7/13/2025

(Auburn, Wa) We’re officially in the 2nd half of the season and why not begin it with Corgi Day. We’ll have full Corgi coverage on a separate post with video results, video clips and huge photo gallery and should be posted on Tuesday.

The equine racing was outstanding as well. 9 races and good fields led to competitive racing. Let’s get to Sunday’s races, news and notes.

The Numbers

There were 72 runners entered which would have averaged 8+ runners per race for all 3 days this weekend. But that meant there could be no scratches and there was one in the 1st race that dropped the total number to 71 for a 7.9 starters per race. For the weekend it averaged 8 so that remains a huge part in the field size and nearly 50% increase in handle.

Speaking of handle, there was a large crowd on a crisp Sunday afternoon and with the Corgi’s racing, it didn’t distract bettors from going to the windows as they wagered nearly 2-million on just 9 races. The total was $1,999,189 for an average of $222,132 per race. That’s a high for the season.

Krigger Heats Up Again!

After winning races for 17 straight days, Kevin Krigger ran into a bit of a mid-season slump. After the mini-break after the July 3rd Fireworks Krigger is burning as hot as those skyrockets blistering the track with 8 wins this weekend, the most by a single rider for a 3-day stretch.

It wasn’t looking good beginning the week on Friday where he was still winless going into the last race when he scored on the Friday night finale. Krigger came right back on Satgurday with a triple. Then on Sunday he began with a win in the 2nd aboard Saint Benji in the 2-year-old race. He scored again in the 5th on Grazed N’ Confused and tripled again with Halfway to Nowhere in the 7th. 

Krigger completed his big day with a 4th win in the 9th and final race with a front running win on Fast Chaz. Krigger joins Manny Americano and Alex Cruz who both have had 4 win days this season with Amricano doing it twice.

Krigger re-took the lead in the jockey standings after falling behind Manny Americano took a 39-35 lead after Friday night. Krigger added 7 more wins over the next 2 days for 42 wins while Americano was shut out and is at 39. Alex Cruz is in 3rd place with 23 wins.

Frank Alvarado was the other multiple winner on Sunday with his first double at Emerald taking the 4th race on Prancin Lady and the 6th race with Brother O’Brien. Adrian Castellanos is getting this track figured out after scoring his first two wins over the Auburn oval on Saturday added a 3rd win in his 20 rides so far on Sunday. Other winners included Julien Couton and Alex Cruz.

We had a chance to chat with Kevin Krigger after his 4th win about his blazing 1st half of the season and this is a pretty good way to kick-off the 2nd half with 8 winners.

ESN talks with Kevin Krigger

Evans surges past Wright

In the trainers race Justin Evans, the 2-time defending champ, edged back into 1st place as the only trainer to double on Sunday. Evans sent out Saint Benji in the 2nd and won the 9th with Fast Chaz to push his win total 18, re-taking the lead to Blaine Wright’s 17. 

Jorge Rosales remains hot adding another win on Sunday in the 1st with Bango’s Heat. That’s 4 wins on the weekend and pushes him up the standings to 3rd with 16 wins. Frank Lucarelli and Tim McCanna both picked up wins on Sunday. The leaders are Evans with 18, Wright 17, Rosales 16, McCanna 15, Howie Gibson 14 and Lucarelli 13.

 Jaymie Cruz won her 2nd race of the season in the feature with Rich Gold. Jamey Thomas had been knocking on the door but his 2nd Auburn win with Halfway to Nowhere in the 7th and Serjio Garcia got his 5th win taking the 3rd race with Chatty Leroybrown.

The final trainer not only got her 1st win as a trainer this season but this was Jacqui Navarre’s 1st win of her career. She saddled Prancin Lady in the 4th. She also won for herself as the sole owner. Great start for Jacqui!!

Let’s get to the Sunday Races!

8th Race and Feature Race Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse

By Vince Bruun
Rich Gold nosed out Smiling Goodbye in a driving finish in Sunday’s featured Explore Auburn Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

With Alex Cruz riding, Rich Gold ran one mile and 70 yards in 1:40.17 and paid $10.68 as second choice in the wagering. Jaymie Pearman Cruz, wife of the jockey, is the winning trainer and co-owner with Mark Freeman.

A 5-year-old by Bolt d’Oro, Rich Gold won five races last year and has a knack for a mile and 70 yards, compiling a 3-1-1 mark in six career starts at the distance. His overall mark improved to 8-7-2 in 34 starts with earnings of $121,040, and includes victories wins at Del Mar, Santa Rosa, Pleasanton, Golden Gate, Fresno, and Emerald Downs. Rich Mommy, dam of Rich Gold, was a Grade 3 winner at Gulfstream Park.

