6/21/2026

(Auburn, WA) Sunday, was Father’s Day and Dad’s got treated to a Father’s Day buffet while taking in a 10 race card on the first Super Stakes Sunday of the year. Four Stakes races each worth $50,000 were run from the 6th through the 9th race. Our coverage with a lot of help from Emerald’s Vince Bruun all below. The line-up was in the 6th race the Budweiser Stakes, 7th race was the Hastings Stakes, in the 8th the Auburn Stakes and 9th race was the Seattle Stakes.

It was a huge day with a massive crowd and with 10 good betting races the hanmdicappers showed up wagering nearly 2.5-million dollars.

From the Saddle

Kevin Krigger heated up with 3 wins on the day including a Stakes victory on Tax Code in the Budweiser. Krigger remains in 2nd place in the standings behind Silvio Amador. Amador had 1 win and a big one in the Auburn Stakes on Chase.

Isaias Enriquez won a pair of races and waited to take the final two winning the Seattle Stakes on Bewitching Joy and the get-away race in the 10th aboard Doyou Hearyourself.

Carlos Montalvo won the other Stakes on Aloha Breeze and finsihed 2nd with Robin Racer and Falling Leaves while taking 5th in the Budweiser aboard 20-1 Rondelito.

1st Emerald Win

The day began with a 1st, when Taliyah Timentwa scored her first ever Emerald Downs win aboard 2-yearold 1st time starter Made to Impact at 13-1. Timentwa liked the feeling and although didn’t win again gave it a strong effort with a 3rd place finish on Sir Argento at 10-1 in the 2nd then had to wait all the way to the last race where she nearly pulled the upset on 6-1 Denada settling for 2nd.

Other winners on the day included Blake Nunnally and Kevin Orozco.

From the Barn

Wenzel now tops the all-time trainer Stakes leader at Emerald Downs

Tom Wenzel broke the tie after he caught Emerald Downs’ all time Stakes leading trainer Doris Harwood last year on closing day. Wenzel sent out Aloha Breeze in the Hastings Stakes and the decorated veteran wowed a huge Father’s Day crowd with a dazzling run winning by 6 1/4 lengths after jumping out to a 2 length lead out of the gate.

Aloha Breeze sizzled with a 1:08.80 handing Wenzel his 68th stakes win. Wenzel began his training career in 1996 in the inaugural season of Emerald Downs and won his 1st Stakes race on August 4th, 1996 with 14-1 Jazzie Act in the Tacoma Handicap with Gallyn Mitchell aboard.

Wenzel has more than established himself as a major force in NW racing. He has teamed with many owners including many of the top owners beginning with the original track president Ron Crockett winning the Longacres Mile with The Great Face inj 2007 which was also a Grade 3 win.

Wenzel took on track hero Slew’s Tiz Whiz for owner/breeder Karl Krieg and now is part owner of Slew after Krieg passed. Slew’s Tiz Whiz won the Longacres Mile in 2022.

But it’s been his relationship with owner Dr George Todaro and stable manager Bob Capelletti where this team has exploded over the past several years. And although this crew has yet to get a Longacres Mile, they have had multiple Stakes winners starting at the top with Aloha Breeze. Other’s include LaPush, Miner League, Lloyds Logic, Midnight Mojo, Falling Leaves and more.

This team is the one most Stakes races have to go through to get to the winner’s circle. Wernzel only scored one Stakes win out of 4 attempts but ran 3rd with Slew’s Tiz Whiz in the Bud, won the Hastings with Aloha Breeze, took 2nd with Robin Racer in the Auburn and another 2nd in the Seattle Stakes with Falling Leaves.

Doesn’t look like Wenzel is going anywhere when it comes to Stakes races.

Double Winners

Blaine Wright scored 2 wins with maiden Three Putt taking the 3rd race and Tax Code winning the Budweiser Stakes. He also ran 2nd in the Bud with Si That Tiger.

Frank Lucarelli was another with a pair of wins taking the Seattle Stakes with Bewitching Joy and the finale.

Steve Henson who came to Emerald after a long career in Vancouver BC at Hastings but migrated south to Emerald when Hastings announced they were closing for good. Henson got his 1st Emerald Stakes win on the 1st Super Stakes Sunday.

Other winning trainers on the day included Jorge Rosales, Rosie Simkins, Jose Puenmtas and Howie Gibson.

