5/25/2026

(Auburn, WA) Monday, Memorial Day wrapped up the first 3-day week of racing at Emerald Downs with a strong card of 8 races. The feature race was the 3rd with a field of 5 stakes winners in going 5 1/2 furlongs. The speedy Aloha Breeze was the morning line favorite.

The Chuck Potter Memorial purses also were run in the 4th and 6th races. Chuck was the simulcast director at Emerald Downs for many years when he suddenly passed in 2007. His then fiance, Jody Peetz, is behind this memorial series and has added $6,000 to each of the purses.

Both races are $3,500 claiming events, one for the girls in the 4th race and the boys in the 6th. Let’s get to Monday’s racing.

The Set-up

Despite the forecast calling for 100% chance of rain and rain falling south of Tacoma and north of Seattle there was no rain at the track until about 15 minutes before post time a light drizzle began to fall but the track was still fast. The light drizzle at times picked up but only the 8th and final race was the fast track shifted to wet fast. Take a look at the times and it was truly a fast track.

There were 8 races with 55 starters for an average of 6.9 starters per race. From the betting windows the 10-cent pick 6 had a $6,700 carry-over with a tough card on tap. The handle on the day was $1,481,394 for a per race average of $185,174.

From the Saddle

Coming into Monday, Silvio Amador was blazing hot with 6 wins from the 15 races over Saturday and Sunday and had 5 rides on Monday. Kevin Krigger, the defending jockey champion had recorded 3 wins on the weekend and looking to chip away at Amador’s 5 win lead early in the season.

Amador kept up his hot streak with 2n more wins. Amador won on 1st time starter Somekindaoutlaw for trainer Doug McFee in the 2nd at a healthy 8-1. Amador then won the boys division of the Chuck Potter Memorial with Real Good Magic for Trainer Alexis Silva-Martinez in the 6th.

Amador finished the weekend with 19 mounts and a record of 8-4-0-1 for a 42% win rate, 63% exacta finish and 68% top 4 placings.

Blake Nunnally scored a pair of wins on Monday taking the opener aboard Go Prancealot and then the 4th race on Bronze Girl. Both wins were for owner/trainer Jorge Maravilla.

Kevin Krigger picked up a win as did Carlos Montalvo and Adrian Castellanos. Apprentice Pablo Castillo got his first win of the season with a rail run win on Baladi in the 7th race.

New Old Face

Another former Emerald Downs rider is back with his first ride of the season. Francisco Duran made his return to the Auburn oval in the 6th race on Upright. Duran made a great run to get up for 2nd by just a 1/2 length. Had he got the win the 18-1 shot would have set a new $2 win pay for the season.

Barn News

It’s been a long road for trainer Mike Puhich. Since his last win he has undergone a kidney transplant and didn’t know if he’d ever train again. He was back this Spring at Emerald Downs and has had a few starts and close wins especially Background his Longacres Mile winner in 2021 just missed by a nose.

Puhich got his first win back on Memorial day in the 7th race when Baladi found a wide open rail in the stretch and ran down front runner Adios Jojo in the final 25 yards to win under a patient and smart ride by apprentice Pablo Castillo. 

It’s been a long road but Puhich and his Claim to Fame barn are off to a solid 2026 start in Auburn.

Trainer Doug McPhee who re-joined the trainer ranks last season after a long run as owner of the Q Stable with his wife and had Bonnie Jenne train their runners. When Jenne passed away last summer after a long battle with cancer, McPhee decided to takeover his horses again and has a Stakes win from last season and several wins.

McPhee added another win on Monday with 1st time starter Somekindaoutlaw with Silvio Amador aboard. The 3-year-old Washington bred was overlooked by the bettors going off at 8-1 paying the high $2 win for the day of $18.18.

And owner/trainer Jorge Maravilla teamed up with jockey Blake Nunnally to win two on Monday. The duo did it both ways with an off the pace to win by 3+ lengths in the 1st race with odds-on choice Go Prancealot. Then in the 4th race Nunnally went straight to the lead with Bronze Girl and at 5-1 pulled away for a 2+ length victory. The duo bookended the first pick 4 of the day which paid $201.

Track Fast

The Auburn oval was pretty speedy Memorial Day weekend with 4 of the 5 top times at 5 1/2 and 6 furlongs. Starting with 5 1/2-furlongs only Tax code had run a sub 1:03 time and did that on May 16 at 1:02.86. 

