8/23/2025
(Auburn, WA) After probably the biggest Friday night of racing in Emerald Downs history outside a July 3rd Fireworks night there is always a natural little let down. Going from the excitement of something we’ve never seen before in a nearloy 600k pick 5 pool to a hot Saturday afternoon. But still for this time of year the racing was good, fields solid and another good handle.
Front speed did well on Saturday and helped Its Kraken Time to carry the feature race for his 1st win of the season.
Counting Sunday, there are only 7 racing days left in 2025. The wiener dog races are slated for Sunday the final dog race day of 2025. The season will wrapped on Septemeber 7 with the final 4 stakes races of the year capped off by the prestigious Gottstein Futurity.
The Numbers
Saturday’s 8 races had 62 starters for an average of 7.8 per race. The betting handle was $1,189,519 or $148,690 per race. Sunday has 9 races on the card with 69 entries so if there are no scratches that will be an average of 7.7 per race.
From the Saddle
Cruz bounces back
It was great to see Alex Cruz in the saddle on Friday after going down in a bad spill on Mile day and then having to take off all his stakes mounts. He got off to a good start on Saturday sweeping the opening daily double. The 5-time defending Jockey Champion will not top the standings for the first time he’s ever regularly ridden at Emerald Downs.
But he is in a battle for 3rd place with Silvio Amador and Kevin Orozco. Both of them also got wins on Saturday.
Battle for the Title
Kevin Krigger had a 1 win lead over Manny Americano a couple of weeks ago and it was reduced to 5 since then. Krigger added one yesterday while Americano was shut out so Krigger leads by 6.
Bitten by the Bug?
Manny Americano had a tremendous apprenticeship over the past year. He began riding in 2023 with 30 mounts in Northern California but was winless. In 2024, he began in Northern Cal and then made his way to Emerald Downs on Opening Day still winless.
It would be mount #44 aboard Smoken Shadow on June 21 when he got that first win. He would get just one more win until August 4. Then something happened and it all came together as he would start visiting the winner’s circle on a regular basis finishing with 5 wins in Augst and 7 for the season.
In September with just 8 racing days he won 9 races finishing with 16 on the year. This included his most improtant win of his career, probably will always be his most important win. He won the Gottstein Futurity on closing day and did it with 32-1 Colonel Ludlow showing everyone he can ride.
Americano went on to win the riding Championship at Turf Paradise last season and returned to Emerald Downs where he has been locked in a battle with Kevin Krigger. Krigger is a former riding champ at Emerald and has ridden all over North America.
Americano did all of that with the apprentice advantage of the “bug”. This is a weight allowance for riders just starting to try and equal their inexperience with experienced riders. Americano enjoyed that advantage all summer here in the NW up until last weekend.
He lost his apprenticeship after the races on August 10. Since then he has had just 3 wins, two of then on Mile day including the Longacres Mile which he wouldn’t have gotten the weight allowance anyway so just 2 wins since losing his bug.
No question you match a talented rider like Manny with a weight allowance is akin to the Seattle Seahawks finding Russell Wilson as a rookie and they were able to take advantage of that salary cap to build the rest of their Super Bowl winning team.
Manny keeps hitting the board at a regular rate but are the recent lack of wins due to the weight or just part of the ebb and flow of a race season?
We wouldn’t bet against him and he still has a shot at running down Krigger in the final 7 days but he’s got to nearly double Krigger’s wins to make such an incredible run.
Castellanos remains Hot
Since coming to Emerald Downs for the first time in early July, Adrian Castellanos remains one of the most consistent riders in a very tough jock’s room. Castellanos picked up his 16th win from 80 mounts on Saturday and is one of two riders winning at a 20% or higher clip. Castellanos is right on 20% and only Kevin Krigger is has a higher win percent at 24%.
Paddock Report
Rosales reaches 30 wins
Leading trainer Jorge Rosales was the first trainer to reach 30 wins on Saturday and he’s doing it with the volume method. Rosales has a large stable and is very active in the claiming market red tagging horses nearly every single day.
Rosales sent out a pair of winners on Saturday with Fort Necessity in the 3rd and Pole to Pole in the 4th. Pole to Pole was claimed but Rosales had already filled that opening with a claim in the 3rd of Beer Begone. He also took 3 claims home on Friday night.
Rosales has started 158 runners this year and is winning at a 19% rate. He is overwhelming the others in the chase and that strategy is working.
