5/23/2026

(Auburn, WA) The Memorial Day weekend kicked off on Saturday at Emerald Downs with the first 3 day race week and Family Fun free activities in the park. A kids race was set for Sunday and some well matched races on the weekend cards.

A couple of headlines from Saturday include Jockey Silvio Amador winning 4 of the 7 races and what a day for Washington breds as they won the first 5 races of the day.

The Gate

Only one horse tops the win total and that is the twice last to first runner My Vino for owners TVAL Racing and trainer Frank Lucarelli. My Vino is a Kentucky bred but was bred by Todd and Shawn Hanson from Tenino. My Vino by Vino Rosso out of Specification by Empire Maker.

A second horse is now a two-time winner, Prowling Cat picked up his 2nd win in as many tries in Auburn. Prowling Cat races for Rainier Racing Club and trained by Scott Tubbs. They won on May 9th in a maiden 5k and won Saturday in a $5,000 claiming event.

Eye Opening Time

Chuckanut Bay is known for his speed and he was on full display on Saturday when jockey Allyssa Morales sat patiently for 3 furlongs in the 6-furlong 4th race and then let him do his thing winning easy and in a time of 1:08.69.

From the Saddle

The week began with as 4 way tie for first with Kevin Krigger, Silvio Amador, Karlo Lopez and Adrian Castellanos all with 6 wins. On Saturday, it was Silvio Amador’s day with 4 wins and 2 places only missing the board once in the 6th race. Amador now takes the lead in the jockey standings with 10 wins.

Kevin Krigger doubled to take sole possession of 2nd place with 8 wins and Allyssa Morales got her 1st win of the season.

From the Barn

Heading into the 3-day weekend 6 trainers had more than 1 win with Tim McCanna on top with 4 from 7 starts firing at an early 57% win rate. Defending trainer champion Jorge Rosales and Howie Gibson each with 3 wins and Frank Lucarelli, Jose Puentes and Alan Bozell each with 2. Gibson was the only one to get a win in the leading bunch to tie McCanna with 4 wins.

Charlie Essex doubles

Trainer Charlie Essex had a big day winning 2 races and doing it back-to-back in the 4th race with Atmospheric River owned by Dave Olson and did so by beating the 1-5 odds on choice He’s Not Talking with a superb ride from Silvio Amador.

Silvio was back in the saddle in the 5th for Essex ands owner Joe Crawford using the same game plan of sticking to the rail to come back late to beat Got Your Six.

From the Owners Box

TVAL racing (Todd Pederson) was the only multiple winning owner coming into day 6 of the 2026 season with My Vino winning both of his starts.

Rainier Racing Club 2nd 2-time winner

The Rainier Racing Club is a new ownership group and scored their 2nd win of the year with Prowling Cat. Scott Tubbs is the groups trainer.

Tubbs says many of the owners came from the Emerald Racing Club that the track used to operate as a way to show new want to be owners how to get into the racing business. Tubbs had been the trainer for the Emerald Racing club for the past few years and several of the members were ready to be real owners and they are off to a great start. The group in their lime green t-shirts celebrated even more when they found out Prowling Cat was not claimed.

The Breeder’s Shed

Saturday was the best day of the year for Washington bred horses as they won the first 5 races on the card. The winning breeders included Mr and Mrs William Griffin taking the 1st race with Tiz Grazen, The Dunn Bar ranch with Da Smoke in the 2nd, Chuckanut Bay smoked them in the 3rd and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen, Dave and Linda Olson sent out their home bred Atmospheric River in the 4th and #5 was Katy Farquharson’s Convey to Me. 

Sire’s Grazen and Conveyance each had 2 wins and Abraaj with one.

The Betting Window

There was a good carryover in the 10-cent Jackpot Pick 6 coming into the day and nothing crazy came in to give a single ticket winner a chance today. Then in the last race 10-1 Lil Slappy scratched which pushed everyone with #3 to the favorite Mo Grey who won and had to split the pot even more. Heading into Sunday the Pick 6 carry-over is now more than $5,300.

The Pick 5 was on the lean side as well returning $311.55. The Super Hi 5 paid out $48.72. Prowling Cat in the 6th had the high $2 win pay and only double digit of $11.28 paying 9-2. The 2nd highest was actually 7-2 Atmospheric River paying $9.50 as the second favorite in a 4 horse race beating odds-on choice He’s Not Talking at 1-5.

1st Race Confusion

After the running of the 1st race the Stewards determined that #5 Gianola did not get a fair start and ruled him a non-starter. This reduced the field to 4 and Emerald Downs does not offer show betting on 4 horse or less fields.

