Emerald Downs Sunday: Code Charlie wins the Owners Purse; Wiener Dogs and Carryovers

8/24/2025

(Auburn, WA) A sweltering Sunday afternoon did not slow down the Wiener dogs and Wannabe’s with 10 heats of dogs races and 2 Championship runs. Our Wiener dog and Wannabe’s coverage is at the bottom of this post.

Meantime, the Owner’s Purse was back and was a 5 furlong sprint where the owners and trainers assign the weight carried at the time of entry. It could be called the drag race of thoroughbreds with fast starts and fast times. The only thing missing from the race is “Big Daddy” Garlits and Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney. (Younger readers google those names to catch up with us geezers.) The final time was nearly a track record.

And we nearly went the whole season without a pick 5 carryover until Longacres Mile day. That resulted in a 78k carryover and ultimately nearly a 600k pool last Friday more than doubling the former record pool. It happened again but won’t be as big as last Friday. The Pick 5 carried over again after Sunday’s card. The Pick 6 carryover continues to build as well. Check the details in The Betting Window below.

3 on 3 Hoops!

Jockey Alex Cruz is leading the effort to host a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on Tuesday afternoon in the Las Marg’s parking lot. The event is open to the public and you can register your team on site. Full details can be found in our story here.

WTBOA Yearling Sale

The Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association annual yearling and mixed sale begins on Tuesday, August 26 at 1pm. This sale has produced some big time Champions beginning with Smiling Tiger a Grade 1 winner with earnings near 1.5-million. Other notables from this sale include Atta Boy Roy, Ppap’s Golden Boy and Precise Timing to name a few. For more information on the sale click on this link to the official site.

The Numbers

Nine races were on the Sunday afternoon card and a total of 64 starters for an average of 7.1 per race. The betting handle was a little above average at $1,429,931 or $158,881 per race. The crowd was very good for as warm as it got in the afternoon but after the second round of wiener dog qualifying the crowd did thin out. But again the betting stayed consistent which is a huge positive sign.

From the Saddle

Cruz Doubles

Alex Cruz was the only double winner on Sunday. Cruz began with a winb in the 2nd on Libby’s Gambit as the odds-on favorite. Cruz then blazed in the Owner’s Purse aboard Code Charlie at 11-1. Cruz now has 32 wins in 3rd place 2 in front of Silvio Amador. Amador had pulled even with Cruz after the 1st race with his 30th win.

Battle for Title

Kevin Krigger won another round of the battle for the riding Championship with 1 win on the day to push his total to 65. He leads Manny Americano by 6, the same when they began the day. Americano won the finale but with only 6 days left of the season, Americano has to win 2 for every 1 win Krigger gets in the final 6 days. That will be a tall order.

J’s were Hot!

Javier, Juan and Julien all picked up wins on Sunday. The longtime NW veteran Javier Matias got his 1st win since May 31st when he brought home 1st time starter, 2-year-old Behind the Chair in the 2-year-old Maiden Special Weight in the 3rd race. The 5-2 2nd favorite was impresive with a 3 length victory. Matias has only taken 39 mounts this season and is 3-4-8 on the year.

Juan Gutierrez picked up the mount on Light the Beam in the 5th race and was bet down to 4-5 favoritism came from just off the pace to record the easy win. The all-time winningest rider at Emerald Downs got #14 of the season and keeps winning at an 18% clip.

Julien Couton brought home on of the price horses that pushed the carry over’s. 16-1 My Dominator closed from far back to roll over the leaders in the final 100-yards for a 3/4 win. Couton is also having a very solid season with his 17th victory.

Morales is on a Roll!

Allyssa Morales began the year At Emerald Downs but with a packed jockey’s room she didn’t get many chances to ride so after only 3 mounts in May she left for Los Alimitos. Morales got 3 rides in a littlemore than a month at Los Al so came back to Emerald in late July for 2 mounts and then headed for Del Mar and got 1 ride on August 3rd.

