8/3/2025
(Auburn, Wa) Sunday marked the 2 week notice to Longacres Mile Day set for August 17. There were 10 competitive races on the card including 8 older runners in the feature race of the day the Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse. There was a special presentation in the Winner’s Circle as well on Sunday honoring the great Chinook Pass.
The Numbers
A total of 10 with 75 starters for a 7.5 runners per race average. The betting card got off to a bit of a slow start especially with 2 scratches in the 2nd race dropping it to a 4 horse field, only the 2nd 4 horse field of the season.
As the day progressed the bettors started to pick up the pace and finished with a solid $1,410,583 total handle. This was an average of $141,058 per race. The total handle was a little more than the season daily handle average while the per race was just short of the season average.
Chinook Pass inducted into the Washington Sports Hall of Fame
Chinook Pass
(1979-2010, Inducted 2003)
Starts: 25; Record: 16-4-1; Earnings: $480,073
Breeder and Owner: Ed Purvis (Hi-Yu Stables)
Trainers: Laurie Anderson & Bud Klokstad
The fastest Thoroughbred in state history was honored Sunday as Chinook Pass was inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame, becoming the first horse in the Hall of Fame’s 65-year history.
The ceremony took place in the winner’s circle after race four with Jill Hallin accepting the honor from Marc Blau, Executive Director of the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame. Hallin was the gelding’s longtime caretaker until his death at age 31 in 2010.
Founded in 1960, the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletic excellence in Washington state. Jockeys Russell Baze (2012) and Basil James (1967) were previously honored.
The State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame is separate from the Washington Racing Hall of Fame, of which Chinook Pass was part of the inaugural 2003 class with Trooper Seven and Captain Condo.
The only Washington-bred to win an Eclipse Award, Chinook Pass was the nation’s top sprinter of 2003 after winning four stakes in Southern California and capping the year with a victory in the Longacres Mile. Chinook Pass set the North American record of 55 1/5 for five furlongs in 1982 at Longacres, a race shown on the big screen Sunday at Emerald Downs.
By Native Born-Yu Turn, Chinook Pass won 16 of 25 starts overall for trainers Bud Klokstad and Laurie Anderson while earning $480,073 for owner Ed Purvis of Seattle.
Chinook Pass Ceremony in Winner’s Circle
Joe Withee talks with ESN on the importance of Chinook Pass to Washington Racing
Chinook Pass wins the 1983 Longacres Mile
From the Saddle Krigger extends his lead
Two riders doubled on Saturday including leading rider Kevin Krigger to extend his lead in the jockey standings. Krigger scored on Fun Money in the 2nd and Flexible Terms in the 5th. He was close to adding to his totals with 3 2nds on the card as well. Krigger finished the week with 7 wins coming off an 8 wins week and now leads Manny Americano by 10 with 57 wins. Americano did get a win but is all alone in 2nd place. 5 time defending Champion Alex Cruz is well back in 3rd place with 27 victories.
Castellanos doubles
Adrian Castellanos finished stronbg with 2 wins taking the 7th on Creative Om and the finale aboard Gypsy Gun. Castellanos, who didn’t come to Emerald until the beginning of July is tied for 12th with 9 wins, one away from double digits.
Alvarado has a big week
Frank Alvarado had his best week of the season and he didn’t even have a ride on Saturday. Alvarado won 2 on Friday night from 2 mounts, He had 4 rides on Sunday and pplaced 2nd on his 1st ride then won his 2nd and was 3-1-0 from 4 mounts. He would finish off the board in his final runs to go 3-1-0 from 6 mounts for a 50% win rate.
But Alvarado won his races on 2 13-1 longshots and a 6-1. His 2nd place finish was on a 4-1 shot. His 2 off the board finishes were on a 10-1 and 65-1. Alvarado’s average odds were 18.5-1. His average odds on the 3 horses he won was 10.6-1.
To bet a $2 combo on each of his starts would have cost you $36 and you would have cashed for $119.36 for an $83.36 profit. Just betting a $2 win on all his mounts would have cost you $12 and you would have cashed $74.26 for a $62.26 windfall.
