8/2/2025
(Auburn, Wa) 9 races were run on Saturday under the watchful eye of starter Mark Gibson. However, the watchful eye was needed more at the finish line with several tight finishes.
Kevin Krigger had a big day, Justin Evans extended his trainer lead and the bettors had multiple chances to cash big tickets.
The Numbers
68 total starters ran in the 9 races on Saturday for an average of 7.6 per race. The bettors responded laying down $1,276,088 at the betting windows with an average per race handle of $141,788.
Big Blow-outs turn to nail-biting finishes
Saturday’s racing began with 2 dominant wins, in the 2nd race Internet Bidder with Manny Americano won by 8 1/2 lengths, the 4th largest margin of victory for 2025. That was followed by a 4+ length win in the 3rd by Beer Begone and Kevin Krigger.
That would end the big blowouts with the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th races determined by a head or a nose. There were more nose victories with 3 in the 4th, 6th and 8th races than we can ever remember in a single day. There were only 6 races decided by a nose coming into Saturday’s races.
Rebel Gal and Kevin Krigger won by a nose in the 4th and Prisoner in the 8th also with Krigger. Alex Cruz got After My Own Heart up by a nose in the 6th. Krigger also won the 5th race on Looks Rare by a head.
Krigger leads all riders with 4 of 9 of the wins by a nose.
From the Saddle
Kevin Krigger had another 4 win day and nearly got #5 in the finale but got caught in the final 50 yards. Krigger coming into Saturday’s races led Manny Amricano 51-45 in the race for the jockey title and after Saturday extended to his largest lead of the season 55-46. Americano did get 1 win on Saturday but lost ground to trail by 9.
No other rider doubled as Silvio Amador, Kiaman McGregor, Alex Cruz and Kevin Orozco joined Americano with 1 win on the day.
5-time defending Champ Alex Cruz has a 5 win lead for 3rd over Amador and Orozco who are tied for 4th with 21 wins each. Both are having outstanding seasons with Amador just 2 wins shy of matching his 23 from last season.
Orozco’s best season since 2022
Orozco has already passed his total from last year’s 18 wins with 21. In fact, the year before he had just 19. He has a chance to eclipse his 2022 season with 28 wins.
Orozco first came to Emerald Downs as an apprentice in 2017 where he posted 63 wins, in 2019 he had 66 but his best season in Auburn was 2018 with 71 wins finishing 2nd in the jockey standings to Rocco Bowen in 2018 and 2nd to Gary Wales in 2019.
From the Barn
Justin Evans extended his lead in the trainer standings with 2 wins on Saturday now with 22 wins. Others in the race for for the training championship include Frank Lucarelli and Jorge Rosales who also posted wins. Going into Sunday here are the top conditioners with 5 weeks left in the season:
Justin Evans 22
Blaine Wright 19
Jorge Rosales 19
Frank Lucarelli 18
Tim McCanna 18
Howie Gibson 17
The Betting Window
There were many chances to win good money at Emerald Downs on Saturday. Only 3 favorites won with 2 being odds-on. The average $2 win odds were 5.6-1 with the high pay being 19-1 Nan Elizabeth in the 7th paying $40.
Nan Elizabeth coupled with 12-1 Shadowed Thoughts in the 9th helped pay a huge 50-cent pick 5 of $7,530.79, the 3rd largest pick 5 pay of the season. The final pick 4 was also big paying $2,122.23 and the Jackpot pick 6 paid nearly $1,000 for 5 of 6 winners of $986.14.
Let’s get to the Saturday Races!
8th Race and Feature Race Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
By Vince Bruun
Prisoner continued his winning ways Saturday at Emerald Downs, surging to the lead late and edging Jin Tong by a nose in the $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse for 3-year-olds and up.
With Kevin Krigger riding his fourth winner on the card, Prisoner covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.21 and paid $3.36 as the public choice in a strong field of eight. Justin Evans saddled the winner for owners David Bernsen and Omar Aldabbagh, both of Las Vegas.
A 7-year-old Violence gelding, Prisoner is a sparkling 16 for 34 lifetime including a 3-3-1 mark in eight starts at Emerald Downs. His career earnings are $427,210.
Jin Tong flew late under Alex Cruz to just miss the victory, the 5-year-olds 11th runner-up finish from 34 career starts.
El Bromista, a 16 to 1 long shot ridden by Silvio Amador, was head and head with the winner until the final few jumps and finished a close third.
In fact, the top seven finishers were separated by little more than two lengths. Papa’s Golden Boy, the leader though fractions of :22.30 and :44.24, weakened late and finished last, but was only beaten about five lengths for the victory.
Extending his lead to 55-46 on Manuel Americano in the standings, Krigger won dramatic photos Saturday on Rebel Gal ($11,14), Looks Rare ($2.66), and Prisoner; his other win a 4 ¼-length blowout aboard Beer Begone ($7.86). For Krigger, it’s his second four-win day this season and seventh day with at least three wins.