Smiling Goodbye, the 6 to 5 favorite ridden by Manuel Americano, dug in gamely through the lane to just miss the victory, while Chief Wild Eagle edged Mangia Pane for third place. Rounding out the full order of finish were I’m Noble, Quality Cat, Beau Mischief, and Mashhad Flats.

Pay-Outs
5 Rich Gold (Cruz)  $10.68  $4.28  $3.14
1 Smiling Goodbye (Americano)  $3.18  $2.52
4 Chief Wild Eagle (Alvarado)  $3.60
$1 Ex 5-1 $14.35
$1 Tri 5-1-4 $104.64
$1 Super 5-1-4-2 $327.90
$1 DD 3-5 $23.80
50-cent Pick (3) 7-3-5 $77.86

ESN Talks with Alex Cruz after his Feature Race Win

Race Replay

The rest of the Sunday’s races.

1st Race

Bango’s Heat ran a perfect stalking trip and hugged the rail to pull away for a comfortable giving jockey Adrian Castellanos his 3rd win in 2 days running the 6-furlongs in 1:10.48. Bango’s Heat races for Ramon Charvarria-Delgado, Kevin Chavarria and Rosales Racing F1 and trained by Jorge Rosales.

Sorority Party and Kevin Krigger ran 2nd, up for the show was Dancing Matilda and Alex Cruz with favorite Pineapple Cruise and Kiaman McGregor finishing 4th.

Pay-Outs
2 Bango’s Heat (Castellanos)  $8.12  $4.585  $3.08
5 Sorority Party (Krigger)  $5.90  $3.44
7 Prancing Matilda (Cruz)  $3.30
$1 Ex 2-5 $26.31
$1 Tri 2-5-7 $87.52
$1 Super 2-5-7-4 $114.80

Race Replay

2nd Race

8 2-year-old colts and geldings went 5-furlongs and Saint Benji ran like a seasoned pro stalking the front speed circling up on the outside and pulling away for the win under an expertly ridden trip by Kevin Krigger. Saint Benji races for Ty Leatherman and Austin Evans and trained by Justin Evans with a final time of 58.36. Saint Benji is a Washington bred by Lea out of Saint Lo by Declaration of War and was bred by Marcie Mae Nunn. 

Tapbyangels with pilot Carlos Montalvo ran a solid 2nd, Wreckless Rhett and David Haldar took 3rd and Surf Ranger with Manny Americano completed the superfecta.

Pay-Outs
7 Saint Benji (Krigger)  $6.86  $3.70  $2.98
5 Tapby Angels (Montalvo)  $4.30  $3.06
3 Wreckless Rhett (Haldar)  $4.70
$1 Ex 7-5 $11.44
$1 Tri 7-5-3 $67.36
$1 Super 7-5-3-2 $227.90
$1 DD 2-7 $12.02

Race Replay

3rd Race

The 1st 2-turn race of the day and the runners came from off the pace. Favorite Nephele with Frank Alvarado up got 1st run and looked to be a winning one until Julien Couton let go with C/hatty Leroybrown’s burst around the far turn and sustained it down the middle of the stretch for an easy win in a final time of 1:38.80. Chatty Leroybrown races for Hector Ramiro Precaido and trained by Serjio Garcia.

Nephele held 2nd while Coconut Dreams had an improved effort taking 3rd under Francisco Duran while Burnin At Midnight and Manny Americano settled for 4th.

Pay-Outs
8 Chatty Leroybrown (Couton)  $11.44  $4.34  $3.44
4 Nephele (Alvarado)  $3.40  $2.68
2 Coconut Dreams (Duran)  $4.44
$1 Ex 8-4 $16.68
$1 Tri 8-4-2 $86.32
$1 Super  8-4-2-1 $126.40
$1 DD  7-8 $24.79
50-cent Pick (3) 2-7-7 $37.20

Race Replay

4th Race

9-5 Prancin Lady sat 2nd down the backstretch of this 6-furlong sprint chasing the pacesetter Company Girl and Francisco Diaz-Lopez at 47-1. Halfway around the turn jockey Frank Alvarado let Prancin Lady go and pulled away to a 3 1/2-length lead at the top of the stretch. That move was a winning one holding off closer Fine By Me and Francisco Monroy to win by a length in a final time of 1:10.36 for the 6-furlongs. Prancin Lady is owned and trained by Jacqui Navarre for her 1st career win as a trainer.

Delayed Not Denied and Manny Americano were a clear 3rd while Company Girl held on for 4th to complete the superfecta.

