7/18/2026

(Auburn, WA) Lot’s of news for a Saturday one day prior to Super Stakes Sunday #2 with 6 Stakes races on the Sunday schedule. 

Trainer Howie Gibson won the feature and gave him his 1st triple win dayin his career. Then in the final race apprentice Jairo Moreno has been knocking on the door to his first win ever and finally got it done in the finale.

Speaking of the finale, there was a huge contingent for the Winner’s Circle picture as it was the Colette Bergam Memorial purse. Dr Bergam was the long time State Commission veterinarian and beloved on the backstretch with many coming to share their respects.

Let’s get to Saturday’s action!

The Track Wire

From the Saddle

Rookie Win

It was his 22nd career mount and he had been knocking on the door looking for his 1st career win when Jairo Moreno got on 11-year-old Prancipants. Prancipants had been Moreno’s best chance to get his 1st win and had ridden the her 3 times this season for owner-trainer Jose Puentas and finished off the board then 2nd and 2nd again in their last run.

This time as they turned for home, Moreno got her to the outside with a clear shot to run them all down and she did easily winning by more than 3 lengths.

After the win, Moreno got the traditional dousing from fellow riders. He is now 1-2-4 from 22 career mounts. Great work from Jairo to get that 1st win!

Amador goes home sick

Silvio Amador had a mount in 7 of the 8 races and ran 2nd 3 times and 3rd once but then took off his last two rides due to an illness. With a huge day set for Sunday with 9 rides and 5 Stakes mounts includng aboard Si That Tiger.

Krigger Doubles

Is having a strong week and shaved 2 more off the deficit to Silvio Amador with a double on Saturday. Krigger was the only one to double and has 38 wins. The defending riding Champ is sending a notice he does not intend to let the top rider title go as he pulled within 3 of Amador trailoing 41-38.

Other winners included Kevin Orozco, Frank Alvarado, Adrian Castellanos, Talliyah Timentwa, Blake Nunnally and Moreno.

From the Barn

Career Day day for Gibson

Howie Gibson had his first triple win day of his career taking the 4th with Ginger in Charge the 5th with Oneonta and then the feature race when Coastal Jazz romped to victory. With the 3 bagger Gibson surges to the top of the trainer standings and now has a 2 win lead over defending training champ Jorge Rosales, 18-16.

Bullock Doubles

Steve Bullock picked up wins 4 and 5 with a double on Saturday winning the 3rd with West Coast Bull and the 6th with Storm Harbor. Bullock with just 19 starts is firing at a 26% win rate.

The Leaney-Russo Exacta

Patty Leaney teamed up with owners Joe and Gloria Russo to sweep the opening exacta getting her 4th win. The 4-1 Creative Union to 3-1 Bluegrass Lent paid $16.77.

Betting Window

Pick 6 is Primed

The big news of the day went straight to the final race as the 10-cent pick 6 has built up to it’s largest pool of the season heading into Super Stakes Sunday #2. Multiple winners hit on Saturday to pay $145 which means the Jackpot is awaiting someone who can select some longshots and try to be the sole survivor.

Sunday’s pick 6 is even more unique considering it is an all-stakes pick 6. There is one likely race that could easily turn this into a free for all, guessing Aloha Breeze in the Washingt0n State Legislators Stakes will be odds-on and the most likely to single. This is also the 1st race of the pick 6 sequence. If Aloha gets upset, that could set off a shot at a single winner.

A Couple of Big Pays

There were two big pays that stuck out on Saturday, the Super High 5 in the finale returned a whopping $2,393.85. A bit surprising considering the 5-1 to 3-1 to 5-1 to 5-2 to 31-1 sequence.

And in the feature race, It’s Kraken Time with Kevin Orozco aboard tried to pull the upset but was well short, however a clear 2nd to Coastal Jazz at 24-1 and paid $21.54 on the $2 place and $10.2o to show. Triggering a $92 $1 exacta, a 50-cent $306 trifecta and a $2,093.20 $1 superfecta.

7th Race Feature Race

Coastal Jazz sprinted to the early lead and never looked back, pulling away for a 2 ¾-length victory in the $23,000 Michelob Ultra Purse for older sprinters at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Blake Nunnally, Coastal Jazz zipped 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.71, returning $7.44 as the public betting choice. Howie Gibson saddled the winner for owners Nina Hagen and Miranda Gibson.

With the victory, Gibson became the first trainer to win three races in one day this season at Emerald Downs while boosting his meet-leading total to 18 wins.

Saturday’s contest was never in doubt as Coastal Jazz opened a long lead while setting fractions of :22.12, :44.23, and 1:08.94, and held a big cushion to the wire.

An 8-year-old Washington-bred by Coast Guard, Coastal Jazz now has 10 wins at Emerald Downs and 16 career wins overall with earnings of $336,624.

Its Kraken Time, a 24 to 1 long shot ridden by Kevin Orozco, held second while Elegant Boy finished third. Counteract, Baladi, My Vino, Firewalker, Goin’ South, and Whiskeyjack rounded out the full order of finish.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-9 $92.26
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-9-2 $306.71
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-9-2-3 $209.32
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-4 $12.20
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-7-4 $62.21

Race Replay

The rest of Saturday’s Races!