Between May 17 and August 3rd Morales had just 9 rides between the 3 tracks and one 2nd place finish.

Morales then came back to Emerald on August 16 and won with Poker Alice at 33-1. The next day in her 2nd ride back she won again on Betty Ryano in a dead heat at 8-1. She then place 2nd on 12-1 Valley Echo, took 4th on Stateforest at 32-1, was 3rd on Pakas Secret at 43-1, was 9th on a 37-1 shot, took 4th on Smilingatthemoon at 9-1 in a 5 horse field and finished yesterday with a second win on Poker Alice at 10-1.

Since coming back to Emerald on August 16 she’s had 8 mounts and has finished out of the superfecta just once and with 3 wins. She is 3-1-1-2 from 8 mounts. That’s a 38% win clip, 63% trifecta finish and 88% top 4 finish. The 3 races she won her average odds were 17-1. Her average odds for all 8 rides have been 23-1 with only two under 10-1 at 8-1 and 9-1.

Anyone looking for a hot rider to wrap up the season need to look no further than Morales.

Paddock Report

Leading trainer Jorge Rosales added another win and extended his lead to 5 over 2nd place Justin Evans. Rosales picked up another win and unless the wheels fall off it looks like the race is for 2nd. Roasles is now 31-19-27 from 163 starts and a 19% win percent.

Evans holds on the 2nd place followed by Blaine Wright who got a win on Sunday as well. The top of the trainer standings now look like this going into the final two weeks:

1 Jorge Rosales 163 31-19-27
2 Justin Evans 89 26-20-12
3 Blaine Wright 120 24-25-20
4 Frank Lucarelli 128 23-24-16
5 Tim McCanna 84 19-15-14
5 Howie Gibson 85 19-9-14

Allen gets 1st win

Trainer Marshall Allen got his 1st win of the season, but it was pnly his 2nd start. Allen trains part time and for the One Horse Will Do Corporation. The two of them scored their only win of the year with 2-year-old Behind the Chair.

Trainer Marshall Allen with Behind the Chair

Cruz wins Feature

Jaymie Cruz didn’t have to go far to give her jockey her strategy for riding Code Charlie in the Owner’s Purse as her husband Alex Cruz was the pilot. The strategy, was go fast ands they did. The fulol report on Code Charlie’s win is below.

Jaymie Cruz got her 3rd win of the season from 10 starts and has a pair of places and shows for a 30% win and 70% top 3 finish rate.

Tamayo Doubles

Isidro Tamayo doubled on Sunday with wins in the 7th and 9th races. This is Tamayo’s first year at Emerald Downs but was not on hand for the two wins. He also has horses running at Del Mar so he is down south. The 2 wins pushes his total to 13 and 8th place overall.

The Betting Window

You only needed 4 correct to cash in your pick 5 ticket and 5 of 6 in the pick 6. But 1 person had all 4 on the pick 4 and swept the whole pool for $17,552.83. Believe it or not it’s just the 2nd highest Pick 4 pay of the year. The top pay was just a week ago on Mile day with a nearly 28k pay-off.

The pick 3 from races 6,7 and 8 paid $2,219.88, also the 2nd highest of the year. Again, just missing the high pay of the season which was also on Mile day, the 9-10 and 11 races paying $2,309.

The 4 of 5 in the pick 5 paid $292.41 and there will be an $11,696 carryover to Friday. 5 of 6 in the pick 6 paid $508.01 and the 20-cent bet has built up into a $23,234 carryover to Friday. This is when the pick 6 begins to get really interesting. With the carryover there’s two ways for the pot to get bigger is by no one picking all 6 or multiple tickets with the 6 winners. If this get’s pushed all the way to closing day on September 7 that is surely to draw a lot of bettors to the table.