From the Barn Evans remains Hot
The scramble is on for leading trainer honors in 2025 with 6 trainers within 5 wins begining the day. Leading trainer Justin Evans added 2 more wins to his total on Sunday. Evans won the 2nd and 4th races to push his total to 24.
Rosales closes the gap, Wright keeps pace
Despite the double, Evans lost ground to Jorge Rosales on Sunday who recorded a triple winning the opener, the 7th and the finale. Blaine Wright also doubled to keep pace with Evans winning the 8th and 9th and featured races.
Those were also the most profitable races to win as Wright extends his lead in earnings topping all trainers with $434,647 more than 100k in front of 2nd place Frank Lucarelli in earnings.
Here are the top trainer standings by wins:
Justin Evans 24
Jorge Rosales 22
Blaine Wright 21
Frank Lucarelli 19
Tim McCanna 18
Howie Gibson 17
Pick 5 Blows Up!
Heading into the 10th and final race on Sunday there was only 1 ticket with 1 horse alive to win the Pick 5 and that one horse got the job done for 1 lucky or skilled handicapper. The winning ticket cashed out a season high pick 5 pay of $18,478.12 making the $7,500 pay out on Saturday look like a $2 show bet.
The winner had correctly predicted 14-1 Zippin Sevenz would win the 6th race to start the pick 5 sequence, knocking out likely the majority of pick 5 bettors. The second leg was not difficult with favorite Creative Om at 9-5 winning the 7th. In the 8th race all you had to do was bet Blaine Wright and most people likely had Wright’s 8-5 2nd choice Ario. Problem was Wright had 2 horses in the race and the other, Summers Choice was the 2nd longest shot in the 6 horse field at almost 14-1 and got up in the final strides to beat the other Wright horse by a neck.
Wright struck again in the 9th with 4-1 Executive Chef but wasn’t all that easy with a well matched field that was the 3rd favorite so probably had to go at least 3 or 4 deep. It was clear the winner singled Gypsy Gun in the final race to finish out the big win.
Pick 6 and Super High 5 Carryover
The Pick 6 and Super High 5’s were not hit on Sunday and will have modest carryovers heading into next Friday. The Pick 6 did have a nice consolation of getting 5 of 6 paying $1,256.83.
The Hallett’s celebrate their 35th Anniversary
The 7th race was the Maureen and Gary Hallett 35th Anniversary Purse. The Hallett’s have a deep history in racing and especially Emerald Downs. Gary Hallett served as the Mutuels Director beginning on June 20, 1996 and was in that position for decades.
Maureen Hallett was Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett and the administration’s Executive Assistant for all those years as well.
The Hallett’s have also owned several horses through the years but just one together with no other partners, Cody’s Choice. Maureen owned Designer’s Gold. The Hallett’s have also been in several other partnerships and have been part of the ownership including He’s a Cruiser, Austism Inspiration, Wapato Gold, Airborne Eagle, Poker Alice and Ask Alice.
They were part owners of the popular Wine at Nine and their most successful runner was Rusty Rolls who in 2005 finished 3rd in the Trooper Seven stakes.
The Hallett’s had a chance to win their own race with their latest runner, Julien in Paris who finished 3rd. Happy Anniversary to really great racing folks, the Hallett’s!
Let’s get to Sunday Races!
9th Race and Feature Race Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
By Vince Bruun
Executive Chef caught Its Kraken Time in the final strides for a neck victory in Sunday’s $26,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Silvio Amador, Executive Chef ran a mile in 1:36.45 and paid $10 to win. Blaine Wright is the winning trainer for the ownership tandem of John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider.
Executive Chef upped his Emerald Downs mark to a sterling 7-4-1 in 16 starts with earnings of $144,661. A 6-year-old Virginia-bred by Cairo Prince, Executive Chef has an overall ledger of 8-6-2 from 23 starts with earnings of $181,281.
