7/26/2025
(Auburn, WA) Friday night racing featured 7 races with 7 well matched runners in the featured race, the Muckelshoot Casino Purse. The Pick 6 had a nice carryover coming into the week and we had a jockey and a trainer double on Friday night and the trainer race is tighter than ever. Let’s get to the action from Friday night.
The Numbers
The 7 races attracted a total of 49 runners for an average of 7 per race. The average for the season is 8 races per day and 7.4 starters per race. That’s the 2nd fewest starters for a card of the year only opening day with 39 runners was less. The short fields impacted the bettors as they bet less than 900k for only the 4th time this season at $891,532 or $127,362 per race.
Let’s Compare
Let’s take a look at these numbers compared to last year after 31 days of racing. After 31 days in 2024, there were 249 races run to the 254 this season. An averag of 7.9 races to 8.2. The number of starters through 31 days was 1,562 in 2024 to this year’s 1,873, a 20% increase. If we add the 7.9 average from 2024 to the 6 race difference between the two years that would push 2024 to 1,609 but still is a 16.4% increase in starters.
Despite being only the 4th night of less than a 900k handle the Friday night count pushed Emerald over the 40-million mark to $40,761,682 through 31 days. An average of $1,314,893 per day and $160,479 per race.
Last year after 31 days the handle was $28,007,806 for a daily average of $903,478 and $114,786 per race. This is a 46% increase in handle so far in 2025. This year there have already been 3 days of handle over 2-million compared to 1 day last year on Mile day. In 2025 11 of the 31 days have handled less than 1-million dollars, last year at this time it was 24. Last year there were 18 under 900k, this year 4, last year 13 days under 800k, this year 0.
The lowest handle this year was June 20 with $810,836, last year it was $534,139 through the first 31 days. The lowest handle of 2024 was $387,932, on the 2nd to last day of racing on September 14.
If Emerald can handle an average of 1.3-million per day for the rest of the season the total handle would reach 66-million. In 2025 with 4 additional racing days the total was a little more than 48-million so in conservative numbers the handle this season will increase by at least 35% and won’t surprise me if it tops 70-million which would be a 44% increase with 4 fewer race days.
Optimism is key
These are the numbers and if there was a time for optimism it is now. It also should shed light on how much of a hole the purse account was in after last season. A lot of ground is being made up and with a strong finish will put the track in a much better position heading into 2026 outside of the HISA issue.
However, track President Phil Ziegler stated in an interview with the Paulick Report stated he feels that the HISA fee increase has to get worked out so smaller tracks aren’t crushed by the overbearing financial committment just to fund the HISA operation.
Emerald Downs already has the responsiblity to fund the State Horse Racong commission which used to oversee Longacres, Yakima Meadows, Playfair and multiple Fair meets which all chipped in to pay for the Commission to operate. In fact, in those days racing was so strong that they paid for the commission and another percent went to fully subsidize all the County fairs in the State.
Now, it’s only Emerald Downs and the subsidizing of County Fairs was out the window 20 years ago. So adding more than a million dollars in additional fees just to run races would be devastating to the lone NW track left and one of just four tracks still left on the West Coast.
To read Ziegler’s interview with Ray Paulick click on this link.
Doubling Up
There were two that doubled on Friday night, one in the saddle and the other from the barn. Jockey Adrian Castellanos continues to prove his move from Minnesota earlier this month was the right move as he won the 3rd race on Quality Cat for Howie Gibson and then took the 5th on odds-on choice Town Performer. Castellanos picked up wins 6 and 7.
His 2nd win on Town Performer was for trainer Isidro Tamayo, his 2nd win on the night as well. Tomayo won the 2nd race with Anitanewmercedes. Tomayo is now in double digit wins for the season with 11.
Trainer Battle
Trainers who knotched wins on Friday outside of Tamayo included 4 of the top 6 trainers, Blaine Wright, Frank Lucarelli, Jorge Rosales and Howie Gibson. Justin Evans and Tim McCanna did not have any runners on Friday. So the trainer standings now are:
Justin Evans 19
Blaine Wright 18
Jorge Rosales 18
Howie Gibson 16
Tim McCanna 16
Frank Lucarelli 15
Tom Wenzel 14
Isisdro Tamayo 11
Let’s get to the Friday Races!
