8/9/2025

(Auburn, Wa) It was a warm Saturday of racing with 8 races on tap. The ESN feature race was special for Hall of Fame trainer Howard Belvoir, meantime both the trainers and jockeys races heated up with the temperature.

The Numbers

It was a down day on the numbers for the 2025 season with 8 races only 51 starters. This was 6.4 per race. It was the first day with only 1 race with 8 or more.

The handle reflected the down number of starters with the only sub 900k handle on either a Saturday or Sunday. The betting totals were just shy of 900k at $899,167 or an average of $112,396.

Sunday should bounce back as long as there are not a tremendous amount of scratches with 72 entered for the 9 race card.

From the Saddle

The jockey’s battle is heating up with leading rider Kevin Krigger getting shut out on Saturday and Manny Americano doubling cutting the deficit to 6 after trailing by 10 beginning the week. Both have shots today with Americano riding the card and Krigger with 8 of 9 rides prior to any scratches being announced.

Americano won the 6th and 7th races with Gold Coast Girl and Light the Beam. One other rider doubled and that was Frank Alvarado who won the 5th race on Impassable and took the finale aboard Peg’s Choice.

Juan Gutierrez began the day with a nice win on Orth at 5-1 followed by 9-2 Swift Caro. Adrian Castellanos and Silvio Amador both got wins on Saturday. Amador is closing in on 3rd place now trailing Alex Cruz 27-23 with Kevin Orozco at 22.

From the Barn

The battle for top trainer got as tight as can be with Jorge Rosales picking up 2 wins pushing his total to 24 and now tied with 2 time defending champ Justin Evans each with 24. Blaine Wright is right behind with 22 as the only 3 over 20 wins.

Alexis Silva-Martinez won the opener for his 3rd win of the year, Tom Wenzel picked up another victory pushing his total to 15. David Martinez, Faustino Patino, Howard Belvloir and Doug McFee all recorded victories.

Despite the lower starter numbers the first half of the card gave bettors chances at some good prices. Orth won the opener at 5-1 and 22-1 Hadlees Honor ran 2nd in the 5 horse field paying $72 on the exacta and $150 on the $1 trifecta. Also in the 1st 5-2 Bad Sneakers was 3rd and all 3 $2 show pays were $3.44 or more which is really hard to do in a 5 horse field.

In the 2nd race Swift Caro at 9-2 won and the opening dailoy double of 2 5-horse fields paid 41-1 of $42. The 3rd race saw 9-1 English Danger roll to the win with 18-1 Acclaimed Preacher running 2nd. That exacta returned 96-1 with a $97 pay-out and the 50-cent pick 3 was good for $221 a 440-1 return.

And in the 4th race Coastal Journey won at 5-1 followed by 16-1 Sombrero Negor and 20-1 Little Minnie Mo and 3-1 Global Agenda. The 1st pick 4 of the day ret,urned $976 the trifecta paid $482 on the 50-cent ticket $964 on the dollar while the little dime superfecta paid back $887 and the $1 a whopping $8,870.

The favorites came in the 2nd half of the day and the pick 6 paid $240 with a carryover of $3,361.

Let’s get to the Saturday Races!

5th Race and Feature Race 

It was a great day for Hall of Fame trainer Howard Belvoir who has been dealing with some health issues this season but he got his 2nd win of the season when Impassable was just that with a brilliant ride from veteran rider Frank Alvarado to take the feature race on Saturday in a maiden special weight race.

Belvoir’s stable is much smaller than previous years when he was starting 100+ starters a year and always challenging to be top trainer. Going into this race, Impassable was just his 13th start of the season. Belvoir had veteran rider Frank Alvarado handle the riding duties and Alvarado was patient allowing the early speed to duel while he and Impassable stalked the field.

Alvarado inched closer heading into the far turn of the 6-furlong sprint and then found his lane along the outside and surged turning for home then rolled up and passed Star Travel with Alex Cruz to get the win by a clear length. Imapassable ran the 6-furlongs in 1:09.78.

It was also nice for Belvoir to win with Impassable who is owned by Rising Star Stable XI, one of Belvoir’s long time stable of owners.On top of that Impassable is a Washington bred by Barkley out of Star Protocol by He’s Top’s was bred by Belvoir. Settler’s Cove was the other win of the season for Belvoir back on May 31.

Alex Cruz couldn’t ask for more from Star Travel who was a clear 2nd. Red Guardian and David Haldar was all alone in 3rd place with Raven Rendevous under Juan Gutierrez completing the top 4.