Its Kraken Time, ridden by Carlos Montalvo, did everything but win the race, digging in bravely and just missing a gate to wire victory.
Fifty Cinco, second betting choice at 5 to 2, finished third while Dirt Road Red, Coastal Jazz, Chief Wild Eagle, F B I Bob, and Owhatarush rounded out the complete order of finish.
Coastal Jazz, the 9 to 5 favorite, challenged Its Kraken Time into the lane but weakened in the final furlong.
Claimed: Coastal Jazz for red tagged for $25,000 by new owners Nina Hagen and Miranda Gibson. Howie Gibson is the new trainer.
Pay-Outs
6 Executive Chef (Amador) $10.00 $4.72 $3.04
1 Its Kraken Time (Montalvo) $4.76 $3.20
3 Fifty Cinco (Orozco) $2.88
$1 Ex 6-1 $26.58
$1 Tri 6-1-3 $76.40
$1 Super 6-1-3-8 $557.70
$1 DD 4-6 $40.67
50-cent Pick (3) 1-4-6 $167.41
The Winners Circle Interview with Joe Withee
Race Replay
The rest of the Sunday’s races.
1st Race
A field of 7 went 1-mile to begin the 10 race Sunday card and Thirsty Nic ran a perfect stalking trip with Manny Americano in the saddle. Turning for home Nic and Manny swept to the front and won going away in a final time of 1;39.30. Thirsty Nic races for Santos Rosales and trained by Jorge Rosales.
Bold Daughter ran on well to be 2nd with Kevin Krigger up, Mamalona and Pablo Castillo outfinished the favorite She’s a Bossy Girl under Adrian Castellanos for 3rd.
Pay-Outs
7 Thirsty Nic (Amricano) $14.60 $6.00 $4.44
1 Bold Daughter (Krigger) $3.54 $2.58
4 Mamalona (Castillo) $6.08
$1 Ex 7-1 $18.44
$1 Tri 7-1-4 $227.84
$1 Super 7-1-4-2 $1,080.60
Race Replay
2nd Race
Two late scratches left just 4 to run 6-furlongs in the 2nd and 1-5 favorite Fun Money went right to the front with Kevin Krigger aboard and went gate to wire in a solid time of 1:09.02. 9-2 2nd choice Avoir under David Haldar sat just behind and ran a good race to take 2nd, Coastal Girl and Manny Americano ran on well to 3rd with A Rousing Babe and Francisco Duran trying to push Fun Money on the front end tired to finish 4th.
Fun Money is owned by Jeff Plotkin, Paul Miller and Al Sander and trained by Justin Evans.
Claimed: Avoir was claimed for $25,000 by Terra Firma Farm and heads to the Joe Toye barn.
Pay-Outs *With the field down to 4 starters there was no show wagering.
2 Fun Money (Krigger) $2.54 $2.14
6 Avoir (Haldar) $3.02
$1 Ex 2- $3.26
$1 Tri 2-6-1 $6.80
$1 Super 2-6-1-5 $6.80
$1 DD 7-2 $13.06
Race Replay
3rd Race
9-2 Bobby’s Genie got a perfect ride from Chel-c Bailey battling on the front end but waiting to press go about the 1/4 pole and the duo pulled away for a clear win by 3 lengths in a final time of 1:03.26 for 5 1/2-furlongs. Bobby’s Genie races for William Heck and is trained by Ruby Thomas.
Union Coach closed well to get up for 2nd under the guidance of Adian Castellanos edging out favorite Sing a Happy Song with Manny Americano while Stepup and Kevin Orozco finished 4th.
Claimed: Sing a Happy Song was claimned for $10,000 by new owner Jerald Carmody and will be trained by Jesse Velasquez.
