5/30/2026

(Auburn, WA) Saturday was the 9th day of racing in 2026 and Teacher Appreciation Day featuring a Teacher’s race on-track. Tomorrow, Sunday, to wrap up the month of May it’s Grandparents day with the Grandparents race scheduled to be run.

The Teachers got to bring a guest for free and all of them that participated in the teacher races were given $25 Emerald Downs gift cards. There were two teacher races.

Teacher Races

Let’s get to our Saturday coverage.

Track Notes

From the Saddle

Hot Jock

Silvio Amador began the week as the top rider with 14 wins. Amador had 8 wins last weekend with 4 on Saturday and a double on Sunday and Monday. Amador earned the Emerald Downs weekly Jockey of the Week award. He also got off to a fast start with a convincing win in the 2nd race with Mister O to push his win total to 15.

Hot Combo

Jockey Blake Nunnally and owner/trainer Jorge Maravilla have teamed up for 3 wins over the past 2 race days and 4 for the season. They got started on May 17 when Blazing Peme won with a nice rail run. On Memorial Day, the duo scored a pair with Go Prancalot and Bronze Girl.

They nearly had win #4 in the 1st race on Saturday but had to settle for 2nd but in the 3rd kicked off the 10-cent pick 6 with a dominating win on A Real Jewel. 4 of his 5 wins for Nunnally are for Jorge Maravilla.

Nunnally wasn’t done and got a 2nd win on the day taking the finale on F B I Bob for trainer Jennifer Nunnally.

5 Time Champ back in the Winner’s Circle

Alex Cruz who set a State record winning 5 straight jockey Championships and finished 3rd last year has been off to a bit of a frustrating start with half as many wins to 2nd place finishes. He got his 4th win on Saturday in the 4th race board Kir Royale.

The Barn Report

1st Emerald Win

In the 2nd race Oregon trainer Kendra Lyons got her 1st win at Emerald Downs in the 2nd race with Mister O ridden by Silvio Amador. Lyons began training in 2014 and had remained exclusively in Oregon at Portland Meadows, Grants Pass and the Oregon fair circuit.

Lyons went down to Turf Paradise for the first time this past winter before stabling at Emerald Downs. Mister O was her 6th start of the year in Auburn and is now 1-2-1-1 from the 6 starts. Her career numbers now 397 49-60-69 which is a 12% career win mark and hits the board at a 45%.

Trainer of the Week

Jorge Maravilla earned trainer of the week honors after doubling up on Monday, Memorial Day. Maravilla coincidently picked up another win in today’s 3rd race just before he was given last week’s award. Maravilla is now 4-3-3 from 13 starts this season.

Veteran Trainer gets 1st win of season

Trainer Kay Cooper got her 1st win of the season in the 4th race when Kir Royale under Alex Cruz, built up too big a lead to be caught going 6 1/2 furlongs. Kir Royale is also a Washington bred from Frederick and Debbie Pabst, adding to a big week for Wa-breds last weekend. Cooper is now 1-1-0 from 5 2026 starts.

Wenzel Doubles and calls objection

Trainer Tom Wenzel in charge of the powerful George Todaro barn had a pair of wins on Saturday. Wenzel’s first win in the 1st with Shiny Orb for the Round Table Stable and he took the feature with outsider Robin Racer getting the win at 7-1. Wenzel is five wins shy of becoming the seventh trainer with 500 wins at Emerald Downs.

Wenzel also did something he can’t remember ever doing in the last 30 years and that was to call an objection. In the 5th race his entry Vino Viking was hammered by favorite and 2nd place finisher Lead the Charge right out of the gate.

Wenzel made the objection because earlier this season he had Candy Caballo taken down for much less contact out of the gate. In that May 16th race the #3 horse veered into the #2 and Candy Caballo came down into the empty space. Meantime the #2 and #1 then shoved back on the #3 who clipped heels with C-C and lost the rider.

Candy Caballo was the only one DQ’d. So Wenzel believing Vino Viking was by far more interfered with out of the gate on Saturday forcing a slow start that the Stewards should have at least looked at it, so he claimed foul. The Stewards denied the claim saying it did not cost Vino Viking a better placing.

The Betting Window

The 10-cent Pick 6 is going to be hard to get that unique winner this season. Only a single winning ticket holder will ever get the whole pot and on Saturday a 13-1 and a 7-1 both won races and still multiple winners with all 6 and paid $327.38. The carryover is now just more than $10,000 going into Sunday.