8th and Feature Race the Owner’s Purse

With a dazzling display of speed, Code Charlie dominated Sunday’s $25,000 Owners’ Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

With Alex Cruz riding, Code Charlie ran five furlongs in a blazing :55.98—two ticks off the track record—and paid $24.64 to win. Jaymie Pearman Cruz—wife of Alex Cruz—is the winning owner and trainer.

Outsprinting Papa’s Golden Boy for the early lead, Code Charlie opened a commanding advantage while setting fractions of :21.23 and :43.34, led by six lengths in mid-stretch, holding off the closers for his first win in three tries at the meet.

An 8-year-old Washington-bred by Desert Code, Code Charlie is one of the quickest horses on the grounds, displaying brilliant speed winning a pair of 870-yard events here in 2024. Including mixed breed races, Code Charlie improved to 14 for 44 lifetime with earnings of $129,082.

Pirate Red, bidding for his fourth straight win at Emerald Downs, flew late to finish second, and has been in the exacta in seven of nine starts at Emerald Downs.

Jin Tong, 5 to 2 second choice, rallied from last to finish third while El Bromista, Mister Midas, Young Life Laura, and Papa’s Golden Boy completed the order of finish.

Pay-Outs
4 Code Charlie (Cruz) $24.64 $16.30 $4.50
5 Pirate Red (McGregor) $6.46 $3.52
6 Jin Tong (Americano) $2.82
$1 Ex 4-5 $73.31
$1 Tri 4-5-6 $262.90
$1 Super 4-5-6-1 $706.70
$1 DD 6-4 $276.86
50-cent Pick (3) 4-6-4 $2,219.88

Winner’s Circle ceremonies with Joe Withee

Race Replay

The rest of the Sunday night card

1st Race

On a warm Sunday afternoon, the opener was for 2-year-olds and 1st time starter Tiosimage ran like a seasoned veteran. Silvio Amador went to the lead from the outside 7 post and burned the 1st quarter in 21.92. Amador then got Tiosimage to slow down the second quarter in 45.06. That left the 5-1 shot plenty of gas to hold off the betting favorite Lotsa Kitty to win by 4 lengths in a final time of 1:04.27. Tiosimage races for the owner and breeder of the Cal bred William Hedrick and trained by Blaine Wright.

Lotsa Kitty and Julien Couton was a clear 2nd, Sparkley Barkley and Manny Americano took 3rd with Sweet Shoppe and Kevin Orozco placing 4th.

Pay-Outs
7 Tiosimage (Amador) $12.06 $4.32 $3.06
2 Lotsa Kitty (Couton) $2.86 $2.30
1 Sparkley Barkley (Americano) $2.90
$1 Ex 7-2 $14.40
$1 Tri 7-2-1 $49.62
$1 Super 7-2-1-3 $79.20

Race Replay

2nd Race

Libby’s Gambit headed this field of 5 with a controlled pace by pilot Alex Cruz going 6-furlongs. Libby’s Gambit always near the lead to the half mile and then took control denying all comers to post the 1/2 length win in a final time of 1:10.36. 9-2 Jazzy Love with Talliyah Timentwa held 2nd by a neck over Cali Bali and Manny Americano. Taking 4th was Smilingatthemoon with Allyssa Morales.

Libby’s Gambit is trained by Scott Tubbs for owners Alex and Vincent Ortega. Libby’s Gambit is a Washington bred by Rallying Cry out of Libby Creek by Langfuhr and was bred by Allaire Farms.

Claimed: Caly Bali was red tagged by new owner John Parker and heads to trainer Candi Cryderman. Owner/trainer Hilario Perez dropped the paperwork for Libby’s Gambit. Both claims were for $2,500.