Evans and others in the chase
Justin Evans is the 2-time defending training champ and trying to get #3 and began the day down by 3 and quickly cut it to 2 winning the opener. But Rosales countered with a double to push his lead to 4 with 7 days left. Frank Lucarelli is closing strong after winning a pair of stakes races on Mile day he has wins on both Friday and Saturday and has tied Blaine Wright for 3rd place with 23 wins. Those 4 trainers are the only ones with 20 or more.
Wright leads the money chase
Rosales may be winning more races but Blaine Wright is winning the bank account race as he is the first to top 500k after Saturday;s races pushing his earnings to $501,869. He’s got a big lead over #2 on the money list, Frank Lucarelli who is 90k behind with $410,950. Those two are the only ones over 400k.
Justin Evans is next with 371-thousand followed by Tom Wenzel at 350k. No other trainer is over the $300,000 mark.
The Betting Window
Pick 6
Too many favorites to deny the Pick 6 from getting hit and it had multiple winners to push the carryover to nearly $20,000. The winners were 7-2, 4-5, 5-1, 2-1, 3-1 and 4-5 with 3 of the 6 races won by the betting favorite. 6 of 6 paid pretty well with having only nto reach on a 5-1 shot returning $744. The carryover for Saturday is $19,078.
I’m hoping for a carryover to get to the final day on Septemeber 7.
Perfect Numbers
I’m always looking for little oddities and on Saturday the way some of the races finished numerically stood out. In the 2nd race the suprfecta was 2-3-4-5. I know the most popular trifecta bet is 1-2-3 so being off by one to the 2-3-4-5 was also popular returing just $4.99 on the dime. Yes, they were the top 4 favorites in a 6 horse field but the winner was the 5-1 3rd choice.
Then in the 5th race there was a field of 7 after the 4 horse scratched. The order of finish was the rare as they were listed in the program: 1-2-3-5-6-7-8. a perfect finish by numbers.
7th and Feature Race The Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse
Its Kraken Time had his consistency rewarded with a front-running 1 ¾-length victory in Saturday $25,000 Darrell LaFrance Memorial Purse at Emerald Downs.
With Carlos Montalvo at the controls, Its Kraken Time zipped one mile in 1:34.76, returning $8.44 as the the third betting choice. Anne Wisdom is the winning trainer for 48 Racing Stable.
Sent to the lead from the No. 2 post, Its Kraken Time set fractions of :22.77, :45.67, 1:09.41, and 1:21.91, and held off late challenges by Executive Chef and Firewalker.
A 5-year-old Washington-bred, Its Kraken Time entered the race off back-to-back runner-up finishes, including a second to What a Dude in the meet’s fastest mile (1:33.85) on June 29.
It’s Kraken Time improved to 3-7-5 in 25 starts, including a third in the 2024 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, with career earnings of $91,687. Its Kraken Time is a Washington bred by Running Tap out of Its Diva Time by You and I and was bred by Anne Wisdom.
Executive Chef, the 5 to 2 betting favorite with jockey Silvio Amador, finished second, and is 7-5-1 in 17 career starts at Emerald Downs.
Firewalker, a 23 to 1 long shot ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, finished third while rounding out the order of finish were Crypto Ride, Veritas Aequitas, Tax Code, Graceful Mischief, Moonlightnwine, and Tougherthantherest.
Darrell LaFrance honored
Saturday’s race honored one of the state’s most venerable and beloved grooms, Darrell LaFrance, who passed away in 2024 after a 51-year career grooming several of the state’s most talented horses.
ESN talked with Sally Steiner, the longtime proprietor of the Quarter Chute Cafe in the barn area of Emerald Downs. Steiner says LaFrance was indeed beloved and had a High school friend that regularly checked on him.
Steiner says over the years LaFrance began working after High School at Longacres and worked for a multitude of trainers including Craig Roberts, Glen Williams, Larry Pierce, Vince Gibson and Charlie Essex to name a few.
Steiner says he was a friend to everybody and everybody loved Darrell. He is missed.