Impassable is now 1-2-1 from 6 lifetime starts and collected $13,110 to increase his bank account to $38,305.

Pay-Outs
6 Impassable (Alvarado)  $14.76  $5.24  $3.70
2 Star Travel (Cruz)  $3.32  $3.48
1 Red Guardian (Haldar)  $4.42
$1 Ex 6-2 $26.02
$1 Tri 6-2-1 $68.02
$1 Super 6-2-1-7 $798.90
$1 DD 1-6 $48.69
50-cent Pick (3) 7-1-6 $244.10

Race Replay

The rest of the Saturday’s races.

1st Race

5 runners went the mile and 70 yards in the Saturday afternoon opener and 5-1 Orth went straight to the lead with Juan Gutierrez clearing off by 3 lengths and simply maintained that position all the way around winning every pole and finishing in a time of 1:41.83. Orth is owned by Lusk Racing and Alexis Silva-Martinez and trained by Silva-Martinez.

22-1 Hadlees Honor with Kiaman McGregor ran a big race to be 2nd, 5-2 Bad Sneakers and Manny Americano wee 3rd and betting favorite Travel the Map under Kevin Krigger finished 4th.

Claims: There were 3 claims in this race all for $2,500. Orth went to the White Diamond Syndicate and trainer Vince Gibson, Grape Nuts Warrior is now in the Justin Evans barn as Evans will own and train and Travel the Map was taken by owner Christi Betz for trainer Robbie Baze.

Pay-Outs
5 Orth (Gutierrez)  $13.36  $5.54  $4.34
6 Hadlees Honor (McGregor)  $12.12  $4.80
1 Bad Sneakers (Americano)  $3.44
$1 Ex 5-6 $72.62
$1 Tri 5-6-1 $150.22
$1 Super 5-6-2-4 $494.80

Race Replay

2nd Race

Another 5 horse field and another front running win in dominate fashion. Julien Couton had plenty of juice to get out of the gate and quickly drew off to a 2 length lead with Swift Caro. The 4-year-old filly extended that to 3 lengths at the top of the stretch and pulled away for a 5 lengths win in 1:37.56. Swift Caro races for David Thorner, Richard Cuyle and Tom Wenzel and is trained by Wenzel.

Favorite Tainma and Kevin Krigger ran 2nd, Sexzie with Alex Cruz was a clear 3rd while Kir Royale and Kevin Orozco completed the top 4 finish.

Pay-Outs
3 Swift Caro (Couton)  $11.54  $4.80  $2.90
5 Tianma (Krigger)  $3.26  $2.46
4 Sexzie (Cruz)  $2.66
$1 Ex 3-5 $16.58
$1 Tri  3-5-4 $38.62
$1 Super  3-5-4-1 $128.00
$1 DD 5-3 $42.68

Race Replay

3rd Race

The prices kept coming in with 9-1 English Danger making a big move on the far turn, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and never let up with strong urging from Adrian Castellanos. English Danger took advantage of getting the first run with odds-on choice Roses R Blue trailing for most of the race before rallying to get up for 3rd just missing 2nd by a nose to 18-1 Acclaimed Preacher and David Haldar. La Popis with Julian Couton ended up 4th.

English Danger races for Leeslye Villegas-Morales and trained by Jorge Rosales.

Claimed: English Danger was claimed by owner/trainer Candelario Villamar for $2,500.

Pay-Outs
7 English Danger (Castellanos)  $21.22 $7.62  $3.58
4 Acclaimed Preacher (Haldar)  $12.06  $4.94
2 Rose R Blue (Cruz)  $2.26
$1 Ex 7-4 $97.16
$1 Tri  7-4-2 $137.06
$1 Super  7-4-2-3 $467.20
$1 DD  3-7 $58.52
50-cent Pick (3) 5-3-7 $221.44

Race Replay

4th Race

The 2-year-olds broke from the gates going 5-furlongs and 1st time starter Coastal Journey broke well from the dreaded 1 hole under Silvio Amador and drew off to a 2 length lead at the 1/8th pole which was enough of a lead to on for the 3/4 length win in a time of 57.95. 16-1 Sombrero Negro and Adrian Castellanos ran a big race to get 2nd, 20-1 Little Minnie Mo and Francisco Duran got up for 3rd and completing the superfecta was 3-1 Global Agenda with David Haldar.