That time was beaten on Saturday by Si That Tiger who finished in a 1:02.56. The fastest 5 1/2 time would last about 24 hours as Aloha Breeze cruised to a 1:02.30 on Sunday. Runner-up Precise Timing likely also ran a sub 1:03 finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind Aloha Breeze.

Both 6-furlong sub 1:03 times were set this past weekend. On Sunday, Chuckanut Bay covered the 3/4’s mile in 1:08.69 and Baladi topped that mark on Monday going 1:08.42.

The history of speed in the NW continues. 

Feature Race 3rd race The Muckleshoot Resort Purse

By Vince Bruun

One of the greatest horses in track history resumed her winning ways Monday as Aloha Breeze raced to a 2 ¼-length victory in the $26,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse for older fillies and mares.

Under regular rider Carlos Montalvo, Aloha Breeze covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.30, returning $4.16 to win. Tom Wenzel saddled the winner for George Todaro of Seattle. The time just 

The defending Horse of the Meeting, Aloha Breeze improved to 13 for 20 lifetime including 11 for 16 at Emerald Downs including seven stakes triumphs. She earned $14,820, bumping her career mark to $333,900.

The winning time was a season-best for 5 ½ furlongs, bettering the mark of 1:02.56 set Saturday by Si That Tiger.

Hidden in this race was the run from Precise Timing, ridden by her regular rider Kevin Orozco. Precise Timing was the 2024 Horse of the Meeting at Emerald Downs going 3 for 3 sweeping all stakes races. She ran 6 times in 2025 and her best finish was 3rd at long odds in the Miss Autumn stakes at Santa Anita.

From the start of her run on Monday she chased the winner gate to wire and easily held second by 2 ¾ lengths over Stay Sassy in third place while Saleen G T and Someday Lady rounded out the order finish. Owner’s Blue Ribbon Racing #23 and conditioner Kay Cooper had to be pleased wi9th her effort. Will be one to watch this summer.

The race was a prep for the $50,000 Hastings Stakes in four weeks.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-4 $18.23
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-4-5 $25.63
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-4-5-2 $8.39
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-1 $16.79
• $0.50 PICK 3 2,3-4-1 $23.16

Stretch Run

Race Replay

4th Race The Chuck Potter Memorial Purse for fillies and mare

The field of 8 went 5 1/2-furlongs and the light rain kept falling but front speed Bonze Girl at 5-1 with Blake Nunnally aboard led gate to wire in a final time of 1:04.29. Nunnally and owner/trainer Jorge Maravilla connected for the 2nd time today bookending the opening pick 4 with wins in the 1st and 4th races.

Maravilla was excited to win the 1st of 2 Chuck Potter Memorials with the extra 6k in the purse. The extra money was about a 67% increase over the usual 9k purse for $3,500 claimers. The $6,000 is added to the overall purse so no matter where you finished in the race it was a big increase from the usual.

Union Coach was bet down from 12-1 morning line to 5-2 ran a solid 2nd with Adrian Castellanos who just got by betting favorite Bakburner with Karlo Lopez. C Her Beauty closed late for 4th under Kevin Krigger.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-2 $38.94
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-2-4 $81.63
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-2-4-1 $45.95
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-7 $20.18
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-1-7 $74.69
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 2,3-4-1-7 $201.67

Race Replay

6th Race The Chuck Potter Memorial Purse for colts and geldings

In the 2nd Chuck Potter Memorial purse with the added 6k in purse money the attraction was too much for owners Gary Lusk and Paula Marshall. The duo just claimed Real Good Magic for $8,00o so to then drop him into a $3,500 claimer doesn’t make a lot of sense. The extra 6k did though with the 8k or so of the purse going to the winner and taking the $3,500 in the claim fee made it worth the risk.

Drawing the 9 hole did concern Lusk but when the race started he was pleased with where jockey Silvio Amador had him placed. Mojave and Alex Cruz were setting the fractions of 21.52 and 44.59. Turning for home Amador said go and Magic opened up by 2 lengths and held off the late closers of 18-1 Upright with Francisco Duran taking 2nd, 9-1 Roll Dem Bones with Karlo Lopez 3rd and 8-1 Bedrock under Taliyah Timentwa finishing 4th.

Real Good Magic stopped the clock in 1:03.56 and is trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez.

