5/19/2024
Week #3 began on Preakness Saturday with an 8 race card. Skies were cloudy and although a few showers the track was fast for all 8 races. Sunday had 9 races going and although a bit damp the track was fast. Some more familiar and new names showed up this week as the season is beginning to pick up some pace.
A solid racing weekend and we’ll start with the Sunday feature and card followed by the Saturday feature and race card plus news and notes and more for week 3 at the races!
Sunday’s Races
8th and Feature Race
The Muckleshoot Casino Purse was Sunday’s feature race and had a field of 6 going 6-furlongs. #3 You Go Girl with Alex Cruz was the betting choice at 9-5. While #1 Ruby Ray with Karlo Lopez and #4 Silvery Orb with Jose Zunino were the 2nd choices at 5-2. Stein’s Girl with Silvio Amador, Young Life Laura and Carlos Montalvo and Stepup with Francisc Diaz-Lopez were the outsiders.
Ruby Ray went straight to the lead on the rail with You Go Girl flankking her Young Life Laura at 11-1 sat 3rd with 9-1 Stepup further outside in 4th while Silvry Orb and Stein’s Girl trailed. The leading pair laid down fractions of 22.23 and 45.01 but as they turned for home the duo turned into a trio with the longest shot on the board Young Life Laura looming up in the middle of the track.
Montalvo asked and Laura responded by doing more than loom and she rolled up and ran away with a 2 1/2 length victory. Silvery Orb closed well to be 2nd but was no threat to the winner. Ruby Ray held 3rd and You Go Girl took 4th.
Young Life Laura was overlooked by the bettors as she was 9-2 morning line and went off as the longest shot on the board at 11-1 retiurning $25.02 to win, $10.18 to place and $4.36 to show for a $39.56 on the $2 combo ticket or the $395.60 on the $20 across the board. The 50-cent trifecta was good at $122.66 with the favorite finishing 4th.
Young Life Laura races for Filos Stable and is trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez, his 2nd straight Sunday Feature race win. Young Life Laura picked up her 5th career win and earned $14,535 to push her career earnings to $64,735 and a career record of 5-0-1 from 15 starts. The 4-year-old is a Washington bred by Mr Rancho Vista out of Chedoodlejo by Liberty Gold and was bred by Keith and Jan Swagerty.
Young Life Laura wins the Feature Race the Muckleshoot Casino Purse on Sunday
ESN talks with Winning Jockey Carlos Montalvo
1st Race
A field of 6 well matched 3-year-olds and up went 6 furlongs to kick off the Sunday card. 5-1 Summanus with Carlos Montalvo took the early lead and set the fractions of 22.48 and 45.49 while 2-1 Nepoletano with Leslie Mawing weaved through traffic to engage the leader at the 1/8th pole. Also winding up from the back was Beau Mischief at 2-1 with Karlo Lopez. Lopez went wide and came roaring down the stretch to get up by a head to edge Napoletano and Summanus held well to be 3rd. Moonlightwine and Brayan Pena got up for 4th.
The winning time for Beau Mischief was 1:10.45 and races for Luann Bean and trained by Bob Bean and paid $6.20 on the $2 win. The $1 superfecta paid well at $135.60.
2nd Race
#2 Where You Gonna Go went from being scratched to winning. Prior to the races the changes and late scratches are announced and an error was made saying the 2 was scratched when it was #4 A Lot of Verve that had been scratched. So Javier Matias decided to let the 8-1 morning line odds 2nd longshot fly to the front of the 5 1/2 furling race setting a sizzling quarter time of 21.53 as track announcer Tom Harris would say but Matias got the 3-year-old gelding to slow down and tab a 45.65 half mile time. Karlo Lopez riled up Pakas Secret and came to engage Where You Gonna Go but “The Rooster” left plenty in the tank and pulled away for a nearly 3 length win. Coy Roy and Alex Cruz ran on for 3rd with Long Gone Silver and Silvio Amador taking 4th.
Where You Gonna Go finished in a time of 1:04.75 and races for the Wilwin Stable and trained by Debbie Van Horne. He’s a Washinton bred by Harbor the Gold out of Margaret’s Miracle by Slewdledo and was bred by Emily Wilmot. The betting public wasn’t thrown off either as they bet Where You Gonna Go down to 7-2. The 1st Daily Double of the day paid $13.09.