Pay-Outs
3 Libby’s Gambit (Cruz) $2.96 $2.10 $2.10
2 Jazzy Love (Timentwa) $3.22 $2.16
5 Caly Bali (Americano) $2.18
$1 Ex 3-2 $3.14
$1 Tri 3-2-5 $5.30
$1 Super 3-2-5-4 $10.02
$1 DD 7-7 $6.33
Race Replay

3rd Race

Six 2-year-old’s went 5 1/2-furlongs and all but one were 1st time startersa. Little Minnie Mo and Francisco Duran were the only one with race expderience and the 7-2 shotr went to the lead. They were quickly joined by 5-2 Behind the Chair and Javier Matias. Those two squared off for a match race at the top of the stretch with Behind the Chair with a slight lead but both were 6 clear of 3rd place Fred Mo and Manny Americano, who was clear of Hacksaw Mountain and Kevin Orozco in 4th.

That’s how it would finish in boat race fashion Behind the Chair edged away in a final time of 1:04.54. Behind the Chair races for the One Horse Will Do stable and trained by Marshall Allen. Behind the Chair is a Washington bred by Stanford out of My Palmilla by Tribale Rule and was bred by Mr and Mrs William T Griffin.

Pay-Outs
1 Behind the Chair (Matias) $7.38 $3.48 $2.88
7 Little Minnie Mo (Duran) $4.00 $2.90
5 Fred Mo (Americano) $3.60
$1 Ex 1-7 $17.30
$1 Tri 1-7-5 $65.40
$1 Super 1-7-5-+6 $163.80
$1 DD 3-1 $7.67
50-cent Pick (3) 7-1/3/7-1 $47.39

Race Replay

4th Race

3-2 Eyelight with leading rider Kevin Krigger went straight to the front setting fractions of 23.03, 45.95 and 1:10.71 for 6-furlongs and had plenty in reserve to finish the job winning by 2 lengths in a final time of 1:36.94. 5-1 Willing to Burn and Alex Cruz battled for 2nd getting it in a photo by a head over 9-1 It’s Saul Right under Silvio Amador. 32-1 Thirsty Nic closed late to grab 4th place by a nose for Kiaman McGregor.

Eyelight races for Bruce Cudahy and is trained by Dan Markle. The 4-year-old filly is a Washington bred by Atta Boy Roy out of Bikini Beach by Harbor the Gold and was bred by Bruce Cudahy.

Claimed: 2 claims were approved in the 4th with Gold Coast Girl heading to the barn of Joe Toye for owner Wayne Williams and Terra Firma Farms. The other sale was Haughty Kitty taken by owner/trainer Billy Christian. Gold Coast Girl was sold for $6,250 and Haughty Kitten went for $5,000.

Pay-Outs
3 Eyelight (Krigger) $5.36 $3.46 $2.74
2 Willing to Burn (Cruz) $6.20 $4.18
5 It’s Saul Right (Amador) $5.32
$1 Ex 3-2 $11.63
$1 Tri 3-2-5 $66.46
$1 Super 3-2-5-4 $1,003.30
$1 DD 1-3 $9.77
50-cent Pick (3) 3/7-1-3 $14.99
50-cent Pick (4) 7-1/3/7-1-3 $81.16

Race Replay

5th Race

7 lined up to go 1-mile and odds-on choice Light the Beam stalked brilliantly under Juan Gutierrez until the quarter pole. Guti let the brakes off and Light the rolled on by the pace setter Fast Chaz and Silvio Amador to post a nearly 2 length win in a final time of 1:36.38. Light the Beam is owned by Julie Hebdon and trained by Jorge Rosales.

9-2 Shaun’s Jazz with Adrian Castellanos closed well to be 2nd, Fast Chaz held 3rd and 12-1 K R Rules and Alex Cruz ran an even 4th.

Claimed: Two entries were tagged in this one for $5,000. Light the Beam goes to the Alexis Silva-Martinez barn for owner Jane Maller. Club Mesquite was taken by Eliana Thompson for trainer Jorge Rosales.