Coastal Journey is owned by the Q Stable and trained by Doug McPhee. Coastal Journey is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Special Holiday by Private Gold and was bred by Connie Belshay.

Pay-Outs
1 Coastal Journey (Amador)  $13.46  $6.44  $4.30
5 Sombrero Negro (Castellanos) $11.84  $8.64
6 Little Minnie Mo (Duran)  $6.42
$1 Ex 1-5 $89.45
$1 Tri  1-5-6 $963.80
$1 Super  1-5-6-2 $8,868.50
$1 DD  7-1 $67.35
50-cent Pick (3) 3-7-1 $135.63
50-cent Pick (4) 5-3-7-1 $976.84

Race Replay

6th Race

A nicely paced run from Gold Coast Girl paid off in a win for Manny Americano who wore down the top choice Eyelight and Kevin Krigger to win by more than a length runninb the 1 lap mile in 1:37.76. Gold Coast Girl races for Kyrie Patino and trained by Faustino Patino. Gold Coast Girl is a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Ms Moscow Mattie by Matty G and was bred by Ron and Nina Hagen and Larry and Miriam Bonwell.

Eyelight settled for 2nd holding off After My Own Heart and Adrian Castellanos by a neck and Bourban Glaze under David Haldar ran 4th.

Claimed: Trainer Justin Evans put in a tag for new owners Austin Evans and Ty Leatherman on Bourbon Glaze for $5,000.

Pay-Outs
 3 Gold Coast Girl (Americano)  $9.66  $4.14  $2.70
1 Eyelight (Krigger)  $3.18  $2.54
6 After My Own Heart (Castellanos)  $2.60
$1 Ex 3-1  $15.91
$1 Tri 3-1-6 $36.76
$1 Super 3-1-6-2 $67.40
$1 DD 6-3 $58.58
50-cent Pick (3) 1-6-3 $81.87
50-cent Pick (4) 7-1-6-3 $1,570.32

Race Replay

7th Race 

There had been no favorites winning through the first 6 races but that string ended in the 7th when Light the Beam came from just off the pace and powered to a nearly 3 length win. Light the Beam was guided by Manny Americano in a final time of 1:36.90 for the mile run. Light the Beam races for Julie Hebdon and is trained by Jorge Rosales.

5-1 Sir Lucas led most of the way with Chel-c Bailey in the saddle and settle for 2nd best, Blues Rapper and Adrian Castellanos took 3rd and First Endeavor and Kevin Krigger finished 4th.

Pay-Outs
7 Light the Beam (Americano)  $3.02  $2.36  $2.10
6 Sir Lucas (Bailey)  $4.76  $2.68
2 Blues Rapper (Castellanos) $2.88
$1 Ex 7-6 $7.16
$1 Tri 7-6-2 $20.38
$1 Super 7-6-2-5 $60.50
$1 DD 3-7 $9.74
50-cent Pick (3) 6-3-7 $51.45

Race Replay

8th Race

This Saturday wrapped up with the 2nd favorite of the day finishing 1st when Peg’s Choice and Frank Alvarado rolled to a big 4+ lengths victory in a time of 1:12.15 for 6-furlongs. Peg’s Choice is owned by Swag Stables and trained by David Martinez. Peg’s Choice is a Washington bred by Mr Rancho Vista out of Carrick Bay by Lemon Drop Kid and was bred by Karen Angelos and Keith Swagerty.

Jawanna Party and Manny Americano ran hard but were silmply 2nd best, Burnin at Midnight with Julien Couton took 3rd, 4th went to Riverside Glory under Adrian Castellanos and completing the Super High 5 was Leah’s Lute and Juan Gutierrez.

Pay-Outs
4 Peg’s Choice (Alvarado)  $3.80  $2.74  $2.14
1 Jawanna Party (Americano)  $5.70  $4.34
8 Burnin at Midnight (Couton)  $2.60
$1 Ex 4-1 $12.60
$1 Tri 4-1-8 $27.88
$1 Super 4-1-8-3 $132.450
50-cent Super High Five 4-1-8-3-9 $190.46
$1 DD 7-4 $3.46
50-cent Pick (3) 3-7-4 $12.03
50-cent Pick (4) 6-9-3/7-2/4/6 $108.91
50-cent Pick (5) 1-6-3-3/7-2/4/6 $565.40
20-cent Pick (6) 7-1-6-3-3/7-2/4/6 $240.13 Carryover $3,361

Race Replay

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