However, the race went official prior to deleting the 5 from the pools and show prices were posted. This would have impacted all exacta, trifecta and superfecta race pools as well. Eventually the pools were rectified but anyone a show bet on Gianola is due a refund or if you used him in the daily double, exacta, trifecta or superfecta bets.

You wouldn’t get a refund for the pick 3 or 4 because you automatically get the betting favorite on those bets with a late scratch and the betting favorite #1 Our Bloke finished 4th.

Let’s get to the Race re-caps!

6th Race Saturday’s Feature Race The Michelob Ultra Purse

A well matched  field of 7 went 6 1/2-furlongs and longshot Giant Impact went to the front with Karlo Lopez right out of the gate. 9-2 Prowling Cat and Kevin Krigger quickly took the lead and settled in on the rail. Go Lent Go and Alex Cruz and Macnarmara with Silvio Amador also were up close.

5-2 Regarding Harry under Allyssa Morales sat back early with betting favorite Gentlemen’s Club at 4-5. Gentleman’s Club never got into the race and finished off the board.

After a 23.10 quarter, Prowling Cat took the lead and controlled the pace with a 46.36 1/2 mile time. Turning for home Prowling Cat had the lead but the charge was coming as Giant Impact would not go away, Go Lent Go was progressing but it was Regarding Harry making a big move on the far outside.

At the 16th pole Prowling Cat was desperate to hold on as Harry was gaining with every stride and at the wire Prowling Cat had the tip of his nose extended just enough to hold off Regarding Harry in maybe the closest finish of the season.

Prowling Cat is owned by the Rainier Racing Club and trained by Scott Tubbs.

Prowling Cat became the 2nd 2-time winner after breaking his maiden on May 9. The Rainier Racing Club is the 2nd 2 time winning ownerof the meet with this win.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-1 $17.91
• $1.00 TRIFECTA 4-1-5 $139.42
• $1.00 SUPERFECTA 4-1-5-2 $536.10
• $1.00 DOUBLE 4-4 $38.85
• $1.00 PICK 3 1-4-4 $105.64

Race Replay

The Rest of Saturday’s Race

1st Race

A field of 5 went 6-furlongs to get the Memorial day weekend started and out of the gate #5 Gianola was declared a non-starter. (*See more on this in the Betting Window above.)

Meantime, Deputy’s Dancer with Alex Cruz went to the lead and carved out 22.20 and 45.49 fractions while 7-5 favorite Our Bloke stuck to the rail with Karlo Lopez and 5-2 Tiz Grazen with Silvio Amador worked his way to the outside and 12-year-old Pistol Power and Jose Rodriguez sat off the pace in 4th.

Turning for home it became a two horse race with Tiz Grazen and Deputy’s Dancer. There was some minor bumping in mid-stretch when  Deputy’s Dancer drifted out a bit but Tiz Grazen dug in and got the neck victory. After an inquiry the original order of finish was dclared with Tiz Grazen the winner, Deputy’s Dancer 2nd, Pistol Power closed up to be 3rd and Our Bloke flattened out and was 4th.

Tiz Grazen is owned by Alexis Silva Martinez and Tristan Thomson and trained by Silva Martinez. Tiz Grazen is a Washington bred by Grazen out of Tizzarae by Tiznow and was bred by Mr and Mrs William Griffin.

• $1.00 EXACTA 2-3 $12.35
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-3-4 $13.44
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-3-4-1 $2.79

Race Replay

2nd Race

Five 3-year-olds and up went 5 1/2-furlongs to complete the 2nd half of the opening Daily Double. 9-5 Da Smoke with Kevin Krigger got a good break out of the 1 hole and took the early lead. Calmcoolncollected with Silvio Amador broke out from the 5 gate but straightened up and engaged Da Smoke early on. The pair went 22.31 and 45.32 for the half but Da Smoke had a little more left and edged away in deep stretch for the clear win in a final time of a quick 1:03.57. Calmcoolncollected ran a big race but was 2nd best. Verdi and Jose Rodriguez closed from last for a nice 3rd place run and Hacksaw Mountain with Alex Cruz ran an even 4th.