Pay-Outs
3 Prancin Lady (Alvarado)  $5.86  $3.10  $2.40
5 Fine By Me (Monroy)  $3.30  $2.40
4 Delayed Not Denied (Americano)  $3.58
$1 Ex 3-5 $6.73
$1 Tri 3-5-4 $25.74
$1 Super 3-5-4-9 $777.90
$1 DD 8-3 $24.89
50-cent Pick (3) 7-8-3 $53.97
50-cent Pick (4) 2-7-8-3 $154.69

Race Replay

5th Race

Grazed and Confused the 5-2 2nd choice broke well from the 1 hole and went straight to the lead joined by 11-1 Shady Harbor on the front end setting fractions of 22.19 and 45.45. Turning for home several contenders came to challenge Grazed N Confused including 8-5 favorite Ethan’s Girl as Silvio Amador released the brakes but Krigger had plenty in the tank to put them away with a clear win. Ethan’s Girl was 2nd, Shesayshello with Alex Cruz was 3rd and finishing 4th wsas Shady Harbor and Manny Americano.

Grazed N’ Confused is a Washington bred by Grazen out of Dixie Dreamin by Dixieland Band and was bred by Mr and Mrs William T Griffen.

Claimed: Grazed N’ Confused goes to Ramon Chavarria-Delgado, Kevin Chavarria and Rosales Racing F1. Jorge Rosales will train. Claiming price was $5,000.  

Pay-Outs
1 Grazed N’ Confused (Krigger) $7.40  $3.82  $2.76
2 Ethan’s Girl (Amador)  $3.18  $2.52
6 Shesayshello (Cruz)  $2.76
$1 Ex 1-2 $9.80
$1 Tri 1-2-6 $25.02
$1 Super 1-2-6-4 $159.80
$1 DD 3-1 $16.19
50-cent Pick (3) 8-3-1 $43.52

Race Replay

6th Race

The 7 older horses went a mile and 70 yards and 7-2 Club Mesquite with Silvio Amador made the 1st move at the quarter pole and drew off to a 3 length lead at the top of the stretch trying to steal it at that moment but it wasn’t enough. A couple of closers were able to cut the corner with Cross the Causeway and Alex Cruz overtaking Club Mesquite at the 16th pole but Brother O’Brien was launched along the rail by Frank Alvarado and rolled up on the inside of Causeway to get the win in the final 20 yards. Brother O’Brien races for Pat LePley and Tim McCanna and trained by McCanna.

Cross the Causeway was 2nd, Club Mesquite held 3rd with Shaun’s Jazz getting up for 4th under Adrian Castellanos.

Claimed: There were 3 claims all for $8,000
Club Mesquite was tagged by Remmah Racing for trainer Howie Gibson.
Naval Escort goes to trainer Charlie Essex for owner Michael Stark.
Cross the Causeway will cross to a new barn of Frank Lucarelli for owner John Lindley.

Pay-Outs
 7 Brother O’Brien (Alvarado)  $8.02  $4.72  $3.06
5 Cross the Causeway (Cruz)  $3.70  $2.86
3 Club Mesquite (Amador)  $2.96
$1 Ex 7-5 $13.30
$1 Tri 7-5-3 $50.84
$1 Super 7-5-3-1 $299.00
$1 DD 1-7 $15.92
50-cent Pick (3)  3-1-7 $42.19
50-cent Pick (4)  8-3-1-7 $263.51

Race Replay

9th Race

In the finale 9 older horses went 6 1/2-furlongs with a pace setting win by Kevin Krigger aboard Fast Chaz for his 4th win of the day. Krigger set fractions of 22.63 and 45.40 while being pressured by 85-1 Rimrock Lake and Chel-c Bailey. At the 1/8th pole Rimrock Lake was tiring but did hold on to 5th to complete the Super High five. 

Fast Chaz began to get separation and had to hold off the late challenges from Gypsy Gun at 11-1 with Adrian Castellanos who finished 2nd and odds on choice Precedent Luke and Manny Americano who took 3rd. 8-1 Nation of Faith was 4th with Kiaman McGregor up.

Fast Chaz is owned by Rakoczy Racing, Wonderland Racing Stables and Justin Evans and trained by Evans.

Claimed: 2 claims for $2,500 each in this race.
Anna’s Iron Man was taken by Luanne Bean and Three Quarter Ranch and goes to trainr Bob Bean.
Fast Chaz was red tagged by trainer Jose Puentes for new owners Hon Cheung Kum and Luciano Madina.

Pay-Outs
3 Fast Chaz (Krigger)  $8.06  $4.70  $3.16
2 Gypsy Gun (Castellanos)  $8.62  $4.08
8 Precedent Luke (Americano)  $2.18
$1 Ex 3-2 $31.90
$1 Tri  3-2-8 $71.02
$1 Super 3-2-8-5 $217.30
50-cent Super High Five 3-2-8-5-6 $906.49
$1 DD 5-3 $17.04
50-cent Pick (3) 3-5-3 $53.50
50-cent Pick (4) 7-3-5-3 $322.52
50-cent Pick (5) 1-7-3-5-3 $1,494.97
20-cent Pick (6) 3-1-7-3-5-3 $1,583.20  Carryover $4,931

Race Replay

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