7th Race and Feature Race Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
By Vince Bruun
Elder Mack made every pole a winning one, drawing away late for a sharp 5 ½-length victory in Friday’s $16,500 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse at Emerald Downs.
With Silvio Amador at the controls, Elder Mack zipped six furlongs in a brisk 1:08.87, returning $8.50 as the second betting choice in a field of seven. Blaine Wright is the winning trainer for Chappell Alpine Farms LLC (Jared Chappell, Sugar City, Ida.)
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Lord Nelson, Elder Mack scored his third win from 10 career starts while upping his earnings to $54,545. It was the gelding’s first win from four starts in 2025.
Breaking sharply from the No. 5 post-position, Elder Mack set fractions of :21.86, :44.81, and :56.60, and had plenty left in the tank for the stretch run while winning his first career sprint race from seven tries.
Bluegrass Go Go, 4 to 1 third choice ridden by Isaias Enriquez, finished second while Whiskeyjack, the 6 to 5 favorite ridden by Carlos Montalvo, took third. The runner-up and third-place finisher are both trained by Frank Lucarelli.
Dynamic Secret, last year’s Muckleshoot Derby winner, finished fourth, while Louie the First, Free Again, and Conrad Meadows rounded out the order of finish.
Lucky Code was scratched earlier in the day.
Pay-Outs
5 Elder Mack (Amador) $8.50 $3.42 $2.82
7 Bluegrass Go Go (Enriquez) $5.10 $3.10
8 Whiskeyjack (Montalvo) $2.10
$1 Ex 5-7 $22.55
$1 Tri 5-7-8 $47.18
$1 Super 5-7-8-4 $116.60
$1 DD 5-5 $7.20
50-cent Pick (3) 6-5-5 $60.08
Race Replay
The rest of Friday’s races.
1st Race
To open the final weekend of July racing, Kevin Orozco who was off all last week after an accident that cut his foot and required stitches, got off to a fast start with a great ride on Diamond Dee. Battling on the front end for most of the 1 mile run, Orozco kept a little extra in the tank to deny all-comers in deep stretch to record the neck win at 3-1. 3-1 Bourban Glaze and David Haldar tired to get by Dee but ended up 2nd, favorite Gold Coast Girl under Manny Americano took 3rd and Haughty Kitty with Frank Alvarado was 4th. Diamond Dee races for Eliana thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales.
Claimed: Gold Coast Girl was claimed by Kyrie Patino and goes to the barn of Faustino Patino for $5,000.
Pay-Outs
4 Diamond Dee (Orozco) $8.32 $4.28 $2.86
1 Bourbon Glaze (Haldar) $4.74 $2.72
5 Gold Coast Girl (Americano) $2.20
$1 Ex 4-1 $17.17
$1 Tri 4-1-5 $39.98
$1 Super 4-1-5-2 $91.90
Race Replay
2nd Race
The 1-1 favorite Anitanewmercedes was no match for the other 5 as the 10-year-old gelding won every pole in the 1 trip around the mile oval cruising to a 2 length win and never really challenged in a time of 1:35.65. Manny Americano was in control the entire trip winning for owners Frankly Speaking and trainer Isidro Tamayo. 2-1 I’m Noble and Alex Cruz closed well on the rail but was a clear 2nd best. A Skip in the Park closed from last to get up for an all by myself 3rd and Sanger with Frank Alvarado ended up 4th.
Pay-Outs
3 Anitanewmercedes (Americano) $4.24 $2.88 $2.22
1 I’m Noble (Cruz) $2.86 $2.34
2 A Skip in the Park (Montalvo) $2.58
$1 Ex 3-1 $4.99
$1 Tri 3-1-2 $11.12
$1 Super 3-1-2-4 $49.00
$1 DD 4-3 $14.83
Race Replay
3rd Race
2-1 2nd choice Quality Cat ran a perfect off the pace race going 1 mile with Adrian Castellanos pushing the Go button at the right time pulling away for more than a 2 length win. Quality Cat races for Ron Decanio and trained by Howie Gibson. Mashad Flats and Manny Americano got up for 2nd closing from last, Club Mesquite and Alex Cruz took 3rd with Stephen James and Carlos Montalvo completing the superfecta.