Da Smoke races for Anne Wisdom and Jamie Johnson and trained by Wisdom. Da Smoke is a Washington bred by Conveyance out of Da Burn by Forestry and was bred by the Dunn Bar Ranch.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-5 $11.53
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-5-4 $9.85
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-5-4-2 $4.41
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-1 $10.60

Race Replay

3rd Race

5 older horses went 6-furlongs and 6-5 favorite Chuckanut Bay is known for speed and he showed it here. Allyssa Morales broke well to sit must behind Cap It Daddy and Silvio Amador who set the 1st quarter in 22.32. Chuckanut Bay turned up the heat in the 2nd quarter as the two were head-n-head going 44.32. But Bay had an extra gear pulling away for the win in a blazing 1:08.69, the fastest 6-furlong time of the season. Cap It Daddy ran a winning race against everyone else but not quite as good as C-B.

Wings of Freedom with Kevin Krigger broke slowly and recovered well but a well beaten 3rd and Barrister Proof with Karlo Lopez ran and even 4th.

Chuckanut Bay races for Remmah Racing and trained by Howie Gibson. C-B is a Washington bred by Abraaj out of Zenovit by Private Gold and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-2 $6.15
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-2-1 $5.33
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-2-1-5 $1.89
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-4 $8.03
• $0.50 PICK 3 2-1-4 $14.94

Race Replay

4th Race

4 went in the 5 1/2-furlong 4th race with Knightline a late scratch which reduced the field to 4 so no show wagering. As the gates opened 7-1 Now Cato with Frank Alvarado broke well with 7-2 Atmospheric River and Silvio Amador was right there 2nd and both 11-1 Little to No Money and 1-5 odds on choice He’s Not Talking under Kevin Krigger were all within 2 lengths as they journeyed up the backstretch in a time of 22.30. On the turn Atmospheric River got checked slightly and dropped back to last with He’s Not Talking staying wide while Now Cato made an early break to try and steal the race.

Turning for home Now Cato held the lead and was challenged by Little to No Money with He’s Not Talking bearing down on the outside while the rail opened back up for River and Amador stayed patient and exploded through the inside to get the jump on the favorite and win by nearly a 1/2 length in the final time of 1:04.11.

Atmospheric River was the 4th Washington bred to win on Saturday. The 4 year-old is by Grazen out of Pippa Bou Peep by Harbor the Gold and was bred by Dave and Linda Olson. The Dave Olson is the owner and Charlie Essex the trainer.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-5 $5.45
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-5-3 $6.77
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-5-3-2 $1.93
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-1 $9.24
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-4-1 $14.47
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 2-1-4-1 $52.07

Race Replay

5th Race

Another good battle down the stretch in this 7 horse field going 5 1/2-furlongs. Street Gun with Adrian Castellanos went to the lead with Convey to Me and Silvio Amador right behind on the rail. Got Your Six and Alex Cruz with Tavernelle and Kevin Krigger in the stalking positions.

Turning for home Convey to Me had taken a short lead while Street Gun begrudgingly gave way. Cruz released the brake on Got Your Six while Krigger and Tavrnelle loomed up in the middle of the track. Got Your Six took the lead looking like he put away Convey to Me and needed to hold Tavernelle but Tavernelle flattened late to be 3rd and Convey to Me wasn’t done and came back along the rail to get up by a neck to get the win in a final time of 1:04.67. Convey to Me races for Joe Crawford and trained by Charlie Essex his 2nd win in a row.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-7 $11.33
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-7-5 $17.90
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-7-5-1 $8.12
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-4 $14.44
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-1-4 $19.06
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 1-4-1-4 $77.68

Race Replay

7th Race

In the finale a late scratch in the post parade of #3 Lil Slappy reduced the field to 6 and all “pick” bets got the betting favorite #1 Mo Grey. Mo Grey did not disappoint his backers and adder-ons with a perfect stalking trip behind front speed Higher Performance with Karlo Lopez.

Silvio Amador was shooting for his 4th win of the day and swung Mo Grey off the fence to the middle of the track and rolled on by for the win in a final time of 1:11.11. Mo Grey races for Lawrence Racing Stables and trained by Heath Lawrence.

Higher Performance had a good run to hold 2nd, Flight Ryder with Adrian Castellanos closed up as the clear 3rd, Rise Up and Go under David Martin was 4th and You Don’t Know with Allyssa Morales completed the Super Hi 5.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-2 $6.01
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-2-6 $4.79
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-2-6-5 $2.47
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 1-2-6-5-7 $48.72
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-1 $16.85
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-3 $4.80
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-4-1,3 $32.33
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 1-4-4-1,3 $143.45
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 4-1-4-4-1,3 $311.55
• – PICK 6 CarryOver $5,362.37
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 1-4-1-4-4-1,3 $98.32

Race Replay

Photo Gallery

www.elisportsnetwork.com