3rd Race
6 broke from the gate in the 3rd race going 5 1/2 furlongs and Alex Cruz broke well with 2-1 favorite Stay Sassy to take command leading by a length all the way to the top of the stretch setting reasonable fractions of 22.11 and 45.53 leaving Sassy plenty of sassiness for the final 2 furlongs stretching that lead and winning 2 1/2 lengths. Stay Sassy stopped the clock in a final time of 1:03.53 and races for Dave and the Little Lady Stable and trained by Charles Essex. Stay Sassy is a 4-year-old filly by Stay Thirsty out of Pippa Bou Peep by Harbor the Gold and bred here in Washington State by Dave and Linda Olson.
Smokemonthecliff with Karlo Lopez at 11-1 looked like he might challenge Sassy but settled for a solkid run and clear 2nd place finish while 5-1 Yogya and Carlos Montalvo ran a respectable 3rd with 7-2 Hot Lava Cake and Luis Reyes capping the superfecta. The 2-1 to 11-1 exacta of the top 2 riders paid a nice $21.72 and the 1st 50-cent pick 3 returned $32.15.
4th Race
The bettors were split on the 6 horse field of the inexperienced 3 year-old and up fillies and mares with 1 1st time starter 3 with just 1 start and 2 with multiple starts. The favorite ended up being #5 Bring A Smile with Silvio Amador and #2 Chai with Isaias Enriquez and #6 Mocktails Anyone with Carlos Montalvo as the 2-1 2nd choices.
The bettors were almost dead on as Chai and Enriquez wore down Bring A Smile in deep stretch after Bring a Smile surged past early leader Secret Hottie and Juan Gutierrez. Mocktails Anyone ran an even 3rd with Secret Hottie holding 4th. Chai is owned by Jill Fabulich and Lori Heist and trained by Kay Cooper and is a Washington bred by Race Day out of Find Your Spot by Nationhood and was bred by Mr and Mrs Frederick Pabst. Chai finished off the 1st pick 4 of 2-2-1-2 paying $132.76.
5th Race
After 3 late scratches it left 3 to run in the 6-furlong dash and #2 Prisoner and #4 Horse Doctor were both 1-1 with #3 Meant For Me at 5-2. Luis Reyes took Meant For Me to the lead with Horse Doctor and Silvio Amador to his outside and Prisoner with Karlo Lopez to his inside and never more than a length separated the trio until about the 1/8th pole. Prisoner got 1st run on Meant For Me and Horse Doctor rolled on the outside but Prisoner was taking no Prisoner’s and held off the Doctor to win by 3 lengths in a time of an impressive 1:08.50.
Prisoner races for David Bernsen and Omar Aldabbagh and trained by Justin Evans. There was no show, trifecta or superfecta betting and Prisoner paid $4.28 on the win.
6th Race
7 went a mile in the 6th race with favorite #6 Baby Frankie at 2-1 would not be on his game today and finished last leaving the door open for the other 6. Emperorofthenorth with Leslie Mawing at 9-2 took the early lead and there was a stack of 4-5 others within 2 lengths while Emperor set fractions of 23.79, 47.09 and 1:11.81. Turning for home Emperorofthenorth still had the lead and Mawing was letting him go. The threat came along the rail with Move Over needing the Emperor to do just that as Brayan Pena had skimmed the rail the entire trip and was committed to the inside and finally got some room inside the 1/8th pole an d jetted through to pull away for an easy 2 length victory. Emperorofthenorth held well and was a clear 2nd with Summer Shandee at 4-1 getting up for 3rd and 9-2 My Sunshine and Neptali Ortiz taking 4th.
Move Over races for Miguel H Racing and trained by Miguel Hernandez and ran the 1-mile in a final time of 1:36.59. She paid $8.28 on the $2 win and the 2nd Pick 4 returned $110.28.