Pay-Outs
4 Prisoner (Krigger) $3.36 $2.30 $2.28
5 Jin Tong (Cruz) $4.00 $3.16
3 El Bromista (Amador) $5.06
$1 Ex 4-5 $6.70
$1 Tri 4-5-3 $36.00
$1 Super 4-5-3-9 $361.80
$1 DD 8-4 $48.45
50-cent Pick (3) 6-8-4 $218.94
Race Replay
The rest of the Saturday’s races.
1st Race
Jockey Silvio Amador had the perfect stalking trip aboard Right Hand Ryder and ran down Move Over in the final 16th to take the opener on Saturday. Right Hand Ryder covered the 1-mile in 1:40.91 and races for Ramon Chavarria-Delgado and Kevcin Chavzarria and Rosales Racing F1 and trained by Jorge Rosales.
Move Over under Juan Gutiderrez and got 1st run but just failed to last to settle for 2nd. 2-1 favorite Cross the Causeway and Alex Cruz showed with Artemus Gordon and Manny Americano ran 4th.
Claimed: Cross the Causeway was claimed by Michael Stark and goes to trainer Charlie Essex for a tag price of $8,000.
Pay-Outs
3 Right Hand Ryder (Amador) $8.68 $4.74 $3.58
4 Move Over (Gutierrez) $4.20 $3.32
7 Cross the Causeway (Cruz) $2.90
$1 Ex 3-4 $19.27
$1 Tri 3-4-7 $65.64
$1 Super 3-4-7-6 $157.60
Race Replay
2nd Race
Internet Bidder and Manny Americano broke well in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint and by the time they hit the finish line they had blown out the field by 8 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:04.07. Internet Bidder is owned by John Parker and trained by Candi Cryderman. Internet Bidder is a Washington bred by Conveyance out of Witchy Meeting by General Meeting and was bred by Patricia Murphy and Mr and Mrs Frederick Pabst.
24-1 Dont Cross the Kid with Chel-c Bailey ran 2nd, 16-1 Sweet Beth ran on for 3rd piloted by Kiaman McGregor and taking 4th was Malibu Blonde and Kevin Krigger.
Pay-Outs
8 Internet Bidder (Americano) $6.66 $4.08 $4.08
5 Dont Cross the Kid (Bailey) $14.96 $8.44
1 Sweet Beth (McGregor) $10.56
$1 Ex 8-5 $39.81
$1 Tri 8-5-1 $338.58
$1 Super 8-5-1-2 $2,011.80
$1 DD 3-8 $17.66
Race Replay
3rd Race
5-2 soft favorite Beer Begone opened up at the top of the stretch and rolled to an easy 4+ length win under leading rider Kevin Krigger. 16-1 Jacob Yen and David Haldar made a nice run to get up for the place, Don’t Have Another and Kevin Orozco closed to be 3rd and Getemdusty with Alex Cruz completed the superfecta.
Beer Begone stopped the clock in a time of 1:16.94 for 6 1/2-furlongs and races for the Warlock Stables and Aaron Bresko and trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez. Beer Begone is a Washington bred by Pontiff out of Copy Begone by Demon Warlock and was bred by the owners.
Pay-Outs
2 Beer Begone (Krigger) $7.86 $4.72 $3.56
1 Jacob Yen (Haldar) $13.48 $6.40
4 Don’t Have Another $4.08
$1 Ex 2-1 $37.21
$1 Tri 2-1-4 $192.30
$1 Super 2-1-4-8 $1,238.70
$1 DD 8-2 $17.21
50-cent Pick (3) 3-8-2 $39.86
Race Replay
4th Race
In a stirring stretch run, Rebel Gal guided by Kevin Krigger came flying at the end to nip 1-1 favorite Dynamic Dee Dee and Kevin Orozco by a nose. They were clear of 3rd place Unbridled Scholar and Silvio Amador and Silent Beauty with Carlos Montalvo who deadheated for 3rd.
Rebel Gal races for Mike Hill and Lucarelli Racing and trained by Frank Lucarelli in a final time of 1:10.99 for 6-furlongs. The 3-year-old filly is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Creme by Somersham and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen.
Pay-Outs
2 Rebel Gal (Krigger) $11.14 $4.68 $2.28
7 Dynamic Dee Dee (Orozco) $3.34 $2.10
1 Unbridled Scholar (Amador) $2.10
4 Silent Beauty (Montalvo) $2.46
$1 Ex 2-7 $14.45
$1 Tri 2-7-1 $19.52, 2-7-4 $36.26
$1 Super 2-7-1-4 $69.80, 2-7-4-1 $93.40
$1 DD 2-2 $23.04
50-cent Pick (3) 8-2-2 $43.17
50-cent Pick (4) 3-8-2-2 $177.29
Race Replay
5th Race
Another perfectly timed ride from Kevin Krigger who tagged 9-1 Cap It Daddy and Silvio Amador at the wire aboard odds-on choice Looks Rare in a final time of 1:10.09. Looks Rare races for Jon Freston, Jeff Plotkin and Justin Evans and trained by Evans.