Pay-Outs
3 Quality Cat (Castellanos) $6.52 $3.72 $2.98
5 Mashad Flats (Americano) $3.44 $3.20
1 Club Mesquite (Cruz) $2.52
$1 Ex 3-5 $17.05
$1 Tri 3-5-1 $41.86
$1 Super 3-5-1-6 $214.80
$1 DD 3-3 $13.52
50-cent Pick (3) 4-3-3 $33.17
Race Replay
4th Race
Not often you get 7-1 on leading rider Kevin Krigger but if you caught him in the 4th race you were rewarded with a contested front end duel with 7-2 Khaiky’s House and Alex Cruz. But Krigger had his ride Taino House positioned right the whole trip pulling away in the end to win by nearly 2 lengths finishing in a time of 1:10.41 over 6-furlongs. Taino House races for Jim Kiser, Michael Pattison and Laura Oatfield and trained by Charlie Essex.
32-1 Beer Begone closed well under Kiam McGregor to take 2nd over Khaiky’s Command with Gypsy Gun and Adrian Castellanos finishing 4th.
Pay-Outs
6 Taino House (Krigger) $17.62 $10.04 $5.04
1 Beer Begone (McGregor) $27.14 $$8.42
8 Khaiky’s Command (Cruz) $3.80
$1 Ex 6-1 $153.20
$1 Tri 6-1-8 $985.50
$1 Super 6-1-8-5 $3,011.00
$1 DD 3-6 $33.86
50-cent Pick (3) 3-3-6 $48.35
50-cent Pick (4) 4-3-3-6 $197.44
Race Replay
5th Race
Town Performer went straight to the lead in this 6-furlong dash and never gave an inch under Adrian Castellanos in a final time of 1:09.49. Town Performer is owned by Patrick Brogan, Kevin Jameson and Bruce Phillipie and trained by Isidro Tamayo. Yes He Can held on for 2nd by a half lewngth with Akatsuki Tomita over Dennard and Manny Americano while 28-1 Shaun’s Jazz and Jose Rodriguez completed the superfecta.
Claimed: The winner Town Performer was red tagged by new owners Jeff Plotkin and Austin Evans to be trained by Justin Evans. Dennard was also taken by Chad and Josh for trainer Howie Gibson. Both claims were for $8,000.
Pay-Outs
5 Town Performer (Castellanos) $3.34 $2.38 $2.16
2 Yes He Can (Tomita) $3.82 $3.24
1 Dennard (Americano) $3.16
$1 Ex 5-2 $6.14
$1 Tri 5-2-1 $6.99
$1 Super 5-2-1-4 $95.80
$1 DD 6-5 $27.42
50-cent Pick (3) 3-6-5 $32.13
50-cent Pick (4) 3-3-6-5 $96.04
Race Replay
7th Race
The big favorite didn’t disappoint with Thatwouldbewrong and Kiaman McGregor kept up his recent hot streak adding another win by a clear 3 1/4 lengths covering the 6-furlongs in 1:11.26. Tiz Grazen challenged for the lead turnng for home but settle for 2nd with Kevin Orozco up, 43-1 Colonel Horton closed well to be a clear 3rd with Chel-c Bailey, Whiskeyontherocks and Silvio Amador was 4th with 72-1 Jazzy Bull Horn and Jose Rodriguez completed the Super High 5 at 72-1. Thatwouldbewrong races for Randall and Rossi and trained by Frank Lucarelli.
Claimed: Thatwouldbewrong was claimed by R Chavarria-Delgado, K Chavarria and Rosales Racing F1 and will be trained by Jorge Rosales for $5,000.
Pay-Outs
1 Thatwoouldbewrong (McGregor) $2.80 $2.10 $2.10
8 Tiz Grazen (Orozco) $2.54 $2.78
3 Colonel Horton (Bailey) $5.54
$1 Ex 1-8 $3.26
$1 Tri 1-8-3 $56.56
$1 Super 1-8-3-4 $105.80
50-cent Super High Five 1-8-3-4-2 no winner Carryover $2,800
$1 DD 5-1 $15.72
50-cent Pick (3) 5-5-1/7 $10.21
50-cent Pick (4) 6-5-5-1/7 $101.62
50-cent Pick (5) 3-6-5-5-1/7 $403.90
20-cent Pick (6) 3-3-6-5-5-1/7 $402.76 Carryover $14,063
Race Replay