7th Race
The 6 horse 7th race turned into a match race between the favorites down the stretch. 6-5 Miss Bella and Silvio Amador jumped out to a length+ lead and held that lead setting fractions of 22.64 and 45.42. Other’s who have escaped setting those softer fractions for today had too much left to be caught but 9-5 Our Lyla Grace with Jose Zunino came closing up the rail as they turned for home. Amador with some great race riding kept Grace pinned to the rail keeping her a bit uncomfortable and it was way too late to change course. Zunino urged but could not get Our Lyla Grace to get by Miss Bella who held for the 1/2 length victory in a final time of 1:09.82. Emerald Sea and Isaias Enriquez ran 3rd with Charmant E with Kiaman McGregor taking 4th.
Miss Bella is a Washington bred 5 year-old mare by Harbor the Gold out of Bella Campana by Slewdledo and was bred by Mr and Mrs William Griffen. Miss Bella comes from the barn of Blaine Wright and owned by John and Janene Maryanski. 6-5 Miss Bella to 9-5 Our Lyla Grace to 21-1 Emerald Sea paid a solid $19.44 50-cent trifecta and a $77.76 $2 tri return.
9th Race
The Sunday finale had a couple of scratches leaving 5 to go 6 furlongs. The pack of 5 were within 3 lengths of each other all the way to the top of the stretch with Many Memories at 15-1 with Vladimir Jensen setting fractions of 23.22 and 46.66. At the top of the stretch 3-1 Candied Joule with Karlo Lopez got 1st run and took over the lead and was quickly challenged by Always Gallant with Jose Zunino at 10-1. Zunino had committed to the rail and Lopez kept the pressure on not giving Gallant and Zunino much room and held sway to the line winning by a 1/2 length. Those 2 separated from the other 3 who were now 6 lengths behind the top pair and Many Memories held on for 3rd with 2-1 Exclusively Noble with Leslie Mawing taking 4th and Vandulie with Alex Cruz completing the Super High 5.
Candied Joule ran the 3/4’s mile in 1:12.14 and races for Homer Thoroughbreds and trained by Jason Homer. Candied Joule was bred in Washington by Sea Candy Ride out of Clever Cadence by Crafty Prospector and is a 5-year-old mare.
Candied Joule finished off the 50-cent picks with the pick 3 payiong $62.01, the pick 4 $525.77, the pick 5 $1,617.64 and the 50-cent pick 6 paid 5 of 6 $42.80 with a $7,814 carryover headed into next Saturday. The Super High Five was hit too returning $283.40.
Saturday’s Races
7th and Feature Race
The feature race had 6 going 6 furlongs and speedy fractions set up a last to 1st finish. 1-1 favorite Tax Code and Alex Cruz broke midpack while 15-1 Company’s Dream with Karlo Lopez went to the front and was hooked by 9-1 Mongolian Memory with Brayan Pena. Those 2 would set fractions of 21.68 and 44.42.
Meantime, 4-1 Cool Papa G toiled at the back of the pack but began to pick off runners on the far turn getting to the far outside. Turning for home Company’s Dream shook off Mongolian Memory and was looking to pull the upset but Cool Papa G under the guidance of Luis Reyes pinned his ears back coming over the top in the final 16th to get the win by a neck, Company’s Dream with a huge effort just missed and held 2nd by a 1/2 length over the closing Tax Code with Mongolian Memory taking 4th.
Cool Papa G ran the 6-furlongs in 1:10.06 and races for Rockingham Ranch and trained by Justin Evans who got his 2nd win of the day. Cool Papa G is now 4-0-3 from 13 lifetime starts getting the win in his 1st trip over the Auburn oval. He picked up $14,535 to push is earnings to $150,218.
Cool Papa G returned $10.40 on the win and combined with 15-1 Company’s Dream paid $47.54 on the $1 exacta and $237.70 on the old school $5 exacta. 1-1 Tax Code ran 3rd but the trifecta still paid $154,15 and the $1 superfecta $711.80.
Cool Papa G takes the Saturday Feature
1st Race
A field of 7 went 5 1/2-furlongs and 9-2 Cash’s Cat with Brayan Pena aboard went straight to the front with a half length lead at the 1st call and never relinquished that lead. Cat and Pena led a 1/2 over The Golden Egg and Karlo Lopez after the 1st quarter going 22.34, then led by a 1/2 over 6-1 Mongolian Spring and Juan Gutierrez and those two would go to the wire just like that with Guti and Mongo not being able to pass the Cat and Pena. The Golden Egg held 3rd and Sport Coat with Alyssa Morales completed the superfecta.