Pole to Pole ran well on the front end with Kevin Orozco but tired late for the show while Mr Executive and Francisco Duran took 4th.
Pay-Outs
1 Looks Rare (Krigger) $2.66 $2.12 $2.10
6 Cap It Daddy (Amador) $4.54 $3.10
2 Pole to Pole (Orozco) $4.84
$1 Ex 1-6 $7.99
$1 Tri 1-6-2 $42.60
$1 Super 1-6-2-7 $126.20
$1 DD 2-1 $10.24
50-cent Pick (3) 2-2-1 $17.88
Race Replay
6th Race
A field of 9 went a mile and another tight finish with a burst from After My Own Heart at 5-1 nailing 3-1 Haughty Kitty on the wire by a nose. Alex Cruz got the photo to go his way with Heart denying Manny Americano his 2nd win. 45-1 Proof of Jazz and Julien Couton gave a great run leading all the way inside the 1/8th pole and held 3rd with Lucy L and Juan Gutierrez taking 4th. After My Own Heart is trained by Tena Birdwell and races for Joseph Schumer.
Claimed: Two runners were taken for $3,500 in the 6th with the winner After My Own Heart going to Dawn Spillman and trainer Jorge Rosales. Poker Alice was tagged by owner/trainer Sergio Perez.
Pay-Outs
6 After My Own Heart (Cruz) $12.36 $5.20 $3.48
2 Haughty Kitty (Americano) $4.34 $3.24
7 Proof of Jazz (Couton) $7.68
$1 Ex 6-2 $36.53
$1 Tri 6-2-7 $799.10
$1 Super 6-2-7-10 $4,346.10
$1 DD 1-6 $8.53
50-cent Pick (3) 2-1-6 $31.67
50-cent Pick (4) 2-2-1/3/5-6 $130.90
Race Replay
7th Race
A blazing pace set up a deep closer and longshot, Nan Elizabeth. Kaiman McGregor took Nan to the back of the pack and at 19-1 not many thought she would do much better than that. But with times of 21.40 and 44.54 set up Nan Elizabeth’s kick and McGregor cut the corner found an opening and burst through in side the 1/8th pole to win easy by 2 lengths in a final time of 1:10.20 for 6-furlongs. Nan Elizabeth races for Hon Cheung Kum and Luciano Medina and trained by Jose Puentes.
5-1 Ms Flashy Harbor and David Haldar closed from far back as well to run a nice 2nd, 14-1 Rockit a Day under Juan Gutierrez took 3rd with 7-2 It’s Saul Right and Manny Americano finished 4th.
Claimed: Song of Shadows was claimed by Michael Radovich for $5,000 and heads to the Howie Gibson barn.
Pay-Outs
8 Nan Elizabeth (McGregor) $40.02 $15.50 $7.84
1 Ms Flashy Harbor (Haldar) $6.84 $4.44
5 Rockit a Day (Gutierrez) $9.82
$1 Ex 8-1 $114.41
$1 Tri 8-1-5 $793.94
$1 Super 8-1-5-4 $3,390.00
$1 DD 6-8 $117.94
50-cent Pick (3) 1-6-8 $152.66
Race Replay
9th Race
In the finale on Saturday, another closer got up in the final 100 yards to pull away to win by more than a length when 12-1 Shadowed Thoughts thundered down the middle of the stretch piloted by Kevin Orozco. Shadowed Thoughts covered the 5 1/2-fiurlongs in 1:05.21 and races for Laurie Syvrud and Victor Trujillo and trained by Trujillo.
Favorite Always a Diva and Kevin Krigger settled for 2nd best, Dynamic Plan flattened out late with Kiaman McGregor, Caly Bali and Manny Americano placed 4th with Union Harbor and Silvio Amador completing the Super High 5.
Claimed: Dynamic Plan was taken by new owner/trainer Victor Trujillo for $2,500.
Pay-Outs
6 Shadowed Thoughts (Orozco) $26.68 $9.24 $3.56
8 Always a Diva (Krigger) $4.76 $3.02
2 Dynamic Plan (McGregor) $2.48
$1 Ex 6-8 $46.65
$1 Tri 6-8-2 $169.16
$1 Super 6-8-2-4 $593.10
50-cent Super High Five 6-8-2-4-3 $615.52
$1 DD 4-6 $26.57
50-cent Pick (3) 8-4-6 $374.24
50-cent Pick (4) 6-8-4/7-6 $2,122.23
50-cent Pick (5) 1/3/5-6-8-4/7-6 $7,530.79
20-cent Pick (6) 2-1/3/5-6-8-4/7-6 $986.14 Carryover $807
Race Replay