1st Race

Creative Union pulled away in the stretch and overcame a tiring Lucky Code to win handily by 4 lengths covering the 1-mile in 1:38.62. Kevin Orozco with the perfectly timed ride for owners Joe and Gloria Russo and trained by Patty Leaney. 

Leaney also had Bluegrass Lent in the race and Alex Cruz closed to be 2nd giving her the exacta finish. Lucky Code and Blake Nunnally held 3rd with Fortyshadesoftiger under Adrian Castellanos finishing 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-2 $16.77
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-2-4 $48.28
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-2-4-1 $17.03

Race Replay

Not Available

2nd Race

Bonita Muchacha scored the upset win holding off a furious rally from Saint Indie who just missed. Frank Alvarado got Bonita Muchacha to the front and she dug in to grab the win. Bonita Muchacha is owned by Lisa Baze and trained by Jessie Velasquez.

Saint Indie under Blake Nunnally just missed with a huge kick down the stretch. Meantime, Melba’s Gold with Kevin Orozco was also right there with a strong effort while Express Girl and Kevin Krigger took 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-6 $42.27
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-6-4 $100.28
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-6-4-3 $56.01
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-1 $37.02

Race Replay

3rd Race

Betting choice West Coast Bull went right to the lead and Kevin Krigger kept Bull in hand until the top of the stretch where he pulled away from Smiling Goodbye. Silvio Amador tried to get by Bull but had to settle for 2nd. Fantastic Day with Blake Nunnally closed well to be 3rd and DK’s Crown under Kevin Orozco got up for 4th.

West Coast Bull races for Gold Coast Racing VI and trained by Steve Bullock. He’s a 4 year-old Washington bred by Coast Guard out of Marquet Formula by Marquetry and was bred by Jean Welch.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-3 $14.07
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-3-5 $22.18
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-3-5-2 $12.09
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-4 $63.14
• $0.50 PICK 3 5-1-4 $76.72

Race Replay

4th Race

Ginger in Charge got a great from Adrian Castellanos sitting off the pace in stalking position and rolled on by front running Guide My Steps and Silvio Amador to win by 3 in a final time of a quick 1:10.46 for 6 furlongs. Ginger in Charge races for Kevin Chavarria annd Howie Gibson and trained by Gibson.

Guide My Steps held 2nd with Hakuhia and Frank Alvarado getting the show and completing the superfecta was Petitie Ange and Alex Cruz.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-4 $7.46
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-4-6 $15.45
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-4-6-5 $8.52
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-1 $3.93
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-4-1 $44.68
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 5-1-4-1 $121.77

Race Replay

5th Race

6 went 6 furlongs and 7-1 Oneonta with Talliyah Timentwa came up with a big front end run  to hold off all challengers and won by 2 lengths in a time of 1:10.77. Oneonta races for Chad and Josh and Howie Gibson and trained b y Gibson. Oneonta is a Washington bred by Accelerate out of Madame Marini by Marino Marini and was bred by Chad Christensen.

odds-on choice Tigersun with Silvio Amador was a clear 2nd, Jess in Time and Kevin Krigger ran an even 3rd while Chick Command under Frank Alvarado was just behind in 4th.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-5 $20.55
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-5-2 $31.12
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-5-2-1 $14.93
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-4 $20.39
• $0.50 PICK 3 4-1-4 $22.92

Race Replay

6th Race

A scratch dropped the field to 6 and 2nd choice Knaughty Knight went to the lead and tried to steal it on the front end setting fractions of 21.85 and 44.70. Blake Nunnally would have preferred to slow it down a tad as the favorite Storm Harbor was looming just behind and when they reached the top of the stretch in the 6 1/2 furlongs Kevin Krigger released the Storm and the filly unleashed a stunning run to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Knaughty Knight held well for 2nd, Pearl Blue and Silvio Amador ran 3rd a d Malibu Lady with Alex Cruz was 4th.

Storm Harbor is owned by Gold Coast Racing IV and trained by Steve Bullock. Storm Harborn, Washington bred, is Barkley’s daughter and was out of Harbor the Storm by Harbor the Gold and was bred by George Gilbert.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-3 $6.84
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-3-4 $9.00
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-3-4-5 $2.83
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-7 $33.09
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-4-1,7 $28.31
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 4-1-4-1,7 $50.21

Race Replay

8th Race

In the finale, Prancipants an 11 year-old elder had an apprentice Jairo Moreno aboard still looking for his 1st win got it on Saturday with his 22nd career mount. Coming from mid-pack in the 6 furlong dash Moreno guided Prancipants to the outside as they hit the stretch swooping past all of them pulling away for a near 4 length lead. Prancipants finished in a time of 1:11.44 and is owned and trained by Jose Puentas.

Puentas’s former horse La Popis ran 2nd with Kevin Krigger, Bob’s Vai and Pablo Castillo was 3rd, taking 4th was Bourbon Tiger and Alex Cruz and capping the Super High 5 was Mischievous Emma and Connie Doll.

• $1.00 EXACTA 6-2 $34.85
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 6-2-8 $103.89
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 6-2-8-4 $48.58
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 6-2-8-4-5 $2,393.85
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 4-6 $28.98
• $0.50 PICK 3 1,7-4-6 $49.91
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 4-1,7-4-6 $401.04
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 1-4-1,7-4-6 $635.45
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 4-1-4-1,7-4-6 $145.55
• – PICK 6 CarryOver $17,427.90

Race Replay

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