6/6/2026

(Auburn, WA) Saturday was Belmont Day and Emerald Downs had an 8 race card over a muddy track to begin the racing under gray skies and rain off and on all day.

Partnership working

In the opener Francisco Diaz-Lopez picked up his 2nd win of the season with a front running win on Conrad Meadows. Jose Navarro trains C-M. The Navarro-Diaz-Lopez team are now 2-1-2 from 5 starts. The team is making some waves in the early going.

From the Saddle

Top rider Silvio Amador began the day with a 17-14 lead over Kevin Krigger in the jockey standings. Amador added another one in the 2nd  aboard Run on Om which gave him  4 win lead but ended where he started up by 3.

Isaias Enriquez got his 2nd win of the weekend on Saturday winning the 3rd in a tight finish with Wood Ceiling. Frank Lucarelli trained the winner and the Luke/Enriquez connection strikes again. In Enriquez’ last 48 wins, 44 are for Lucarelli.

Kevin Orozco got started late this season due to re-habbing a shoulder injury but has been hitting the board and got his 2nd win of the year on Saturday with a big win on Empirical in the 4th.  Orozco is now 2-2-2 from 18 rides.

Blake Nunnally picked up his 2nd win of the weekend with a perfectly timed ride in the 5th with Gentlemen’s Club after an opening weekend victory on Friday night.

Adrian Castellanos would be the 6th different rider to get a win taking the 6th race in front running style. Castellanos doubled on Friday night and now has 13 wins trailing Amador by 5 and behind Krigger by two.

Carlos Montalvo put Candy Caballo on the lead in the Saturday feature and recorded his 3rd win of the season.

And Kevin Krigger was the 8th rider of 8 races to win on Saturday with a gate to wire run on Taino House. Krigger pulls back to within 3 of Amador.

From The Barn

Shelly Crowe got her 2nd win of the season when Run on Om did just that in the 2nd race. Crowe is now 2-2-3 from 13 starts.

Kay Cooper picked up her 2nd win of the season after her busiest day with multiple starters. Empirical got the win in the 4th to push her 2026 record to 2-1-0 from 7 starts.

Frank Lucarelli had 2 wins on the day and in each win also finished 3rd. In the 3rd race Wood Ceiling won and My Vino was 3rd and in the 6th race Luke won with Greatful Attitude while Lamporghini was the show runner. Lucarelli improved his record for the season to 6-4-9 and is just a win behind both Howie Gibson and Tim McCanna.

The 2 wins also added to Lucarelli’s all-time Emerald win record with wins #1,200 and 1,201.

Tom Wenzel got his 2nd win of the weekend with the weekend taking the Saturday feature with Candy Caballo. This was Wenzel’s 6th win of the year and joins Lucarelli just one back of Gibson and McCanna.

To wrap up Saturday, Charlie Essex got his 4th win of 2026 with Taino House in the 8th.

Let’s get to the action!

The 158th Belmont Stakes

(All pics zare from Fox Sports YouTube)

Many fans were upset when Golden Tempo chose to skip the Preakness after his upset win in the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. Trainer Cherie DeVaux was the first woman trainer to win the Derby and now adds the Belmont to her resume`.

To some, skipping the Preakness to be ready for the Belmont validated the move while others will no doubt disagree saying you missed out on history and you could argue the Preakness field was lesser than both the Derby and Belmont.

That argument will never be settled but one thing is clear, Golden Tempo proved hne was the best horse in this year’s Triple Crown chase and it wasn’t close.

For more on the Belmont with reaction and interviews check out the coverage from ESPN and the AP on this link.