Pay-Outs
5 Light the Beam (Gutierrez) $3.94 $2.60 $2.24
1 Shaun’s Jazz (Castellanos) $4.42 $3.36
7 Fast Chaz (Amador) $3.40
$1 Ex 5-1 $7.40
$1 Tri 5-1-7 $87.00
$1 Super 5-1-7-4 $436.20
$1 DD 3-5 $7.50
50-cent Pick (3) 1-3-5 $16.51

Race Replay

6th Race

10-1 Poker Alice sat in the garden spot through the 1st half of the mile race just behind the front speed. At the 6-furlong mark Allyssa Morales took first run and grabbed the lead extending to a 3 length lead at the top of the stretch and just kept going extending it to a 5 1/2 length win. Poker Alice races for owner/trainer Sergio Perez and stopped the clock in 1:35.41.

8-5 favorite Greatful Attitude with Isaias Enriquez chased Poker Alice from the start but was clearly 2nd best. 5-1 Yogya and Kiaman McGregor took 3rd while 2-1 Big Beauty completed the superfecta under Manny Americano.

Pay-Outs
4 Poker Alice (Morales) $23.02 $9.02 $6.04
2 Greatful Attitude (Enriquez) $3.36 $2.54
1 Yogya (McGregor) $3.74
$1 Ex 4-2 $37.22
$1 Tri 4-2-1 $133.82
$1 Super 4-2-1-7 $385.90
$1 DD 5-4 $29.34
50-cent Pick (3) 3-5-4 $50.15
50-cent Pick (4) 1-3-5-4 $177.88

Race Replay

7th Race

16-1 My Dominator, selected by track handicapper Joe Withee, came from well off the pace to pass them all inside the 16th pole with a perfectly timed ride from Julien Couton. My Dominator finished the 6 1/2-furlongs in a quick 1:15.43 for trainer Isidro Tamayo and owner Edgar Pulido.

6-1 Smiling Goodbye with Manny Americano in the saddle tried to hold off My Dominator but couldn’t do it but did hang on to 2nd by a nose over another closer 15-1 Royal Halo and Carlos Montalvo. Taking 4th was 10-1 El Alto Hombre under Francisco Duran riding.

Pay-Outs
6 My Dominator (Couton) $35.44 $15.52 $8.56
1 Smiling Goodbye (Americano) $5.72 $3.88
7 Royal Halo (Montavlo ) $7.32
$1 Ex 6-1 $186.41
$1 Tri 6-1-7 $1,140.44
$1 Super 6-1-7-8 $3,627.50
$1 DD 4-6 $225.30
50-cent Pick (3) 5-4-6 $578.83

Race Replay

9th Race

In the week’s get-away race there was again a chance to end the day on a high note with 9-2 West Side Okie going gate to wire posting a 7 length win under Manny Americano in a final time of 1:09.91 for the 6-furlongs. West Side Okie races for Brian Parker and trained by Isidro Tamayo, his 2nd win of the day.

11-1 Above the Ordinary and Frank Alvarado ran on to be 2nd by a neck over 3rd place finisher and race favorite Bella Ciao Ciao with Alex Cruz. Running 4th was 8-1 Arya’s Ride with David Haldar up and completing the Super High Five was 4-1 Misty Malibu and Carlos Montalvo.

Pay-Outs
2 West Side Okie (Americano) $11.78 $6.36 $3.80
9 Above the Ordinary (Alvarado) $11.66 $5.80
3 Bella Ciao Ciao (Cruz) $2.64
$1 Ex 2-9 $37.50
$1 Tri 2-9-3 $131.21
$1 Super 2-9-3-4 $1,376.80
50-cent Super High Five 2-9-3-4-5 $524.28
$1 DD 4-2 $57.87 Consolation DD b4-6 $9.65
50-cent Pick (3) 6-4-2 $878.03
50-cent Pick (4) 4-6-4-2 $17,552.83
50-cent Pick (5) 5-4-6-4-2 (4 correct) $292.41 carryover $11,696
20-cent Pick (6) 3-5-4-6-4-2 (5 correct) $508.01 carryover $23,234

Race Replay