9/16/2025

Hore racing would not happen of course without horses. This is part 2 of re-capping the 2025 season and we’re focused on the other half of the athletic team it takes to win. Each year the Emerald media crew picks their winners of several specific categories with the most coveted Horse of the meeting. Special thanks to Emerald’s Media Director Vince Bruun for his contributions to this piece. Let’s get to our Equine awards!

Horse of Meeting: Aloha Breeze
Older Filly or Mare: Aloha Breeze

George Todaro’s ultra-consistent 5-year-old mare Aloha Breeze was voted Horse of the Meeting at the 30th Emerald Downs season that concluded Sunday.

Trained by Tom Wenzel, the Kentucky-bred daughter of The Factor finished the campaign 3-2-0 in five starts, scoring stakes wins in the Washington State Legislators Stakes and Muckleshoot Tribal Distaff, and topping the meet with $89,820 in earnings. In addition to Horse of the Meeting, Aloha Breeze won Top Older Filly Or Mare, becoming the first horse in track history to win four consecutive divisional titles: Top 2-Year-Old Filly (2021), Top 3-Year-old Filly (2022), Top Older Filly or Mare (2024 and 2025).

Washington-bred: Slew’s Tiz Whiz
Older Horse: Slew’s Tiz Whiz

The Tom Wenzel-trained 7-year-old Slew’s Tiz Whiz recognized as Top Older Horse and Top Washington-Bred for owners Slews Crew Racing. Slew had another outstanding seasaon under new regular rider Julien Couton. Couton stepped in for Jose Zunino after Zunino retired after the 2024 season.

Slew’s Tiz Whiz won his 4th straight Governor’s Stakes and took the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic on closing day. Slew made his trademarked stretch blitz in both of those races and won impressively getting up on the rail in the Classic to win by a neck over Bearings who was a neck in front of Clovisconnection in a blanket finish.

The only downside was Slew’s run in the Longacres Mile where he appeared to be a little closer than usual and turning for home he was just flat finishing off the board. Slew started 5 times this season and went 3-1-0 while collecting $80,000 i9n earnings pushing his career total just over 400k.

3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Si That Tiger
Sprinter: Si That Tiger

The Blaine Wright-trained Si That Tiger earning Top Sprinter and Top 3-year-Old Colt or Gelding for owners John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider. Si That tiger was so dominant the Irish Stakes was initially scheduled for July 20th but was re-scheduled a week later due to lack of entries.

Si That Tiger with regular rider Silvio Amador began the year with a dominant win in an allowance race. Then swept the Auburn Stakes and the Irish Day Stakes. His only hiccup was in the Muckleshoot Derby where he ran 2nd. His line for 2025 was 3-1-0 from 4 starts and banked $79.250 and now has $124,150 in the bank. 

3-Year-Old Filly: Ima Margarita Girl

Top 3-Year-Old Filly went to Steve and Letha Haahr’s consistent Ima Margarita Girl. Trained by Scott Tubbs, the Washington-bred daughter of Coast Guard was awarded first place money in the Kent Stakes and finished runner-up in the Washington Oaks and vs. older fillies and mares in the Tribal Distaff, missing by a desperate head bob to Aloha Breeze.

Ima Margarita Girl was seemingly always overlooked going off at 31-1, 27-1, 12-1, 8-1 and 7-1 while her record was 1-2-1-1 from 5 starts. She earned $53,490 this season at Emerald Downs. Her career total jumps to $83,410.

2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Robin Racer

The Gottstein Futurity champion Robin Racer took honors as Top 2-Year-Old Colt or gelding.  Robin Racer finished runner-up in the WTBOA Lads Stakes and relished added ground in his convincing Gottstein victory. Trainer Tom Wenzel knew he would like the added distance after taking 4th in his debut in the King county Express stakes. Robin Racer with Carlos Montalvo then took 2nd in the Lads Stakes before rolling home in the Gottstein.

The Gottstein win gave his connections of owner George Todaro and Wenzel their 4th Gottstein win over the past 5 years. Robin Racer ran just the 3 times and broke his maiden in the Gottstein. He racked up $40,200 in winnings in his first season at Emerald Downs.