Pay-Outs
2 Bobby’s Genie (Bailey) $11.20 $5.00 $4.34
4 Union Coach (Castellanos) $9.66 $5.26
3 Sing a Happy Song (Americano) $2.86
$1 Ex 2-4 $60.91
$1 Tri 2-4-3 $158.80
$1 Super 2-4-3-7 $611.90
$1 DD 2-2 $10.20
50-cent Pick (3) 7-2-2 $60.06
Race Replay
4th Race
A field of 10 went a mile in the Chinook Pass Wa Hall of Fame purse and odds-on favoritge Flexible Terms got a patient ride from Kevin Krigger who waited to just inside the quarter poled and unleashed the beast blowing past the early leaders to post a 4+ length victory in a time of 1:37.80. Flexible Terms gave both Krigger and trainer Jutstin Evans their 2nd wins of the day. The 3-year-old gelding is owned by Thomas Mayberry.
The early speed of Code Breaker with Frank Alvarado held off all challengers but the winner to be a clear 2nd best, Daddy’s Quest and David Haldar ran on to be 3rd with Arnie Boy under Manny Americano taking 4th.
Claimed: Justin Evans dropped a claim slip for owners A and E Equine Corp for Code Breaker for $5,000.
Pay-Outs
5 Flexible Terms (Krigger) $3.76 $2.52 $2.12
2 Code Breaker (Alvarado) $3.62 $2.92
8 Daddy’s Quest (Haldar) $5.62
$1 Ex 5-2 $5.42
$1 Tri 5-2-8 $37.92
$1 Super 5-2-8-1 $62.90
$1 DD 2-5 $21.85
50-cent Pick (3) 2-2-5 $15.60
50-cent Pick (4) 7-2/3/4-2-5 $123.53
Race Replay
5th Race
CalmcoolNcollected was 9-2 morning line but the public rejected the 3-year-old colt and let him go off at 10-1. Alex Cruz with a brilliant ride sitting behind the horse with the most bet on him Forever Now and Kevin Krigger. Krigger and Forever Now moved halfway around the turn while Cruz and CCnC sat just behind and made their move but outside of the favorite.
Halfway down the stretch Forever Now took the lead butg could not hold off CalmcoolNcollected who got up for a 1/2 length win covering the 1 mile in 1:36.11. CalmcoolNcollected races for Charlie Clark and is trained by Steve Bullock.
Front speed and 27-1 shot Tiz Dynamic ran a big race for Silvio Amador to hold on for 3rd and in an even effort Verdi with Carlos Montalvo took 4th.
Pay-Outs
6 CalmcoolNcollected (Cruz) $22.12 $6.26 $4.78
1 Forever Now (Krigger) $3.22 $3.02
4 Tiz Dynamic (Amador) $7.72
$1 Ex 6-1 $35.37
$1 Tri 6-1-4 $549.98
$1 Super 6-1-4-7 $3,161.30
$1 DD 5-6 $19.72
50-cent Pick (3) 2-5-6 $89.29
Race Replay
6th Race
In a 3-way photo finish 14-1 Zippin Sevenz snuck up the rail to catch Smiling Lady the leader down the stretch and held off a fast closing Chai. Kiaman McGregor with a headsy ride on the rail got the win for owners Josh McKee, Aaron Bresko and Lucarelli Racing and trainer Frank Lucarelli covering the mile in 1:37.32.
Chai just missed with a hard ride from Kevin Orozco, Smiling Lady settled for 3rd with Silvio Amador and tkaing 4th was Halfway to Nowhere and Manny Americano.
Claimed: Verdi has a new home after trainer Frank Lucarelli joined Two Putts for the Win #35 and Kenny Storm shelling out 25k.
Pay-Outs
5 Zippin Sevenz (McGregor) $31.66 $8.58 $4.94
4 Chai (Orozco) $4.46 $2.62
1 Smiling Lady (Amador) $3.00
$1 Ex 5-4 $70.27
$1 Tri 5-4-1 $304.78
$1 Super 5-4-1-3 $1,049.30
$1 DD 6-5 $104.93
50-cent Pick (3) 5-6-5 $152.87
Race Replay
7th Race
Creative Om broke clean from the 1 hole with Adrian Castellanos up and quickly set the pace. Going fairly quickly in the 1st quarter of 21.91 Castellanos was able to get Om to settle and conserve some energy for the stretch run he did perfectly denying any of the closers a chance to win. Winning by a length over Lucky Code and Alex Cruz in a time of 1:16.61 going 6 1/2-furlongs. Jullian in Paris and Isaias Enriquez closed for 3rd and Free Again under David Haldar completed the superfecta.