13-1 Crossbone lit up the board in the 5th beating odds-on Lead the Charge returning $28.22 on the $2 win. In the 6th race 12-1 Cut N Curl ran 2nd and paid $11.36 to place and 10-1 Company Girl returned $7.14. Combined with the 2-1 favorite Alluring Valentine winning the race the trio paid a nice $124.68 on the 50-cent trifecta. 5-1 Whiskeywithatwist took 4th and the $1 superecta paid a handsome $1245.90.

The handle on Saturday was $1,268,127 or an average of $158,516 per race.

Saturday Race Re-Caps, replays and pay-outs

7th Race & Muckleshoot Resort Feature race

Story by Vince Bruun

Robin Racer surged between horses and scored by a half-length over Ole’s Surprise in Saturday’s $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Carlos Montalvo, the 2025 Gottstein Futurity winner covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.16, returning $17.48 for a $2 win ticket. Tom Wenzel is the trainer for owner George Todaro of Seattle.

Robin Racer earned $14,820 for the victory. A Kentucky-bred colt by Connect, Robin Racer is 2-1-0 in five starts with overall earnings of $56,520. His previous four starts were all stakes, including a 2 ¾-length victory in the Gottstein and a runner-up finish in the WTBOA Lads Stakes.

Ole’s Surprise, the 1 to 2 favorite ridden by Kevin Krigger, collared Chase past midstretch but then was caught by an onrushing Robin Racer in the final yards. The runner-up is 1-2-0 in three career starts including a sharp maiden victory here three weeks ago.

Chase, with Silvio Amador rising, kicked clear into the lane, running the half-mile in :45.02 but was tagged late by Robin Racer and Ole’s Surprise. Rounding out the order of finish were Coastal Journey, Cantcatchthiscat, and Behind the Chair. Blackberry Jam was a late scratch.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-2 $22.15
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-2-3 $33.73
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-2-3-1 $25.40
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-4 $23.96
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-5 $3.22
• $0.50 PICK 3 2-5-4 $284.63

Race Replay

The rest of Saturday’s card

1st Race

A field of 6 went 5 1/2 furlongs and after a quick start from 7-5 betting choice Shiny Orb with Adrian Castellanos but Castellanos settled and allowed 2nd choice My Sweet Forza with Blake Nunnally to take the lead along with Oscar Production and Mr Mount Dutton. Just before the 1/4 pole, Shiny Orb kicked it in and swung to the outside of the pacesetter and by the 1/8th pole had surged to the lead and pulled away for 2+ length win in a final time of 1:04.88. Shiny Orb races for the Round Table Stable and trained by Tom Wenzel.

My Sweet Forza ran a game race and held 2nd, 6-1 Sweet Home with Karlo Lopez closed to be 3rd and 36-1 Immaciata under Taliyah Timentwa completed the superfecta.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-1 $11.50
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-1-5 $13.64
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-1-5-2 $10.38

Race Replay

2nd Race

A scratch of #1 Fruit Lutes left 6 to go 6-furlongs and 3-1 morning line second favorite Mister O was bet down to 6-5 favoritism and Silvio Amador didn’t want to waste anytime, quickly taking control down the backstretch setting fractions of 22.23 and 44.78. Just behind was 6-1 Prince of Memphis with Allyssa Morales and 9-5 Mr Executive under Karlo Lopez while 11-1 Tigersun with Alex Cruz was in the hunt.

Mister O had plenty left for the final furlong and opened up to win by nearly 5 lengths in a final time of 1:09.73. Mister O is owned and trained by Kendra Lyons, her 1st Emerald Downs win. (more on Kendra in the Track notes)

Prince of Memphis held 2nds, Mr Executive 3rd and Tigersun completed the superfecta.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-5 $10.73
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-5-6 $12.59
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-5-6-4 $6.83
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-7 $8.65

Race Replay

3rd Race

7 fillies and mares lined for the 6 furlong sprint and odds-on 3-5 favorite A Real Jewel bounced out of the gate quickly with pilot Blake Nunnally in the irons but he quickly allowed 10-1 Bourbon Tiger and Sing a Happy Song went to the front setting quick fractions of 21.92 and 44.93 which ended up being too much. A Real Jewel was sitting just behind and hugged the rail as they turned for home a huge hole opened up and Nunnally tapped Jewel and she was gone winning by 6 lengths in a final time of 1:09.75. A Real Jewel races for owner/trainer Jorge Maravilla.