The Betting Window

Big Super’s and Tri’s

The 10-cent bet got off to a fast start in a field of 6 with a 13-1 Made to Impact winning to 10-1 Majorical taking 2nd and 9-2 Eileen 3rd and 5-2 Twitching 4th paying $360.61 for the dime bet or $3,606.10 for the $1 wager. The 50-cent trifecta was also nice returning $285.07.

In the 3rd race, another $300+ 10-cent super with 3-1 Three Putt winning, 13-1 Auto Focus 2nd, 33-1 Haka 3rd and 9-1 Harbor Buddy 4th. The superfecta paid $362.63 on the dime and $3,626.30 for the buck bet. The 50-cent trifecta was good for $181.93.

The pay-offs leveled off until the 9th race, the Seattle Stakes with 6-1 Bewitching Joy winning followed by 4-1 Falling Leaves, 12-1 Subtle Shimmer and 18-1 Alluring Valentine. The 50-cent trifecta paid 110.14 and the 10-cent super $114.22 or $1,142.20 for the $1 bet.

The Pick’s

The Pick 5 began with a 14k carry-over and finished with a pool of 172k and paid those with 5 winners a solid $833.81. The 10-cent Pick 6 had the largest pool of the year at $11,213 and multple winners with 6 claimed a nice $791.45 and carried over $6,171.

Pick 4’s

The first pick 4 paid well of $624.78. The next pick 4 returned $130.08, the last one returned $87.47. There was a special 4th pick 4, an “All Stakes” pick 4 and paid a nice $302.28. Pretty good pay considering one of the winner’s Aloha Breeze was a massive favorite.

Super Stakes Sunday Coverage

6th Race The Budweiser Stakes

Earning his first stakes victory in style, Tax Code rocketed home for a 2 ¾-length victory over stable mate Si That Tiger in the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

Perfectly handled by Kevin Krigger, Tax Code covered six furlongs in 1:08.56, returning $12.22 for a $2 win ticket. Blaine Wright, saddling his 64th winner at Emerald Downs, is the winning trainer for owner Vicki Wilson (Mischief Racing) of Shelton, Wash.

The race was a virtual match race between Tax Code and Si That Tiger, with the Wright trainees dueling through splits of :22.57 and :44.86, with Tax Code proving best in a long stretch drive.

Winner of four allowance races at Emerald Downs, Tax Code was making his stakes debut in the Budweiser and stamping himself a possible contender for the 91st Longacres Mile on Aug. 16. The 7-year-old Speightstown gelding is 6-3-3 in 16 starts with earnings totaling $138,353, including $27,500 for Sunday’s score.

Kevin Krigger was confident with Tax Code

Si That Tiger, the 1-2 favorite ridden by Silvio Amador at 121 lbs., held second by 2 ¼ lengths over Slew’s Tiz Whiz, the result ending a streak of six straight one-turn victories for the 4-year-old Smiling Tiger colt. Last year’s track champion 3-year-old, Si That Tiger has an overall mark of 6-1-0 in 10 starts with earnings of $138,970 for owners John and Janene Maryanski and Gerand and Gail Schneider.

Slew’s Tiz Whiz, winner of seven stakes at Emerald Downs, finished third while Baladi and Rondelito completed the order of finish. Executive Chef was scratched earlier in the day.

The older handicap horses reconvene for the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes, a 6 ½-furlng test, on July 19.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-6 $11.09
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-6-4 $10.05
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-6-4-3 $3.22
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-5 $33.52
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-1-5 $80.61

ESN talks with Winning Trainer Blaine Wright

Race Replay

7th Race The Hastings Stakes

Two of the biggest stars in track history—Aloha Breeze and Tom Wenzel—combined forces to dominate Sunday’s $50,000 Hastings Stakes for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

Winning her eighth stakes race at Emerald Downs, Aloha Breeze led every step of the way to score by 6 ¼ lengths over Stay Sassy, running six furlongs in 1:08.80 while returning $3.04 to win. Regular rider Carlos Montalvo was up for owner George Todaro of Seattle.

With the victory, Wenzel moved into sole possession of first place all-time in stakes wins at Emerald Downs, breaking a 67-all tie with Doris Harwood.

A 6-year-ld Kentucky-bred by The Factor, Aloha Breeze improved to 14-4-1 in 21 starts with earnings of $361,400. The 2025 Horse of the Meeting utilized her high- octane speed—:21.87, :44.01, :55.84—to overwhelm the field of seven older fillies and mares.

“I told Carlos to go after her today, to try and run them off their feet,” Wenzel said. “And that’s what she did.”