2-Year-Old Filly: Bewitching Joy

Double stakes winner Bewitching Joy was a near unanimous choice as Top 2-Year-old Filly. Owned by Cinco Vino Stables and trained by Frank Lucarelli, Bewitching Joy won three races overall including dominant victories in the WTBOA Lassies and Muckleshoot Juvenile Fillies. 

Jockey Isaias Enriquez was impressed by this young filly and her professionalism. Saying she really learns quickly and knows how to run. Enriquez was not on her maiden run where she ran 2nd. Enriquez was on another Lucarelli starter Deep Desires and actually won that race.

Enriquez then got aboard on her 2nd start, another MSW and won by 3 lengths. She was the 7-2 second favorite in the Lassies and cruised to a nearly 8 length victory. B-J then wrapped up her Emerald Downs runs in the Muckleshoot Juvenile Filly Stakes with another clear win by 2 lengths.

Bewitching Joy was 3-1-0 from 4 starts and earned $73,980.

Claimer: Suprsinglyperfect

In an unprecedented development, 11-year-old Surprsinglyperfect won his second straight Top Claimer award, compiling a 4-0-1 mark in six starts for trainer Justin Evans. Owned by Evans and Rakoczy Racing, Surprsinglyperfect is a sparking 8-1-2 in 13 starts here the last two seasons. Overall the 

Additional Awards from Eli Sports

Claimer of the Meet $5,000 and less Diamond Dee

Diamond Dee came from the Jorge Rosales barn and owned by Eliana Thompson. The 4-year-old filly ran 9 times this season and All for $5,000 claiming tag or less, except twice at 8k. Both of those runs were off the board and the only 2 races she didn’t place 1st, 2nd or 3rd. In the 7 races she raced at 5k or less Diamond Dee was 3-2-2 or a 43% win rate and 100% top 3 finish. 33% win percent and 78% for all 9 starts.

Dee was claimed just once and Thompson and Rosales quickly claimed her back where she fnished the season. 

Not Ready for the Pasture yet Award as 11-year-olds Dominate

Surprsinglyperfect wasn’t the only 11-year-old to win this season as Pistol Power also got in the winners circle twice. Pistol Power owned by Lisa Baze and trained by Rigoberto Velasquez sent Pistol Power to the track 5 times and he won twice and finished 2-0-1 for the year. He has racked up a total of 152,612 in lifetime earnings.

The 2 11-year-olds combined for 11 starts and went 6-0-2 for a 55% win rate and 73% trifecta finish. 

Biggest Longshot and Biggest Favorite Awards

It depends what you want to risk your $2 on. A chance to a big pay with low chance of winning or the higher chance of winning for little return. This year couldn’t be anymore extreme. On June 22nd in the Auburn Stakes Si That Tiger did what everyone thought he’d do when Silvio Amador brought him home a clear winner. The Win-Place and Show pool that day on this race was 137k which meant for the $2.28 pay-off it was a huge amount to win on Si That Tiger. Interestingly, the place paid $2.22 as 22-1 Goin South finished 2nd but the bridge jumpers were out and the $2 show was good for only $2.10. 

The biggest longshot changed quickly late in the season. 33-1 Poker Alice won on August 16 and paid $69.70. Then on August 31, that top pay was blown out of the water when Stay Lit won at just under 54-1 and paid $109.94. The common thread was jockey Allyssa Morales won both of those races. 

Most Wins

There was a tie for most wins of the season with Surprsinglyperfect and Creative Om. Both won 4 and details on ‘perfect’s season are above. Creative Om started slow with a 6th and 5th place finish before winning his first race on June 29 in a $5,000 claimer. Creative Om then ran up the track in 8th and then took 2nd on July 20th. This had been a nice season and not sure many expected the gray 4-year-old gelding to string 3 wins in a row to finish the year but that’s what he did. Up first a $15,000 claimer he took by nearly a length.

Up next was a starter allowance at 18-1 and finished with another starter allowance win but at 6-5 odds. Adrian Castellanos was the pilot for the final 3 wins. Creative Om climbed the ladder brilliantly and is now 5-2-0 from 12 lifetime starts and has $53,738 in his bank account.