The final time was 1:04.19 for Cash’s Cat who races for Jane Catherine Maller and trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez. Cash’s Cat paid $11.12 on the $2 win. The 50-cent trifecta was good for $54.09 and the 10-cent super paid $56.03 or $560.30 for the $1 bet.
2nd Race
The 3-2 favorite Seeyamia also went to the front on the fast track and drew away in the stretch under Isaias Enriquez in the 5-furlong sprint. Enriquez and Seeyamia held just a 1/2 length lead at the top of the stretch but had plenty left in the tank winning by nearly 4 lengths in a time of 58.49. 2-1 Lotsa Steel and Brayan Pena closed to be 2nd, Silvio Amador was involved in the front speed with Harbor Lass and was a clear 3rd while Gormley Gal and Alex Cruz took 4th.
Seeyamia races for 3D and J Stable and is trained by Frank Lucarelli. The 3-year-old filly is a Washington bred by Harbor the Gold out of Meant to Be Mia by War Chant and was bred by Antonio Mendoza. The 1st daily double of the day paid $16.07.
3rd Race
7 went 6 1/2-furlongs in the 3rd and 19-1 longshot Bumping River with Francisco Diaz-Perez jumped out to a 2 length lead running the 1st quarter in 22.60. The hopes of a big win pay ended quickly as 7-5 favorite Another Ten with Luis Reyes rolled up to take the lead entering the far turn and never looked back rolling to a 2 length advantage at the top of the stretch and plenty left to deny 7-2 English Meadow and Karlo Lopez at the wire by 3/4 of a length in a final time of 1:18.88. 7-2 Libby’s Gambit and Kevin Orozco ran on for 3rd and Bumping River held 4th.
Another Ten races for John Haas and Justin Evans and is trained by Evans and paid $4.60 on the $2 win. The 7-5 to 7-2 to 7-2 to 19-1 $1 superfecta returned a solid $204.60.
4th Race
Alex Cruz did not disappoint his namesake Alex’s Girl and the bettors supported him in that effort making him the 4-5 odds-on choice but the Alex’s would not have it easy over the 5 1/2 furlongs. Frisco Frills known for her front speed is exactly where Vladimir Jensen put the speedy mare on the lead and held a 1/2 length lead over the Alex’s. Jensen and Frills led by that 1/2 length unti deep stretch where Cruz and Alex’s Girl wore down Frisco Frills for the neck win in a time of 1:04.01. 5-2 Classic Leah and Brayan Pena ran an even 3rd and Mischief Mama with Manuel Americano took 4th at 17-1.
Alex’s Girls is owned by Alex Ortega Jr and Vincent Ortega and trained by Scott Tubbs. The 1st 50-cent pick 4 of the day was shared by many returning just $38.78. There were 2 claims in this race Classic Leah was taken by Ty Leatherman and Justin Evans and trained by Evans and Frisco Frills goes to new owner The Five and heads to the Heath Lawrence barn.
5th Race
For the 1st time of the day a closer got to the line 1st and it was the 1st win of the season for veteran Leslie Mawing. Mawing broke 5th with 5-2 Miner League. The front speed set a quick 21.90 quarter which set up the kick of Miner League who moved to 2nd at the top of the stretch and rolled on to an impressive 4 1/2 length win in a time of 1:03.76 for the 5 1/2 furlong sprint.
2-1 Freghtline and Alex Cruz also closed to be 2nd, 30-1 front speed Conrad Meadows held 3rd and 6-5 favorite Spinnin Pistols with Jose Zunino was 4th. Miner League races for George Todaro and is trained by Tom Wenzel. 30-1 Conrad Meadows paid $6.60 and capped a 50-cent trifecta pay at $57.55.
6th Race
Only 4 of the 6 broke well in this 6-furlong affair with 11-1 March On Linch and Alex Cruz breaking in the air and would recover to run 4th while 6-1 Smoken Shadow with Manuel American hopping at the start and finishing last left the door open to a return to front speed. Kevin Orozco broke well on A View From Above and went straight to the lead and never gave it up setting fractions of 21.89, 44.87 and a final time of 1:10.19. Cajun Treasure and Karlo Lopez ran a solid 2nd and 9-5 Roll Dem Bones finished 3rd with Luis Reyes.