Harwood retired from training in 2022 but was on hand to congratulate Wenzel on his achievement.

“I was Tom’s training neighbor for many years and watched how hard he works,” Harwood said. “I could see what a great job he did with his horses. He deserves this.”

Todaro, meanwhile, upped his Emerald Downs stakes total to 21, good for third on the all-time list. Todaro tops all owners with six wins at the current meet.

Stay Sassy, who upset Aloha Breeze in last year’s Emerald Distaff, was up for second place, while Saleen G T finished third. Rounding out the order of finish were Young Life Laura, Sharp Ride, Precise Timing and Ima Margarita Girl. Sometime Lady was a late scratch.

Dan Jukich, track announcer at Hastings Racecourse from 1990-2025, was the special guest announcer for this year’s Hastings Stakes while Randy Goulding, longtime racing official and journalist, was honorary steward.

The $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs is next for older fillies and mares on July 19.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-6 $9.41
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-6-2 $11.26
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-6-2-1 $34.98
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-3 $10.04
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-5-3 $36.35
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 3-1-5-3 $130.08

We got to talk with Doris Harwood who was on hand to congratulate Wenzel

Race Replay

8th Race The Auburn Stakes

Chase broke from the inside post in the $50,000 stakes race for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs and never looked back with the tracks leading rider Silvio Amador aboard. Chase set fractions of 22.42 and 44.87. Turning for home Chase built up a 2 length lead and had plenty left for the challengers led by 2nd choice Robin Racer and Carlos Montalvo. Robin Racer closed well but came up a 3/4 length short.

5-1 Crossbone with Adrian Castellanos was 3rd a 1/2 length behind Robin Racer while 30-1 Senor Tequilas and Alex Cruz took 4th.

The winner stopped the clock in 1:09.45 and is trained by Steve Henson. Chase has won two of his three starts at the meet for owner Gary Williamson. “It’s fabulous,” said Henson about his first Emerald Downs stakes victory. “There’s nothing like this game. This is my life.”

Chase is now 2-0-2 from 5 lifetime starts and picked up $27,500 and pushes his career earnings to more than $41,000.

The City of Auburn’s Deputy Mayor Tracy Taylor was on hand as the guest honorary Steward.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-7 $20.54
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-7-3 $39.02
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-7-3-4 $67.29
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-1 $12.42
• $0.50 PICK 3 5-3-1 $44.62

ESN talks with winning Trainer Steve Henson

Race Replay

9th Race The Seattle Stakes

Speed was going great guns for most of the Father’s Day race card except when it came to the 9th race – The $50,000 Seattle Stakes at 6 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.

Bewitching Joy steamrolled passed her eight rivals to take top honor for owners Cinco Vino Stables, covering 6 furlongs in 1:10-flat and widening her margin of victory to 3 1/4 lengths. She paid $14.30 to win as the third choice.

Isaias Enriquez knew he had speed to run at with Bewitching Joy

The speedy Falling Leaves and Carlos Montalvo built a 6-length lead after running fractions of :21.26 and :43.54 but hit a wall inside the 1/8th pole. However, the only danger to win was Bewitching Joy who was gobbling up ground down the stretch. Falling Leaves did well to hang on for 2nd.

Subtle Shimmer and Adrian Castellanos was coming from off the pace well but did flatten out a touch just before the wire and couldn’t catch Falling Leaves but got by Alluring Valentine and Karlo Lopez who also was flattening out in the final 16th.

Winning trainer Frank Lucarelli notched his 60th career Emerald Downs stakes victory, to rank 4th all-time. Isaias Enriquez has now won all three stakes races aboard the Kentucky bred who now has a 4-2-0 from 6 lifetime starts record. Bewitching Joy picks up $27,500 for the win and topped the 100k lifetime earnings mark now at $106,550.

The honorary steward for the Seattle Stakes was longtime Emerald Jockey Juan Gutierrez.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-3 $31.49
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-3-4 $110.14
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-3-4-6 $114.22
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-1 $42.15
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-1-1 $37.05
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 5-3-1-1 $302.28

Emerald’s Joe Withee talks with Winning Trainer Frank Lucarelli

Race Replay

The rest of Sunday’s Card

1st Race

After 1 early scratch then a scratch from the paddock and a 3rd late scratch on the track left just 6 2-year-old maiden fillies to go 5 furlongs. Made to Impact and apprentice Taliyah Timentwa broke well from the rail and tied up with Twitching and Isaias Enriquez and Majorical with Alex Cruz. The trio were lined up nose to nose entering the stretch but Made to Impact had something left and held off Majorical for her 1st career win and 1st Emerald Downs win for Timentwa. Eileen and Carlos Montalvo closed well to grab 3rd from Twitching.