17-1 Coastal Girl closed nicely for Alex Cruz as did 3rd place Nan Elizabeth with Larry Seecharan and Bourbon Tiger under Isaias Enriquez held on for 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-2 $11.49
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-2-7 $22.50
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-2-7-4 $18.18
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-3 $7.85
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-1,7-3 $8.14

Race Replay

4th Race

7 runners went 6 1/2-furlongs and betting favorite Kir Royale bet down to 6-5 is known for her speed out of the gate. Jockey Alex Cruz got her settle early and sat behind  Rockyscents and Shady Harbor as they set the first fraction of 22.59. Cruz had too much horse though and let Kir Royale step up and she took the lead and pulled out to a huge advantage and then held off a late closing Kinky Moon and Frank Alvarado in a final time of 1:16.61. Army Knife with Blake Nunnally took 3rd and Princess Fave under Kevin Krigger was 4th.

Kir Royale is owned by Pat Crow, Jill Fabulich and Debbie Pabst and trained by Kay Cooper. Kir Royale is a Washington bred by Atta Boy Roy out of Magic Spot by Include and was bred by Frederick and Debbie Pabst.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-2 $6.28
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-2-7 $10.14
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-2-7-5 $4.46
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-1 $4.10
• $0.50 PICK 3 1,7-3-1 $7.21
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 4-1,7-3-1 $18.21

Race Replay

5th Race

7 maidens went 5 1/2 furlongs in the 5th race with a match race right out of the gates between Love Da Gig and Star Travel as they blazed fractions of 21.62 and 44.54. 3-5 odds-on favorite Lead the Charge with Silvio Amador sat about 2 lengths back and made his move at the quarter poll swinging wide and roaring on by the front runners who were spent and missed the board. 13-1 Crossbone with Adrian Castellanos was in the 2 hole but ended up wider than Lead the Charge. Lead the Charge started to get weary and Crossbone exploded in the final 16th rolling on by for the clear win. Vino Viking closed well late for Frank Alvarado to get 3rd over 4th place Midnight Tiger and Kevin Krigger.

Crossbone races for Robert Buchanan and trained by Howie Gibson. Crossbone is a Washington bred by Barkley out of Ms Moscow Mattie by Matty G and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen.

• $1.00 EXACTA 2-3 $25.55
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-3-4 $63.97
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-3-4-7 $53.43
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-2 $14.79
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-1-2 $36.50

Race Replay

6th Race

9 ladies went 5 1/2 furlongs in the 6th in a good wagering race but the public figured it out making Alluring Valentine the 2-1 favorite. Valentine was urged by Kevin Krigger to stay close and chased 10-1 Company Girl with Francisco Diaz-Perez through fractions of 21.71 and 44.93 before collaring C-G at the top of the stretch powering to a 6 length win in a final time of 1:04.06. Alluring Valentine won for the 2nd time this season for owner Fred Desimone and trainer Tim McCanna. Alluring Valentine is also a Washington bred by Running Tap out of Classy and Sassy by Minecraft and was bred by Fred and Cindy Desimone.

Cut N Curl at 12-1 under Pablo Castillo caught Company girl at the wire to get 2nd place by a nose and 5-1 Whiskeywithatwist and Blake Nunnally took 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-3 $27.75
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-3-2 $124.68
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-3-2-8 $124.59
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-5 $41.29
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-2-5 $80.88
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 3-1-2-5 $113.37

Race Replay

8th Race

In Saturday’s get-away race F B I Bob was bet down to odds-on and ran like it giving Blake Nunnally his 2nd win on the card. Bob had a 2 length lead by the 1/2 mile in this 6 furlong sprint and blew open the race on the turn pulling away to win by 7 in a final time of 1:11.30. F B I Bob races for B Fekkes Dairy and is trained by Jennifer Nunnally.

7-1 Hatagasal and Kevin Krigger ran 2nd over 3rd place Chances Taken with Silvio Amador. Next in the procession was 9-2 General Jimbo and Adrian Castellano and completing the Super Hi 5 was 29-1 Hot Goblin under Karlo Lopez.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-6 $9.13
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-6-4 $21.31
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-6-4-3 $11.83
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 1-6-4-3-5 $107.69
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-1 $17.20
• $0.50 PICK 3 5-4-1 $42.42
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 2-5-4-1 $540.41
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 1-2-5-4-1 $965.29
• – PICK 6 CarryOver $10,003.02
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 3-1-2-5-4-1 $327.38

Race Replay

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