A View From Above is trained by veteran Kay Cooper and is owned by William Douglas Stenberg. The 5-year-old gelding by Abraaj out of Deja Views by Forest Camp and was bred by Mr and Mrs Frederick Pabst. The 2nd 50-cent pick 4 was also rather chalky paying $47.97.
8th Race
9 went 5 1/2-furlongs in the finale and even though the top 5 favorites finished in the top 5 the 50-cent Super High 5 was not hit. 6-1 Taino House and Silvio Amador battled on the front end with 5-1 Single Merit with Javier Matias. Amador and Taino House would shake Single Merit and pulled away to a comfortable 2 1/4 length win in a time of 1:02.57. Alvarez Racing Stable owns Taino House and is trained by Sergio Alvarez. Taino House paid $15.90 on the win and $27.38 for the $6 combo bet.
2-1 favorite Clayton Delaney with Karlo Lopez got the place while Wear the Crown with Brayan Pena was a clear 3rd with Upper Room and Alex Cruz taking 4th by a head over Single Merit. There were 2 claims in the race and Single Merit goes to Diane and James Kickox and Howard Gibson and will be trained by Gibson. Rancho La Tabema claimed Upper Room and goes to trainer Valentin Picho Garcia.
The 50-cent pick 5 returned a healthy $1,159.89 and the final pick 4 was good for $262.66 and the 50-cent pick 6 paid 5 of 6 for $110.58.
News and Notes
No Love for Young Life Laura
Young Life Laura won the feature race on Sunday and it was just the latest “diss” to Laura and her posse. Young Life Laura raced 11 times at Emerald Downs last year in her 1st year of racing, once at Fresno and twice at Golden Gate. She compiled a 4-0-1 record with all 4 wins at Emerald for a 36% win rate and 29% overall win clip. She has raced once this year and won so now she is winning at Emerald at 42% and overall 33% for her career.
But she has been favored just once in her career at 9-5 last June and was claimed in that race by her current owners Filos Stables and trained by up and coming trainer Alexis Silva-Martinez. Other than that 9-5 she race she has never been below 5-1. Her 5 wins are now at 5-1, 5-1, 7-1, 9-1 and 11-1 for average odds of 7.9-1 when she wins. Her overall average odds from all 15 races is 18.2-1. Jockey Carlos Montalvo was a bit surprised that their odds not only drifted up from the 9-2 morning line but shot up to 11-1. The Laura fans were well paid!
Southern Invaders making an Impact
Last year we saw Owner/Trainer Justin Evans arrive on the backstretch of Emerald Downs with a barn full of horses and ready to compete with the entrenched old-guard of NW racing. The Lucarelli’s, Wright’s, Wenzel’s, Cooper’s, Belvoir’s and many others were trying to make it tough on Evans b ut it was Evans who took it to them all by winning top trainer honors and the top owner as well which didn’t count the multiple partnerships he also added to his total.
Evans spread the word down south at his home base at Turf Paradise and several others have headed north when Turf Paradise wrapped up on Kentucky Derby day. Evans is off to a bit of a slow start as he finished up business in Arizona but in the 2 weekends since opening day he’s gettring back on track. Evans picked up 3 wins this past weekend and now has a 4-1-3 record from 11 starts for a 36% win rate and 72% top 3.
We caught up with Justin after his win with Prisoner in the 5th race on Sunday. Evans is ready to defend his titles but knows there are plenty ready to give him all the competition he wants. Evans says this is what makes racing so great, sure there is competition but we also all root for each other too.
Evans spread the word to many in Azrizona that Emerald was the place to go that we saw many new faces in the jockey’s room making it one of the most competitive rooms in Emerald history. Turf Paradise leading rider Karlo Lopez came up and is just starting to get to know the uniqueness of the Auburn oval.
Lopez also wrapped up his riding at Turf Paradise on Emerald’s opening day but now is focused on giving Alex Cruz his best shot at unseating him as the top Jock.
Lopez recorded the 1st triple ofthe season winning Sunday’s 1st, 5th and 9th races. Brayan Pena and Luis Reyes also came up to ride and have both been impactful. Combined the 3 riders have won 13 of the 41 races so far at Emerald this year or 32% of the total wins.
