5/16/2026

Saturday was Preakness Stakes Day but withpout Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo in the field, the race wasn’t quite as anticipated as usual. But it was still a great race with 14 going the 1 3/16 at Laurel Race Track. Normally, the Preakness is  run at Pimlico but the historeic Maryland track is undergoing major renovations and the Preakness will be back at Pimlico next year.

We have the coverage of the Preakness below along with all of the Emerald races with some news and notes.

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

Let’s get to the numbers of the day beginning with 7 races and a total of 38 starters. 4 scratches impacted the final numbers. The 2nd and 3rd races only had 4 starters which means there was no show wagering so if you had a show bet somehow on either race all show bets were refunded.

The betting handle was a season low $662,875 for an average of $94,696 per race.

$2 Highs
8-1 Bluelocket paid $18.62 on the $2 win in the 1st race and also topped the $2 place by a dime paying $5.68. The top $2 show was 5-1 Adios Jojo in the 6th race paying $3.80.
Top Exoctic Pays
$1 Exacta and 50-cent trifecta paid out in the 1st race with the exacta returning $19.90 and the tri $36.90. The top 10-cent superfecta was in the 7th paying $65.57 or $655.70 on the $1 bet. The Super Hi 5 did pay out at $365.

The top $1 Daily Double paid was the 1st one with 7-1 in the 1st to 5-2 in the 2nd for a $29.71 return.
The 50-centers
Pick 3 races 1st-2nd-3rd paid $78.31
Pick 4 races 1 thru 4 paid $300.01
Pick 5 paid $265.56
10-cent Jackpot Pick 6 paid $185.94 with a carryover to Sunday of $2,931

Hot Jocks

Seecharan settling in

Lenny Seecharan is new to Emerald Downs and picked up his 2nd win. Seecharan brought home 8-1 longshot in the 1st race on Saturday aboard 1st time starter Bluelocket. Seercharan won it for trainer Alan Bozell and looked like he had been working the

Seecharan had spent most of his career at Hastings Park in Vancouver BC but when the track announced it would no longer operate, Seecharan had to decide where to go. We had a chance to talk with Seechran and he told us how he decided to come to Auburn.

Nunnally gets 1st win

Jockey Blake Nunnally who started his career in 2023 at Grants Pass but had to wait for the 2024 Grants Pass season to get his 1st win. He then built his resume and experience on the Oregon fair circuit. In 2025, Nunnally made his way to Emerald Downs for a short run in August.

Nunnally then truly broke through last winter at Turf Paradise winning 38 races and finishing 5th in the final standings. Nunnally has come back to Emerald and on Saturday got his first win in Auburn aboard Rhodium Runner in the 5th race by a head at 9-2. Nunnally is ready to make a mark on this year’s jockey standings and now he’s broken the ice. Keep an eye on this up can comer.

Krigger hits 499

Kevin Krigger began the day just 2 wins from 500 Emerald Downs victories. Krigger had just 3 mounts and won on his 2nd ride, Tax Code in Saturday’s feature race for 499. Krigger had a shot at getting #500 in the final race but had to settle for 2nd. He’ll have a chance to get it done on Sunday as he is named to ride in 6 races.

The Barn

Fast Start for Alan Bozell

Trainer Alan Bozell got his 2nd win of the year when 1st time starter Bluelocket dominated the opener by 4 lengths piloted by Lenny Seecharan. Bozell had just 1 win in 2025 and didn’t get that until August 1st, his 16th start of the season. This year Bozell got his 1st win of the year on day 3 in his 2nd start of the year and gets win 2 in his 4th start on day 4. Bozell iks off to a great start.

Blaine Wright breaks the ice

Leading Stakes trainer and 4th overall last season got his first winner’s circle photograph of 2026 on Saturday. Wright sent out the always reliable Tax Code in the fesature race to win for owners Mischief Racing. Wright is now 1-2-3 from 12 starts.

Hastings trainer gets her 1st win

Patty Leaney had to make a move after Hastings closed for good and chose to head south. Leaney got her 1st win at Emerald Downs on Saturday in the finale with Malibu Lady. Jockey Alex Cruz had an amazing ride to frankly stay in the saddle after getting checked hard near the quarter pole.

Leaney picked up career win #138 from 1,221 starts and career earnigs topping 2.1-million.

1st wins of 2026

Only Alan Bozell picked up a 2nd training win on Saturday and did so in the 1st race. The other 6 were 1st wins of the season for Jose Puentes, Joe Toye, Victor Trujillo, Doug Carlson, Blaine Wright and Patty Leaney.