• $1.00 EXACTA 9-7 $55.67
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 9-7-4 $51.32
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 9-7-4-3 $23.79
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-9 $68.39
• $1.00 PICK 3 1-5-9 $145.88
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 7-1-5-9 $350.08
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 5-7-1-5-9 $2,554.06
• $1.00 PICK 6 5 OF 6 6-5-7-1-5-9 $136.87
• $1.00 PICK 6 6 OF 6 6-5-7-1-5-9 $9,640.39

The 158th Belmont Stakes Replay (Fox Sports Coverage on You Tube)

Emerald Downs Coverage

7th Race Feature Race the Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse

By Vince Bruun

Candy Caballo asserted his class Saturday afternoon at Emerald Downs, rolling to a 3 ½-length victory in the $26,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse for 3-year-olds and up.

With Carlos Montalvo at the controls, Candy Caballo covered six furlongs on a muddy track in 1:09.22, returning $3.06 as the prohibitive choice in the five-horse field. Tom Wenzel is the winning trainer for George Todaro of Seattle.

Wenzel, third in the standings with six wins, is closing in on two big milestones at Emerald Downs. He needs three wins to become only the seventh trainer to win 500 races at Emerald Downs, and one stakes win to supplant Doris Harwood as the all-time leader in stakes wins. Entering 2026, Wenzel and Harwood each have 67 stakes wins at Emerald Downs.

Todaro, meanwhile, is the leading owner at the meet with four wins. In 2025, Todaro topped the owners’ standings in wins, earnings, and stakes wins.

A 4-year-old Twirling Candy colt, Candy Caballo earned $14,250 to up his career total to $72,300. His overall mark is 3-1-3 in 12 starts including three stakes placings at Emerald Downs.

Whiskeyjack, ridden by Silvio Amador, held second while Veritas Aequitas, Jin Tong, and Senor Tequilas rounded out the order of finish.

Tax Code, the 8 to 5 morning line favorite, was scratched earlier in the day.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-5 $8.47
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-5-2 $7.43
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-5-2-4 $1.91
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-3 $4.70
• $0.50 PICK 3 8-3-3,6 $12.30

Race Replay

The rest of Saturday’s races

1st Race

A field of 5 went 6 1/2-furlongs over the muddy track in the opener and 5-2 2nd choice Conrad Meadows went straight to the front and never looked back winning easily after setting a quick 1/2 mile time of 44.77. Jockey Francisco Diaz-Lopez stayed clean out on the front end winning it in the final time of 1:17.05. Adios Nicanor with Adrian Castellanos closed late to grab 2nd, 19-1 More than Ordinary under Frank Alvarado was 3rd and Convey to Me weakened to take 4th with Silvio Amador.

Conrad Meadows is owned by Clemans View Farm and trained by Jose Navarro. The 5-year-old is a Washington bred by Atta Boy Roy out of Goose Praire by Nationhood and was bred by the owners.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-2 $11.17
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-2-6 $49.90
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-2-6-4 $19.42

*No Race Replay was available

2nd Race

7 maidens went 5 furlongs and 4-1 Run on Om sat behind the front runners then looked for room near the quarter pole. Silvio Amador didn’t panic and stuck to the rail waiting for it to open up and then ran on by Roxie’s Secret and Karlo Lopez to get the win in a time of 58.94.

Roxie held 2nd with Evie’s Song closing nicely to finish 3rd and Gold Lane completed the superfecta. Run on Om races for Carol Dronen and is trained by Shelly Crowe.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-6 $20.81
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-6-1 $62.31
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-6-1-7 $52.19
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-3 $23.22

Race Replay

3rd Race

Longshot Y Vee R took the lead from 1-1 favorite Wood Ceiling down the backstretch of the 1 mile run as Isaias Enriquez got the favorite off the fence and to the outside of Y Vee R. Jullian in Paris with Kevin Krigger wasn’t far behind in the stalking position. As they turned for home Enriquez urged Wood Ceiling and took control near the 1/8th pole. Then a new challenge emerged in Jullian in Paris. Those two battled head and head to the wire with Wood Ceiling gutting out the tight win.

Wood Ceiling’s stablemate My Vino attempting to be the first 3 time winner and is a deep closer couldn’t catch them all but got up for a solid 3rd place showing. Street Vendor and Blake Nunnally took 4th.