Weekly Honors
The round of weekly awards were handed out this weekend. The awards were for the first 3 racing days.
Valpak Jockey: Alex Cruz
Las Margaritas Trainer: Blaine Wright
Muckleshoot Casino Owner: Luigi DI Pietro and Diana DiPietro
WTBOA Washington-Bred: Coastal Kid (Ron & Nina Hagen breeders)
Quarter Chute Café Groom: Nestor Peneolas (Frank Lucarelli)
New Faces and injury update
There were a few new faces taking rides at Emerald this past weekend. Alyssa Morales, Jose Rodriguez and Kiaman McGregor got their 1st rides of the season and for McGregor his 1st ride ever at Emerald Downs.
Meantime, ESN talked with Kevin Radke this weekend and how his recovery from serious injuries he suffered in a training accident at Turf Paradise just before the Emerald season began. Radke fractured several ribs and a punctured lung when his saddle slipped while training in company in mid April.
Radke spent several days in an Arizona hospital and has been back at his home near Auburn for several weeks. The fiery former Emerald riding Champ told us early on he would be back this season as soon as possbile. But this past weekend he admitted it may be longer than hoped, saying “I guess it takes a little longer to heal a 52-year-old body.” Radke says he is healing but the ribs are an extremely painful injury and has to let nature take its course.
Radke was looking forward to going in for a check-up this week. He said there is no timeline for his return other than he will know when he can back on a horse.
Jennifer Whitaker, the all-time leading female rider at Emerald Downs is also still on the injured reserve list after injuring her ankle prior to the season. Whitaker who rides almost exclusively for trainer Howard Belvoir has also said she is coming back this season.
First Time Winners
Several got their 1st wins of the season this past weekend. 1 jockey got his 1st photo of the year, Leslie Mawing also a former Emerald riding Champ won Saturday’s 5th race aboard Miner League for longtime owner George Todaro and trainer Tom Wenzel.
5 trainers got their 1st wins of the year with just 1 on Saturday when Sergio Alvarez took the finale with Taino House. 4 conditioners got their pictures taken for the 1st time in 2024 on Sunday beginning with Debbie Van Horne in the 2nd when Where You Gonna Go finished 1st. In the 3rd Charlie Essex got Stay Sassy in the Winners Circle, the 6th race saw Miguel Hernandez get not only his 1st win of the year but his 1st ever at Emerald Downs with Move Over and Jason Homer wrapped up the 3rd week when Candied Joule won the get-away race.
16 owners got their 1st wins of the year with the only owner adding to her total being Luann Bean. Bean scored in the 1st on Sunday when Karlo Lopez and Beau Mischief ran down the field to win by a neck. Bean is currently is tied with Peter Redekop as the only 2 owners with 2 wins.
Kids Day
The Promotions crew hosted their first family day in the park filled with free activities and bounce houses. The day is highlighted with a kids race on the track where kids line up in the Emerald Downs starting gate and they race to the finish line. In this race everyone is a winner and all participants got free ice cream.
There will be 2 more kids races days this season the next one is Sunday, June 23rd and Sunday, August 4th.
Photo Finish!
It’s a great tradition of getting to the Winners Circle and getting your picture taken. The owners and trainer then order their pictures and can display their big wins. Longtime track photographers Reed and Erin Palmer have taken all of the most historic photos from day 1 at Emerald Downs.
Sometimes bettors who hit a big win or folks are out celebrating a special day at Emerald Downs woould love to get a picture. The Palmer’s are open for business so anyone can stop in at their office at Emerald downs and purchase a photo. Their office is just to the right of the elevators behind the entry gates. You are welcome to stop in and let them know if there is a certain picture you’d like as a keepsake.
The cost is exceptionally reasonable for an 8×10 with tax about $22. So when you hit a big superfecta or pick 6 or just want a picture of your favorite horse you can certainly do that. The Palmer’s also offer all sorts of sizes and packages. It’s a great gift for that hard to buy for person that is a race fan and may have a favorite horse.
You can stop in when they are open or you can e-mail or call the Palmer’s. The e-mail to reach out for more information is: Reedp@emeralddowns.com and a phone number to call is 503-380-0430.
Photo Gallery
www.elisportsnetwork.com