Other Horse Highlights

Fastest Times

5 Furlongs :55.98 Code Charlie (8g) Aug. 24
5 ½ Furlongs 1:01.84 Fun Money (5m) May 25
6 Furlongs 1:07.59 Company’s Dream (5g) June 14
6 ½ Furlongs 1:14.05 Chuckanut Bay (5g) June 28
1 Mile 1:33.85 What a Dude (6g) June 29
1 Mile 70 Yards 1:38.92 What a Dude (6g) June 13
1 1/16 Mile 1:40.98 He’s Not Talking (3g) Aug 17

Win Margins

Claims Re-Cap

2025 Claims Report
No. Claims 225 (50 days)
Aggregate $1,466,500
Largest:
$25,000, Goin’ South (3g) May 3
$25,000, Bourbon Dancer (4g) May 18
$25,000, Rock N Tiger (3g) May 18
$25,000, Goin’ South (3g) May 26
$25,000, Rollin Dice (4g) June 7
$25,000, Red Leader (3g) June 14
$25,000, Heras Hope (3f) June 21
$25,000, Reach Higher (3c) June 22
$25,000, Avoir (4f) August 3
$25,000, Verdi (3g) August 3
$25,000, Coastal Jazz (7g) August 3

Horse Wins

4-Creative Om
4-Suprsinglyperfect
3-Aloha Breeze**
3-Artemus Gordon
3-Bewitching Joy**
3-Blazing Peme
3-Cap It Daddy
3-Chuckanut Bay
3-Diamond Dee
3-Don’t Have Another
3-Eyelight
3-Fast Chaz
3-Fifty Cinco
3-Grazed n’ Confused
3-Grease Missle
3-It’s Saul Right
3-Libby’s Gambit
3-Lula Bella
3-Mashhad Flats
3-Move Over (GB)
3-Poker Alice
3-Si That Tiger**
3-Slew’s Tiz Whiz**
3-Thirsty Nic
3-What a Dude
2-Adios Jojo
2-After My Own Heart
2-Always on Cay
2-Attracted*
2-Autism Inspiration
2-Beer Begone
2-Benny Buckets
2-Bob’s Vai
2-Brookys Gal
2-Candy’s Wildcat
2-Cantcatchthiscat*
2-Chatty Leroybrown*
2-Cheering for Layla
2-Chokechery Shari
2-Clubhouse Drama
2-Club Mesquite
2-Coastal Girl
2-Company’s Dream
2-Confidence Builder
2-Don’t Hit Me Bash
2-Dynamic Dee Dee
2-Executive Chef
2-Falling Leaves*
2-First Endeavor
2-Five Twenty Sunset
2-Fun Money
2-Good Lovin
2-Goin’ South
2-Gold Coast Girl
2-Golden Affair
2-Greatful Attitude
2-Jullian in Paris
2-Lapush
2-Let’s Go Champ
2-Light the Beam
2-Listentothemusic
2-Lucy L
2-Lusma
2-Miss Dynamic
2-Moonlight Grey
2-Nan Elizabeth
2-Our Bloke
2-Pistol Power
2-Pop Chart
2-Prancin Lady
2-Precedent Luke
2-Princess Payton
2-Prisoner
2-Rebel Gal
2-Right Hand Ryder
2-Rollin Dice
2-Roper
2-Royal Halo
2-Roy Hobbs
2-Saleen G T*
2-Shelby Gold
2-Silvery Orb
2-Smilingatthemoon
2-Solo Un Beso
2-Spectacular Tiger
2-Stay N Lov
2-Stay Sassy*
2-Summers Choice
2-Swift Caro
2-Tiz Grazen
2-Travel the Map
2-Yes He Can
1-Abraaj Mirage
1-Acclaimed Preacher
1-Ada Thorne
1-Always a Diva
1-Amanofmystature
1-Angier
1-Anitanewmercedes
1-Ario
1-Arrowthegreat*
1-Atmospheric River
1-A View From Above
1-Avoir
1-Ballyvaughan Gig
1-Bango’s Heat
1-Beau Mischief
1-Bedrock
1-Behind the Chair
1-Bertacchi
1-Bert’s Prospect
1-Beskar
1-Betty Lute
1-Betty Ryano
1-Beverly T
1-Blackberry Jam*
1-Bluegrass Go Go
1-Bobby’s Genie
1-Bobs Honey
1-Bring a Smile
1-Brother o’ Brien