• $1.00 EXACTA 9-4 $30.43
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 9-4-7 $74.87
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 9-4-7-1 $40.62
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 6-9 $7.69
• $0.50 PICK 3 7-6-9 $37.04
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 1-7-3,6-2,9 $84.78

Race Replay

The rest of Monday’s races

1st Race

The late scratch of 9/5 morning line favorite Tricky Highway dropped the field to 6. Go Prancelot with Blake Nunnally was bet down to the 1-2 favorite and proved to be worthy of the majority support rolling by Roxie’s Secret and Karlo Lopez to win by 3 lengths. Go Prancelot is owned and trained by Jorge Maravilla and stop the clock for the 5 1/2-furlong sprint in 1:05.88.

Roxie’s Secret ran a solid 2nd with 29-1 longshot Too Much Tatum and Kevin completing the trifecta and 35-1 Polaris Dawn under Taliyah Timentwa taking 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-4 $3.21
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-4-7 $13.17
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-4-7-6 $10.21

Race Replay

2nd Race

1st time starter Somekindaoutlaw made his 1st career start a winning one. Somekindaoutlaw was patient and Silvio Amador got him settled thjen swung wide into the stretch and collard the pace setter at the 16th pole and ran on by for a clear win at 8-1. This was Amador’s 7th win of the weekend. Somekindaoutlaw races for the Q Stable and trained by Doug McPhee. The 3-year old gelding ran the 5 1/2-furlongs in 1:04.23. Somekindaoutlaw is a Washington bred by Outlash out of Somethin’bout Iris by Harbor the Gold and was bred by the Bar C Racing Stables.

5-2 Silicon Native and Kevin Krigger held 2nd, favorite Oregonian and Carlos Montalvo ran 3rd and Another Life with Allyssa Morales was 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-1 $43.84
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-1-6 $39.45
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-1-6-5 $29.06
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-2 $1.57
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-4 $12.52

Race Replay

5th Race

After 2 come from behind wins in the opening daily double, front speed was the name of the game for the next 3. Olympic Legend and Kevin Krigger went to the lead and ended up battling Great Runner with Adrian Castellanos all through the stretch after setting fractions of 22-flat and 44.76. The pair went head and head through the length of the stretch and Olympic Legend had enough to hold off Great Runner for the win in a final time of 1:10.02.

Keep it Coming and Blake Nunnally closed well to be 3rd and Blackjack and Beer under Karlo Lopez finished 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 6-4 $3.45
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 6-4-1 $4.07
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 6-4-1-7 $1.99
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-6 $22.21
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-7-6 $25.02

Race Replay

7th Race

Speed was holding but in the 7th speed pushed it’s luck too much. Adios Jojo and Adrian Castellanos went straight to the lead in the 6-furlong sprint and despite holding a 2-3 length lead down the backstretch blitzed the times with a 21.81 quarter and 43.92 1/2 half.

Turning for home Castellanos kept after Jojo but he was tiring and drifting wide. This set up a wide open rail run for Baladi with apprentice Pablo Castillo in the saddle. Castillo guided the 2nd choice between runners and then let loose catching Adios Jojo in the final 25 yards to win by a 1/2 length in a final time of 1:08.42. Jojo held second, Dirt Road Red and Kevin Krigger ran a good 3rd with Golden River and Jose Rodriguez completing the superfecta.

Baladi races for Claim to Fame Racing and Jeffrey Sengara and trained by Mike Puhich.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-6 $9.96
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-6-2 $22.60
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-6-2-3 $19.90
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 9-7 $14.84
• $0.50 PICK 3 3,6-2,9-7 $14.46

Race Replay

8th Race

The field of 8 wrapped up the Memorial Day weekend and 1-2 odds on choice did not disappoint. Adrian Castellanos rode a patient race going 6 1/2 furlongs as Bumping River with Francisco Diaz-Lopez on the engine setting all the fractions. At the top of the stretch Bumping River drifted a bit wide opening a gap on the rail and Can’tdealwithit obviously deal with and exploded through for an easy win. Can’tdealwithit is owned by Gene Heredia, Eliesid Flores and Eliana Thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales.

Chokechery Shari and Karlo Lopez closed to be 2nd just in front of Bumping River, Savita and Kevin Krigger took 4th with Dandy Day and Silvio Amador capped the Super Hi 5.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-3 $7.83
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-3-4 $32.24
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-3-4-1 $23.32
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 5-3-4-1-8 $415.80
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-5 $14.07
• $0.50 PICK 3 9-7-5 $11.55
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 3,6-2,9-7-5 $22.93
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 7-3,6-2,9-7-5 $167.75
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 1-7-3,6-2,9-7-5 $157.98
• – PICK 6 Carry Over $8,931.72

Race Replay

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