Pay-Outs
2 Its Kraken Time (Montalvo) $8.44 $4.12 $3.60
7 Executive Chef (Amador) $4.22 $3.06
6 Firewalker (Whitaker) $9.04
$1 Ex 2-7 $19.21
$1 Tri 2-7-6 $199.96
$1 Super 2-7-6-5 $1,769.70
$1 DD 5-2 $17.97
50-cent Pick (3) 1-5-2 $65.95
Race Replay
The rest of the Saturday’s card
1st Race
In the opener Alex Cruz went straight to the lead with 5-2 R Barracuda in the 1-mile run and controlled the pace all the way around setting soft fractions of 23.56, 46.06 and 1:10.32. ‘Cuda rolled down the stretch always in control to win by 2 lengths in a final clocking of 1:35.63. R Barracuda races for Ty Leatherman, Jeff Plotkin and Austin Evans and trained by Justin Evans.
2-1 Riding By and Kevin Krigger were 2nd best, 6-5 Klinkerbrick under Manny Americano was a clear 3rd in a boat race with Get Down and Carlos Montalvo 4th.
Pay-Outs
2 R Barracuda (Cruz) $7.38 $3.12 $2.12
3 Riding By (Krigger) $3.44 $2.10
5 Klinkerbrick (Americano) $2.10
$1 Ex 2-3 $9.72
$1 Tri 2-3-5 $11.44
$1 Super 2-3-5-6 $15.00
Race Replay
2nd Race
Front running My Lovely Lydia broke well under Alex Cruz and battled with 31-1 Gracie’s Choice all the way to the top of the stretch. The closers hoped that would soften Lydia up but she had plenty left holding off and then pulling away from odds-on choice Pearl Blue and Manny Americano to win by nearly 2 lengths. My Lovely Lydia is owned by Phillip Lebherz and trained by Michael Lenzini.
Pearl Blue was an easy 2nd by 11 lengths over 3rd place Free To Be with Carlos Montalvo while Delayed not Denied and Kevin Krigger completed the superfecta.
Pay-Outs
2 My Lovely Lydia (Cruz) $12.54 $4.18 $3.14
3 Pearl Blue (Americano) $2.30 $2.10
4 Free to Be (Montalvo) $3.04
$1 Ex 2-3 $10.48
$1 Tri 2-3-4 $18.27
$1 Super 2-3-4-5 $49.90
$1 DD 2-2 $37.32
Race Replay
3rd Race
A field of 9 went 6-furlongs and 7-2 Fort Necessity broke well and quickly put 4 lengths on the rest and they would never get closer. Jockey Silvio Amador went fast with fractions of 21.61 and 43.86. But Amador could feel Fort had plenty left and they rolled to a 5 length victory in a blazing time 1::08.58. Fort Necessity races for Eliana Thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales.
5-2 favorite Beer Begone and Kevin Krigger was a clear 2nd, 5-1 Don’t Have Another with Adrian Castellanos closed to be 3rd best as Anna’s Iron Man and Chel-c Bailey checked in 4th.
Claimed: Not only did Jorge Rosales win the race he teamed up with Jesus Payon Perez to tag the 2nd place runner Beer Begone for $2,500.
Pay-Outs
7 Fort Necessity (Amador) $9.90 $5.82 $4.10
3 Beer Begone (Krigger) $4.30 $2.82
6 Don’t Have Another (Castellanos) $3.58
$1 Ex 7-3 $24.47
$1 Tri 7-3-6 $105.34
$1 Super 7-3-6-1 $651.30
$1 DD 2-7 $48.24
50-cent Pick (3) 2-2-7 $111.77
Race Replay
4th Race
4-5 Pole to Pole did just that in this 6-furlong dash laying down some quick fractions under Adrian Castellanos. 22.18 and 44.82 as Pole to Pole and Castellanos opened up in the stretch winning in a blow out by 5 lengths in a final time of 1:08.79. Pole to Pole is owned by Eliana Thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales.
7-1 Tigersun with Frank Alvarado stalked but was clearly 2nd best, 43-1 Pakas Secret was also involved in the pace scenario and held 3rd with 9-2 Tiz Grazen and Kevin Orozco 4th.
Claimed: 2 were headed for a new barn after the race including the winner Pole to Pole going to Michael Bullene for owner Jaqueline Smith. Tiz Grazen was taken by Albaro Fernandez Reyes for trainer Howie Gibson. Both were purchased for $5,000.