Wood Ceiling races for R E V Racing and is trained by Frank Lucarelli. Wood Ceiling ran the 8 furlongs in 1:36.90.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-4 $7.66
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-4-6 $13.93
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-4-6-2 $4.94
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-1 $23.41
• $0.50 PICK 3 5-3-1,3 $34.52

Race Replay

4th Race

A pair of Kay Cooper trainees went right to the front with 3-5 Empirical on the rail with Kevin Orozco and longshot Magic Jewel on the outside blazing a 21.31 quarter. Orozco was able to get Empirical to relax and slowed the 2nd quarter to nearly a 23-second fraction. This seemed to give the heavy favorite a breather as she pulled away for a clear win in a final time of 1:03.82 for 5 1/2 furlongs.

Native Empress and Kevin Krigger out bobbed Mocktails Anyone with Jose Rodriguez for 2nd and Our Hula Girl finished 4th with Adrian Castellanos. Castellanos claimed foul against Krigger and Native Empress but it was not allowed.

Empirical races for the Where We At stable and trained by Cooper. The 4-year-old filly is a Washington bred by Stanford out of Magic Lilly by Distinction and was bred by Grasshopper Racing Stable and Jack and Jill Fabulich.

• $1.00 EXACTA 2-8 $6.72
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-8-5 $8.09
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-8-5-6 $6.95
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-2 $4.20
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-1,3-2,10 $16.90
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 5-3-1,3-2,10 $55.93

Race Replay

5th Race

5-2 Gentelmen’s Club ran a perfect stalking race as the field of 7 went 6 furlongs. Blake Nunnally rode a patient ride while G-C out of trouble and when they turned for home rolled over the top of several early speedsters and drew away. He had to hold off a deeper closer in Mo Grey with Kevin Krigger but had enough to get the job done in 1:10.74. Gentelmen’s Club races for Hat Trick Racing and trained by Francisco Rodriguez.

Mo Grey ran well flr the place 36-1 Just Gotta Shine went wide but closed strong for a solid show finish ansd Giant Impact with Karlo Lopez was 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 8-7 $18.68
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 8-7-3 $77.26
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 8-7-3-4 $57.99
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-8 $10.04
• $0.50 PICK 3 1,3-2-8 $11.55

Race Replay

6th Race

6 went a mile and Greatful Attitude was the 8-5 favorite by just a few dollars stablemate Lamporghini also at 8-5. Lamporghini with Isaias Enriquez dropped to the back while Greatful Attitude and Adrian Castellanos went to the front and controlled the pace. Greatful Attitude would have plenty all the way around to easily hold off all challengers for the win in a final time of 1:36.80. Greatful Attitude races for Aaron Bresko, Kenny Storm and Paisano Stables and trained by Frank Lucarelli.

11-1 Yogya closed well under Silvio Amador to take 2nd, Lamporghini came from further back for 3rd and completing the superfecta was Viewers Discretion under Kevin Krigger.

Race Replay

8th Race

Taino House the 8-5 2nd favorite got the jump on 3-2 closer Roll Dem Bones which was enough to get the win. Kevin Krigger was the 8th rider to get a win on Saturday with the victory in the finale. Taino House races for Charlie Essex and Laura Oatfield and is trained by Essex.

Roll Dem Bones and Silvio Amador were 2nd, 22-1 Nation of Faith had a strong run in his opener for 2026 to get 3rd, 48-1 Disco Danzig and Pablo Castillo ran 4th while 17-1 Time Ticker and Blake Nunnally completed the Super Hi 5.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-3 $6.01
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-3-6 $25.84
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-3-6-2 $89.22
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 4-3-6-2-1 $1,651.08
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-4 $5.11
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-3,6-4 $7.11
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 8-2,3-3,6-4 $32.32
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 2,10-8-2,3-3,6-4 $63.99
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 1,3-2,10-8-2,3-3,6-4 $38.40
• – PICK 6 CarryOver $408.32

Race Replay

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