1-Burnin At Midnight
1-Calmcoolncollected
1-Calorese
1-Caly Bali
1-Cantputapriceonfun
1-Cape Blossom
1-Cause for Divorce
1-Chalkoneupformom
1-Chelan Summer
1-C Her Beauty
1-Chrome’s Best Copy
1-Class Code
1-Classic American
1-Clay’s Opal Indy
1-Clovisconnection*
1-Coastal Journey
1-Cocktail Princess
1-Coconut Dreams
1-Code Charlie
1-Company Girl
1-Conrad Meadows
1-Cousin Theo
1-Crème de Menthe
1-Cross the Causeway
1-Crypto Ride
1-Crystalized Secret
1-Crystal Proof
1-Dangerous Game
1-Deep Desires
1-Dekudylan
1-Dennard
1-Deux Meres
1-Dirt Road Red
1-Don’t Doubt Declan
1-Don’t Tell Hydee
1-Drive Train
1-Dungarvan Oak
1-Dynamic Plan
1-El Alto Hombre
1-El Berrinches
1-El Bromista
1-Elder Mack
1-Empire Warrior
1-English Danger
1-Fantastic Dream
1-Fine by Me
1-Flexible Terms
1-Fort Necessity
1-Fortyshadesoftiger
1-Fred Mo
1-Gate Guard
1-G G Gilley
1-Gianola
1-Glimpse of Gold
1-Glory N Thehighest
1-Golden Serenade
1-Graceful Mischief
1-Great King (FR)
1-Guard Your Spot
1-Hadlees Honor
1-Halfway to Nowhere
1-Handr’sdream
1-Hannahaza Hetty
1-He’s Not Talking
1-Howdoyalikemenow
1-Ibn Sina
1-I’m a Dude To
1-Ima Margarita Girl*
1-I’m Noble
1-Impassable
1-Improbable Bet
1-I’m Telling Mom
1-Internet Bidder
1-Its Kraken Time
1-Jacob Yen
1-Kir Royale
1-Kiss of Spice
1-Kitten in Charge
1-Lady Mormont
1-La Popis
1-Laura’s Kidough
1-Little Boy Lute
1-Looks Rare
1-Louie the First
1-Lovely Bride
1-Lucky’s Loaded
1-Lucy Treasure
1-Maximum Sparkle
1-Mimi Kai
1-Miss Double Down
1-Mojave
1-Moneyshot
1-Moonlightnwine
1-Mr. Executive
1-My Dominator
1-My Little Lady
1-My Lovely Lydia
1-Nastika’s Secret
1-Nation’s Belle
1-Nephele
1-Oliver Tiz
1-Om Fire
1-Orth
1-Parlay Bay
1-Pearl Blue
1-Peg’s Choice
1-Pharoahs List
1-Pineapple Cruise
1-Pirate Red
1-Pocket Knife
1-Pole to Pole
1-Prancing Matilda
1-Princess Fave
1-Quality Cat
1-R Barracuda
1-Race a Roany
1-Rail Town
1-Red Leader
1-Red Memorys
1-Rich Gold
1-Ride for Gold
1-Riding By
1-Rockyscents
1-Robin Racer*
1-Ruby N Ray
1-Ruby Rendezvous
1-Ruler of Angels
1-Saint Benji
1-Sanger
1-Savita
1-Sawtooth Bow
1-Settler’s Cove
1-Sexzie
1-Shadowed Thoughts
1-Shady Harbor
1-Shes Vals Barkley
1-Simply Gracious
1-Sing a Happy Song
1-Sir Argento
1-Sir Dreamer
1-Sir Greyson
1-Sir Lucas
1-Slew o’ Mischief
1-Sonoma Dreaming
1-Square Cat
1-Stay Lit
1-Stellzone
1-Subtle Shimmer
1-Summanus
1-Sumthintotalkabout
1-Surprise Fashion
1-Taino House
1-Tapbyangels
1-Thatwouldbewrong
1-The Great Haynes
1-Tieton River
1-Tigersun
1-Tiosimage
1-Tiz’s Harbor
1-Toodle Loo
1-Tougherthantherest
1-Town Performer
1-Unbridled Scholar
1-Veritas Aequitas
1-West Coast Bull
1-West Side Okie
1-Willing to Burn
1-Winanywayucan
1-Wirewyre
1-Wreckless Rhett
1-Yeti Lute
1-Zippin Sevenz
*stakes win

