with David Haldar ran on to be 2nd while longshot Harney Lane made a big run for 3rd with Silvio Amador and Annie Fox under Carlos Montalvo got up for 4th.

Pay-Outs
4 I’m Telling Mom (Cruz) $6.10 $3.44 $2.92
3 Simply Gracious (Haldar) $4.66 $3.54
6 Harney Lane (Amador) $5.34
$1 Ex 4-3 $14.41
$1 Tri 4-3-6 $137.24
$1 Super 4-3-6-1 $565.60
$1 DD 12-4 $26.24
50-cent Pick (3) 6-12-4 $92.34

Race Replay

7th Race

The place to be on Fireworks day was in a stalking position this time Precedent Luke and Manny Americano sat just behind a decent pace set by Roper and Adrian Castellanos with one of the slower quarters of the day at 22.12. It still wasn’t an easy enough pace to deny Precedent Luke in a final time on the quick side of 1:08.95. Light The Beam and Javier Matias was a clear 3rd with Getemdusty and Alex Cruz running 4th.

Precedent Luke is owned by Kim S Tsang and Serjio Garcia and trained by Garcia.

Pay-Outs
2 Precedent Luke (Americano) $8.42 $4.34 $2.82
4 Roper (Castellanos) $4.20 $2.92
8 Light the Beam (Matias) $2.78
$1 Ex 2-4 $15.26
$1 Tri 2-4-8 $42.10
$1 Super 2-4-8-1 $125.00
$1 DD 4-2 $10.52
50-cent Pick (3) 12-4-2 $82.29
50-cent Pick (4) 1/6-12-4-2 $394.61

Race Replay

8th Race

9 went 6-furlongs and 6-1 Cocktail Princess was pushed out first by Kiaman McGregor who set a reasonable pace. Turning for home McGregor shook off the 1st runs but had to hold off a hard charging Step-up at 14-1 with Kevin Orozco. Cocktail Princess had enough left to get to the winner’s circle. 13-1 Emerald Sea and Carlos Montalvo made a nice last to 3rd run with 15-1 Ms Flashy Harbor and Alex Cruz completing a now season high 10-cent superfecta pay more than $2,300 on the dime bet.

Cocktail Princess stopped the clock in 1:09.87 and races for Omar Rodriguez and is trained by Candelario Villamar.

Pay-Outs
7 Cocktail Princess (McGregor) $14.12 $7.32 $7.06
1 Stepup (Orozco) $13.94 $11.34
2 Emerald Sea (Montalvo) $7.66
$1 Ex 7-1 $210.67
$1 Tri 7-1-2 $1,467.90
$1 Super 7-1-2-6 $23,542.90
$1 DD 2-7 $45.83
50-cent Pick (3) 4-2-7 $73.35

Race Replay

10th Race

The finale was all about the front speed and Guard Your Spot with Silvio Amador broke clean from the 1 hole and quickly extended their lead down the backstretch in this 6 1/2-furlong run to wrap up the July 3rd 10-race card. The duo would simply not stop and won easily in a final time of 1:16. Guard Your Spot is owned by the Q Stable and trained by John McPhee. (more on this story above.) Guard Your Spot is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Find Your Spot by Nationhood and was bred by Mr and Mrs Frederick Pabst.

Canterbury Lane and Kevin Krigger ran 2nd, Pearl Blue with a good run to get 3rd for Manny Americano, Empirical under Francisco Monroy was 4th while Bella Ciao Ciao finished 5th to complete the Super High 5.

Pay-Outs
1 Guard Your Spot (Amador) $20.12 $4.04 $2.72
4 Canterbury Lane (Krigger) $2.30 $2.18
5 Pearl Blue (Americano) $3.66
$1 Ex 1-4 $19.00
$1 Tri 1-4-5 $101.86
$1 Super 1-4-5-8 $307.40
50-cent Super High Five 1-4-5-8-6 $$752.95
$1 DD 8-1 $80.97
50-cent Pick (3) 7-8-1 $590.33
50-cent Pick (4) 2-7-8-1 (4 of 4) $1,645.77
50-cent Pick (5) 2/4-2-7-8-1 (5 of 5) $10,109.236
20-cent Pick (6) 12-2/4-2-7-8-1 (6 of 6) $4,878.77

Race Replay

Was not available at the time of this publication.