The 151st Preakness Stakes

7-1 Napoleon Solo got the win with a perfect stalking trip under jockey Paco Lopez. 8-1 Iron Honor with Flavien Prat ran a solid 2nd, 11-1 Chip Honcho and Jose Ortiz took 3rd and 7-1 Ocelli with Tyler Gaffalione was 4th.

For a full report on the Preakness check out the links below:

Report from NBC Sports

Yahoo Sports

AP News

Preakness Pays

$1.00 EXACTA 10-9 $53.60
$1.00 TRIFECTA 10-9-6 $597.10
$1.00 SUPERFECTA 10-9-6-2 $2,377.80
$1.00 SUPERHIGHFIVE 10-9-6-2-12 $12,015.70
$1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-10 $49.10
$0.50 PICK 3 4-4-10 $300.10
$0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 4-4-4-10 $1,489.75
$0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 6-4-4-4-10 $7,080.60
$0.20 PICK 6 6 OF 6 1-6-4-4-4-10 $33,842.34

The 151st Preakness Stakes from NBC omn YouTube

Emerald Saturday Racing

6th Feature Race

The field of 7 was quickly reduced to 6 when out of the gates crowding between #1 Elder Mack, #2 Adios Jojo, #3 Whiskey Jack and #4 Candy Caballo resulted in Whiskeyjack clipping heels and stumbling throwing Karlo Lopez to the track. Lopez would be ok and ride in the final race and Whiskeyjack did not fall and ran on with no rider.

Candy Candy Caballo wanted the lead with Carlos Montalvo in the saddle and set fractions with clear lead of 21.62 and 44.63. Meantime, 9-5 betting favorite Tax Code with Kevin Krigger was sitting in 4th place early and Krigger was also aware of the loose horse running up the rail and he wanted to make sure he was clear.

Once they straightened out for the stretch run he knew Tax Code had plenty and quickly were on equal terms with Candy Caballo and went on by for a length and a half win in a final time of 1:04.70. Tax Code races for the Mischief Stable and trained by Blaine Wright.

Tax Code earned $14,250 for the win and is now 5-3-3 from 15 career starts. The win pushed his lifetime earnings over the 100k mark to $110,853.

Candy Caballo took 2nd,Veritas Aequitas under Frank Alvarado closed well to be 3rd and Adios Jojo with Adrian Castellanos took 4th…unlofficially. Of course when a rider gets dropped for any reason the Inquiry sign goes up and the Stewards determined that although there was a lot of contact from multiple horses prior to Whiskeyjack stumbling, they felt Candy Caballo was primarily responsible and disqualified CC placing her 6th.

This moved Veritas Aequitas up to 2nd, Adios Jojo to 3rd and Elder Mack 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-6 $12.09
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-6-2 $39.19
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-6-2-1 $20.01
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 6-7 $26.88
• $0.50 PICK 3 5-6-7 $48.31

Race Replay

The rest of  Saturday’s Races

1st Race

8-1 1st time starter Bluelocket with Lenny Seecharan up stalked the early speed perfectly as Run on Om and Silvio Amador and Mo Sassy with Allyssa Morales set fractions of 22.33 and 46.34 over a damp fast track. At the quarter pole Seecharan held Bluelocket long enough and roared by the two front runners and rolled to a 4 length lead in a final time of 1:06.43. Run on Om held 2nd as the 4-5 odds on favorite while Princess Amber closed from far back under Karlo Lopez to get 3rd and Mo Sassy faded to 4th.

Bluelocket is owned by Alan Bozell and Kim Stecker and trained by Bozell. Bluelocket is a Washington bred by Lutes Gift out of Roxy Skylar by Hampton Bay and was bred by Stecker.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-1 $19.90
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-1-5 $36.90
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-1-5-2 $23.77

Race Replay

2nd Race

4 older runners lined up to go a mile with Bert’s Prospect being a late scratch. With only 4 horses that meant there was no show wagering. Twirling Derby sat just to the outside of Hadlees Honor and Brother Reid while they set rather dull fractions of 24.31, 48.02 and 1:12.42 thru 3/4’s. Twirling Derby with Karlo Lopez then unwound and joined the top two turning for home then pulled away for an easy win in a final time of 1:38.50. Twirling Derby is owned and trained by Jose Puentes.