Pay-Outs
8 Pole to Pole (Castellanos) $3.68 $2.80 $2.58
5 Tigersun (Alvarado) $4.54 $4.64
3 Pakas Secret (Morales) $10.94
$1 Ex 8-5 $10.06
$1 Tri 8-5-3 $156.82
$1 Super 8-5-3-2 $583.10
$1 DD 7-8 $13.65 Consolation DD 7-4 $4.13
50-cent Pick (3) 2-7-4/8 $34.31
50-cent Pick (4) 2-2-7-4/8 $139.64
Race Replay
5th Race
7 runners went a mile in the 5th and this one went to the deep closer. 5-1 Drive Train sat last down the back sgtretch while odds-on favorite Goin’ South with Alex Cruz led all the way setting the fractions. Turning for home Goin’ South shook off the challenge from Pure Cane Sugar and looked like he was on his way. But the rail was left open and the veteran Kevin Krigger took full advantage storming up the rail, collaring Goin’ South inside the 16th pole to win by nearly a length. Goin’ South was 2nd, Pure Caner Sugar held 3rd and Calorese with Silvio Amador took 4th.
Drive Train is owned by Camelot Racing and trained by Scott Tubbs.
Pay-Outs
1 Drive Train (Krigger) $13.84 $4.88 $3.06
2 Goin’ South (Cruz) $2.66 $2.22
3 Pure Cane Sugar (Amricano) $2.94
$1 Ex 1-2 $18.12
$1 Tri 1-2-3 $47.38
$1 Super 1-2-3-5 $175.80
$1 DD 8-1 $19.54
50-cent Pick (3) 7-4/8-1 $43.68
Race Replay
6th Race
In a change of saddles, Kevin Orozco usually rides for Kay Cooper and Isaias Enriquez is the first call for Frank Lucarelli. In the 6th race though Orozco and Enriquez switched. Orozco got the call on the Lucarelli trained Dynamic Dee Dee who went off at 2-1. Dee Dee sat back in 4th and got first run on the front speed taking the lead inside the 1/8th pole. Dynamic Dee Dee and Orozco then held off the closers Kir Royale under Enriquez and Glory N Thehighest with David Haldar to win by a 1/2 length. Glory N Thehighest got the neck photo over Kir Royale who is trained by Cooper. River Dance with Manny Americano got off a step slow but closed with a rush to get 4th just a length behind the winner.
Dynamic Dee Dee ran the 6-furlongs in 1:10.23 nd races for Ron Schmid and Patti Boudier and Lucarelli trained. The 3-year-old filly is a Washington bred by Dynamic Impact put of Somethin’bput Iris by Harbor the Gold.
Pay-Outs
5 Dynamic Dee Dee (Orozco) $6.80 $3.96 $3.18
6 Glory N Theheist (Haldar) $10.66 $5.94
4 Kir Royale (Enriquez) $3.74
$1 Ex 5-6 $40.32
$1 Tri 5-6-4 $195.40
$1 Super 5-6-4-2 $402.30
$1 DD 1-5 $37.01
50-cent Pick (3) 8-1-5 $30.65
50-cent Pick (4) 7-4/8-1-1/5/11 $112.69
Race Replay
8th Race
In the Saturday finale Our Bloke at 9-2 morning line got bet down to 4-5 and Frank Alvarado didn’t disappoint with a front running win over 6 1/2-furlongs. Our Bloke won by 2 lengths in a itme of 1:15.78. Our bloke races for WYN Racing Stables and trained by Ian Jewell.
7-2 Blues Rapper ran 2nd with Adrian Castellanos, Ibn Sina and Francisco Duran took 3rd at 35-1 followed by 13-1 Getemdusty under Alex Cruz and completing the Super High 5 was 8-1 First Endeavor with Manny Americano.
Claimed: Our Bloke was claimed for $2,500 by owner/trainer Alexis Silva-Martinez.
Pay-Outs
7 Our Bloke (Alvarado) $3.78 $2.98 $5.54
2 Blues Rapper (Castellanos) $3.36 $2.84
1 Ibn Sina (Duran) $10.22
$1 Ex 7-2 $5.39
$1 Tri 7-2-1 $64.38
$1 Super 7-2-1-6 $295.60
50-cent Super High Five 7-2-1-6-4 $452.56
$1 DD 2-7 $10.18
50-cent Pick (3) 5-2-7/9 $18.30
50-cent Pick (4) 1-1/5/11-2-7/9 $127.98
50-cent Pick (5) 4/8-1-1/5/11-2-7/9 $239.61
20-cent Pick (6) 7-4/8-1-1/5/11-2-7/9 (6 correct) $744.045 carryover $19,078
Race Replay