Creative Om races for Tanner Vickory and Emily Majkrzak and trained by Jorge Rosales. This was Rosales’ 2nd win of the day.
Pay-Outs
1 Creative Om (Castellanos) $5.88 $3.82 $2.97
7 Lucky Code (Cruz) $6.60 $3.36
4 Jullian in Paris (Enriquez) $3.08
$1 Ex 1-7 $20.65
$1 Tri 1-7-4 $87.90
$1 Super 1-7-4-6 $716.20
$1 DD 5-1 $76.88
50-cent Pick (3) 6-5-1 $416.14
50-cent Pick (4) 5-6-5-1 $499.70
Race Replay
8th Race
The pace was fast setting up the stalkers and lone closer. 13-1 Summers Choice trailed the field by about 10 lengths heading into the far turn of the 6 1/2-furlong run but jockey Frank Alvarado kept to his plan and began closing the gap on the rail. Alvarado was going to stick to then inside and if and when it opened up would pounce and they did just that storming up the rail to catch 8-5 favorite and stablemate Ario with Kevin Krigger for a neck win.
Ario and Krigger had been sitting midpack and swung to the outside taking the lead just past the 1/8th pole and may not even have seen Summers Choice flying on the rail. Both runners are trained by Blaine Wright with help from his assistant Corey Delp. Summers Choice is owned by William Hedrick and stopped the clock in 1:16.75.
Angier and Chel-c Bailey ran a solid race for a good 3rd place finish with Improbable Bet and Blake Nunnally taking 4th.
Pay-Outs
4 Summers Choice (Alvarado) $29.80 $6.96 $3.82
5 Ario (Krigger) $3.54 $2.62
2 Angier (Bailey) $2.40
$1 Ex 4-5 $50.25
$1 Tri 4-5-2 $85.54
$1 Super 4-5-2-1 $362.80
$1 DD 1-4 $49.68
50-cent Pick (3) 5-1-4 $441.55
Race Replay
10th Race
In the finale, Gypsy Gun sat midpack down the backstretch of the 6-furlong sprint. Jockey Adrian Castellanos edged Gyspy Gun along the rail and found a hole at the top of the stretch to the outside and pulled away for a 2 length victory. 7-1 Mirror Image with Kevin Orozco tried to steal it on the front end but had to settle for 2nd best. Nation of Faith closed for a clear 3rd place finish with Juan Gutierrez. Taking 4th was Gianola under Kiaman McGregor and rounding out the Super High 5 was Westphal and Carlos Montalvo.
Gypsy Gun is owned by Dawn Spillman and trained by Jorge Rosales, his 3rd win of the day. Gypsy Gun is a Washington bred by Maimonides out of Queen of War by War Front and was bred by Florence Vinton Fleming.
Claimed: Gianola was red tagged for $2,500 by Billy Christian and Bern Kent and Christian will train.
Pay-Outs
2 Gypsy Gun (Castellanos) $5.48 $3.90 $2.88
1 Mirror Image (Orozco) $6.74 $4.44
6 Nation of Faith (Gutierrez) $2.80
$1 Ex 2-1 $15.83
$1 Tri 2-1-6 $53.74
$1 Super 2-1-6-4 $422.00
50-cent Super High Five 2-1-6-4-9 No Winner Carryover $1,294
$1 DD 6-2 $20.58
50-cent Pick (3) 4-6-2 $213.52
50-cent Pick (4) 1-4-6-2 $793.86
50-cent Pick (5) 5-1-4-6-2 (5 correct) $18,478.12
20-cent Pick (6) 6-5-1-4-6-2 (5 correct) $1,256.83 Carryover $1,835
Race Replay