Sire Wins

17-Smiling Tiger
15-Coast Guard
14-Stanford
13-Stay Thirsty
12-Clubhouse Ride
12-Dads Caps
9-Grazen
8-Conveyance
8-Dynamic Impact
8-Om
8-Slew’s Tiznow
7-Misremebered
7-The Factor
6-Atta Boy Roy
6-Barkley
6-Grazen
6-Harbor the Gold
6-Vronsky
5-Abraaj
5-Acclamation
5-Curlin to Mischief
5-Mendelssohn
5-Sir Prancealot
5-Unified
4-Collected
4-Gormley
4-I’ll Have Another
4-Lutes Gift
4-Mrazek
4-Perfect Soul
3-Cat Burglar
3-Commissioner
3-Danzing Candy
3-Desert Code
3-Fast Anna
3-Frosted
3-Goldencents
3-Hard Spun
3-Jersey Town
3-Many Rivers
3-Midnight Lute
3-Nationhood
3-Pontiff
3-Raised a Secret
3-Rallying Cry
3-Smokem
2-Accelerate
2-Big Bad Leroybrown
2-Bolt d’Oro
2-Cairo Prince
2-Can the Man
2-Classic Empire
2-Conquest Fahrenheit
2-Cross Traffic
2-English Channel
2-Enticed
2-Flat Out
2-G.G. Ryder
2-Gig Harbor
2-Haynesfield
2-Improbable
2-Informed
2-Jeranimo
2-Liam’s Map
2-Maclean’s Music
2-Mr. Big
2-Mo Town
2-Noble Mission
2-Orb
2-Passion for Gold
2-Quality Road
2-Richard’s Kid
2-Rousing Sermon
2-Sky Mesa
2-Sungold
2-Take Charge Indy
2-Tapiture
2-Violence
2-War Power
2-West Coast
1-American Freedom
1-American Pharoah
1-Anthony’s Cross
1-Archarcharch
1-Arrogate
1-Authentic
1-Bahamian Squall
1-Bal a Bali
1-Bodemeister
1-Boisterous
1-Boos
1-Brody’s Cause
1-Bucchero
1-California Chrome
1-Catalina Cruiser
1-City of Light
1-Cloud Computing
1-Congrats
1-Connect
1-Constitution
1-Creative Cause
1-Cupid
1-Dialed In
1-Dominus
1-Dontmesswithkitten
1-Dosificado
1-Faversham
1-Flintshire
1-Gallant Son
1-Gold Aly
1-Good Magic
1-Gun Runner
1-Heart to Heart
1-Honor Code
1-Hoppertunity
1-Houseofroyalhearts
1-Idiot Proof
1-I’m Lock N Load
1-Instagrand
1-Into Mischief
1-Isotherm
1-Jake La Gold
1-Jess Mo
1-Karakontie
1-Keen Ice
1-Klimt
1-Latent Heat
1-Lea
1-Lord Nelson
1-Maimonides
1-Majestic Harbor
1-Maximus Mischief
1-McKinzie
1-Mitole
1-More Than Ready
1-Mr. Rancho Vista
1-Palace Malice
1-Practical Joke
1-Prospect Park
1-Race Day
1-Raise the Bluff
1-Red Rocks
1-Rise Up
1-Rumpus Cat
1-Running Tap
1-Sapphire Cat
1-Shamardal
1-Sharp Azteca
1-Sky Kingdom
1-Square Eddie
1-Summersimage
1-Tale of Ekati
1-Tap Back
1-Temple City
1-Texas Ryano
1-Tonalist
1-Uh Oh Bango
1-Unusual Heatwave
1-Wilburn
1-Will Take Charge

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