Made to Impact is owned by Eliana Thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-8 $137.39
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-8-3 $285.07
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-8-3-4 $360.61

Race Replay

2nd Race

A field of 6 went 6 furlongs and Yeti Lute was sent hard to the lead by Kevin Krigger and never looked back crushing the competition by 4 lengths in a final time of a quick 1:08.38. Yeti Lute races for Horse Haven Creek Farm, Barking Dogs and Breezinbyou Stable and trained by Rosie Simkins. Yeti Lute is a Washington bred by Lutes Gift out of Sensible by Street Sense and was bred by Horse Haven Creek Farm.

Betting favorite Calmcoolncollected with Silvio Amador was a clear 2nd, Sir Argento under Taliyah Timentwa ran 3rd with Little to No Money and Adrian Castellanos taking 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-6 $7.38
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-6-2 $34.10
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-6-2-1 $18.12
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-3 $48.81

Race Replay

3rd Race

A field of 10 went 6 furlongs and 3-1 Three Putt sat just behind the pace setters along the rail and when they turned for home the rail opened up, jockey Kevin Krigger said go and Three Putt responded drawing away to win by 6 covering the 6 furlongs in 1:09.79. Three Putt races for BDW racing, Anthony George and John O’Keefe and is trained by Blaine Wright.

Auto Focus took a big step forward off his career debut to finish 2nd at 13-1 guided by Adrian Castellanos. 31-1 Haka and Frank Alvarado got up for 3rd in a nice run with Harbor Buddy and Karlo Lopez taking 4th.

Race Replay

4th Race

9 went a mile in the 4th on Father’s day and the pace set up a deep closer in 5-2 Street Vendor with Blake Nunnally. Nunnally and S-V had 2-1 top choice Jullian in Paris in their sites after Jullian and Kevin Krigger from the stalking position took the lead and drew off at the 1/8th pole. But Street Vendor came flying down the center of the track, caught Jullian at the 16th pole and went on for the neck victory in a final time for 1 mile of 1:37.24. Street Vendor is owned by Leon Scott and trained by Jose Puentas.

Benny Buckets and Pablo Castillo completed the trifecta with Bak to Liberty under Karlo Lopez taking 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 3-9 $10.20
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-9-7 $25.39
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-9-7-5 $31.33
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-3 $23.02
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-3-3 $31.19
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 1-3-3-3 $624.78

Race Replay

5th Race

8 went a mile in the 5th with Adios Jojo going to the lead from the 1 hole and quickly joined by speedster Creative Om. Kevin Orozo on Jojo got the 4-year-old to relax and give up the lead to Om. Turning for home Orozco angled out and burst to the lead while the deeper closers were making their moves led by Seas of Normandy with Blake Nunnally, Atmospheric River and Silvio Amador and Veritas Aequitas under Kevin Krigger.

But Adios Jojo had too much in the tank cruising to a clear win stopping the clock at 1:36.36. Adios Jojo races for Chad and Josh and trained by Howie Gibson. The others finished in that order, Seas of Normandy, Atmmospheric River and Veritas Aequitas.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-3 $31.42
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-3-2 $71.06
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-3-2-7 $43.74
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-1 $16.69
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-8 $3.74
• $0.50 PICK 3 3-3-1 $66.61

Race Replay

10th Race

A filed of 9 to end a huge day at Emerald Downs and the 8-5 favorite Doyou Hearyourself with Isaias Enriquez waited patiently then ran down 6-1 Denada with Taliyah Timentwa to win by 3/4 lengths. 14-1 Big Brother Ron and Karlo Lopez won a 3-way photo for 3rd by a nose over 5-1 Circle of Fire and Silvio Amdor who outfinished 5-2 Roxie’s Secret under Kevin Orozco to complete the Super Hi 5.

Doyou Hearyourself races for One Horse Will Do and Tina Saxwold and trained by Frank Lucarelli.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-3 $15.93
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-3-9 $81.12
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-3-9-2 $53.93
• – SUPERHIGHFIVE CarryOver $1,691.98
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-4 $19.16
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-1-4 $60.55
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 3-1-1-4 $87.47
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 5-3-1-1-4 $833.81
• – PICK 6 CarryOver $6,170.72
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 1-5-3-1-1-4 $791.45

Race Replay

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