Hadlees Honor with Silvio Amador held on for 2nd, Run Baba Run and Jairo Moreno took 3rd with Brother Reid finishing 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-5 $10.85
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-5-2 $21.11
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-5-2-3 $2.95
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-4 $29.71

Race Replay

3rd Race

The 3rd race had a late scratch of 6-5 morning line favorite Gentelmen’s Club reducing the field to 4 so again, no show wagering. General Jimbo with Alex Cruz went to the lead in the 6-furlong dash and set quicker fractions for the day of 22.45 and 45.72 leading all the way to the 1/8th pole. 1-1 Five Twenty Sunset with Silvio Amador then kicked it into gear and engaged Jimbo and would finally ease away to a half length win in a final time of 1:10.85.

General Jimbo ran big but had to settle for 2nd, Hot Goblin and Karlo Lopez took 3rd with Alpine Sermon and Kevin Krigger completed the superfecta.

Five Twenty Sunset is owned by Rage #2939 and Terra Firma Farms and trained by Joe Toye. Five Twenty Sunset if a Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Crafty Diva by Crafty Prospector and was bred by Jean Welch.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-5 $6.08
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-5-4 $4.49
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-5-4-2 $1.11
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-3 $14.73
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-4-3 $78.31

Race Replay

4th Race

A field of 5 went 5 1/2 furlongs and  Goin’ South with Silvio Amador locked in an early speed battle with West Coast Bull and Karlo Lopez as the duo sped off to fractions of 22.11 and 45.47. Meantime 3-2 Jimmy B and Frank Alvarado stayed within distance on the outside and out of trouble and began to move at the quarter pole. Stalking has been the place to be so far on Saturday and this race was no different with Jimmy B surging to the lead to win clear in a final time of 1:03.79. Redux Racing and John Knowles own Jimmy B and trained by Victor Trujillo.

Goin’ South did well to hold 2nd, West Coast Bull faded to 3rd and Bluegrass Lent got up for 4th for Alex Cruz.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-2 $8.39
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-2-1 $17.17
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-2-1-4 $6.45
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-5 $5.26
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-3-5 $22.05
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 3-4-1,3-5 $300.01

Race Replay

5th Race

5 older runners went 5 1/2 furlongs and the 3 outside horses broke together with Real Good Magic the 8-5 favorite and Karlo Lopez had the slight advantage, 9-2 Rhodium Runner and Blake Nunnally on the outside with 8-1 Corn Pop under Lenny Seecharan in between. The tril covered the 1/2 mile in 45.73 and turning for home Corn Pop began to fall back begrudgingly as Real Good Magic and Rhodium Runner squared off for the final furlong and Rhodium Runner would get the job done by a neck over the favorite. Cane Creek Road with Taliyah Timentwa rallying for 3rd over Corn Pop.

The win was Nunnally’s 1st ever win at Emerald Downs. Rhodium Runner is owned by Billy and Shawna Christian and trained by Doug Carlson. The final time was 1:04.50.

• $1.00 EXACTA 6-4 $15.03
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 6-4-1 $23.22
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 6-4-1-5 $9.46
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-6 $20.35
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-5-6 $24.42
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 4-1,3-5-6 $173.63

Race Replay

7th Race

In the finale a field of 8 went 5 1/2 furlongs and the favorite Malibu Lady went from near disaster at the quarter pole where she had to check hard and nerarly dumped jockey Alex Cruz to a clear 2 length win. Somehow Cruz stayed on and golt Malibu straight and then after coming to a near complete stop, re-broke like a quarter horse to win in spectacular fashion.

Malibu Lady stopped the clock in 1:07.55 and races for Joe and Gloria Russo. Trained by Patty Leaney who got her first win at Emerald Downs. Leaney was also a long time trainer at Hastings and has re-located to Auburn.

Native Empress ran 2nd with Kevin Krigger, Slippery Silk took 3rd under Carlos Montalvo, Melidious Sonnet with Blake Nunnally completed the superfecta and finishing off the Super Hi 5 was Delayed not Denied and Silvio Amador.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-3 $13.11
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-3-7 $29.91
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-3-7-5 $65.57
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 1-3-7-5-6 $365.00
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-1 $12.74
• $0.50 PICK 3 6-7-1 $33.73
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 5-6-7-1,4 $140.45
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 1,3-5-6-7-1,4 $265.56
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 4-1,3-5-6-7-1,4 $185.94
• – PICK 6 CarryOver $2,930.57

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