6/17/2024

(Auburn, WA) Sunday was Father’s Day and a card of 9 races including the 2nd Stakes race of the year, the $50,000 Auburn Stakes and the finals of the Muckleshoot Gold Cup Indian Relays. For full coverage of the Indian Relays click on this link for all 3 days of the Muckleshoot Gold Cup.

A huge crowd attended the races on Sunday capping a great weekend which no doubt was the highest attended so far this year. There was the traditional Father’s Day which always draws a lot of extra fans, a family day in the park with inflatables and pony rides, the historic Indian Relay races and the majesty of the thoroughbreds.

Let’s get to Sunday’s races!

Feature Race 8th Race the $50,000 Auburn Stakes

After a late scratch a wide open field of six 3-year-olds colts and geldings went 6 furlongs and Powerized would get bet down late to 3-5 with Isaias Enriquez aboard coming off a blistering 8 1/2 length maiden special weight win. Enriquez would again go to the lead but 48-1 Conrad Meadows with Francisco Diaz-Lopez would pressure the pace and they blazed the opening fractions in 21.75 and 44.52.

Heading into the quarter pole Conrad Meadows had enough and would begin to fade eventually finishing 5th meantime Tougherthantherest and Silvio Amador began to rally on the outside while Miner League and Carlos Montalvo hugged the rail and was sitting in 3rd. Turning for home the pace was starting to get to Powerized and Tougherthantherest began to flatten out.

This opened the door for Miner League who exploded along the rail and quickly engaged Powerized just inside the 1/8th pole. Powerized began to drift and came inside toward Miner League but Miner League and Montalvo held their ground and powered through the inside to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths. Powerized did well to hold 2nd through the early pace battle and Tougerthantherest finished 3rd with Freightline and Alex Cruz closing to get 4th.

Miner League races for George Todaro and trained by Tom Wenzel and picked up his 4th straight win after finishing 4th last year in his 1st lifetime start. Miner League then won his 2nd start in a maiden special weight and then stunned in winning the Gottstein. Miner League began his 3 year-old campaign on May 18 winning by 4 1/2 lengths in an allowance before winning the Auburn Stakes on Sunday. Miner League is now 4-0-0 from 5 lifetime starts for an 80% win rate. The $27,500 1st prize pushes Miner League’s total earnings to $90,945.

Wenzel’s win as a trainer also snapped Blaine Wright’s grip on the Auburn who came in on a 4 year winning streak. Wright’s Tougherthantherest ran a solid race and his 2nd runner Rundoft failed to fire. Miner League paid $7.94, $2.72 and $2.48 across the board.

ESN talks with Miner League Trainer Tom Wenzel

The 2024 $50,000 Auburn Stakes

The rest of Sunday’s Races

1st Race

A field of 6 3 year-olds and up fillies and mares went 6 furlongs and the 7-5 betting favorite Harbor Lass lost all chance when she unseated jockey Silvio Amador at the gate which left the race wide open. The 2nd choice Unbridled Violet took full advantage as Karlo Lopez sat just behind 16-1 longshot Lady Mormont with Rocco Bowen until inside the quarter pole and then gradually drew away for an easy 2+ length win. Lady Mormont held 2nd with Vandulie and Alex Cruz getting 3rd and Pocket Knife with Jose Zunino wrapping up the superfecta.

Unbridled Violet ran the 3/4’s mile in 1:10.69 and races for Lusk Racing and trained by Vince Gibson.The Gray 3-year-old filly is a Washington bred by Outlash out of Brookie Girl by Proud Citizen and was bred by Bar C Racing Stables. The 3-2 to 16-1 $1 exacta paid $32.32, the 50-cent trifecta $107.34 and the $1 superfecta $276.40.

Unbridled Violet with a big win

2nd Race

6 3 year-old and up fillies and mares went 6 furlongs in the 2nd race and the betting public was locked in on 2-1 Cielo Diamonte with Rocco Bowen who went straight to the lead and never looked back winning by nearly 3 lengths in a final time of 1:09.33. Cielo Diamonte races for Jeffery Jacobs and the Alvarez Racing Stable and trained by Sergio Alvarez. The 5 year-old mare is a Washington bred by Cupid out of  My Palmilla by Tribal Rule and was bred by Mr and Mrs William Griffin.

7-2 Clay’s Opal Indy with Silvio Amador closed well on the rail to get up for 2nd, 7-2 Red Nova and Carlos Montalvo ran an even 3rd and 2-1 Criminal Record with Javier Matias took 4th. The opening $1 daily double didn’t fool too many people paying $7.66. The old fashioned $2 trifecta also returned pretty good of $78.64.

3rd Race

A field of 6 went 5 1/2 furlongs and Awesome Move with Javier Matias was the betting choice at 6-5 but got pinched at the start was last to begin the race. Matias refused to give in though and allowed the front speed of Summanus with Luis Reyes to set quick fractions which just led to a great set up for Awesome Move who rolled over the top of the entire field to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Awesome Move ran the final tie in 1:03.44 and races for and trained by Tena Birdwell.

Uncle Leon closed from far back as well to run a solid 2nd with another closer in Pedal to the Metal and Kiaman McGregor taking 3rd and Summanus holding onto 4th. The 1st pick 3 of the day paid just $8.08.

Awesome Move overcomes a tough start to roll to the win

4th Race

A field of 6 went 6 furlongs for fillies and mares and the top 2 choices finished 1st and 2nd but it was 2-1 Hannahaza Hetty and Rocco Bowen denying 1-1 Stay Sassy and Alex Cruz for the win by a 1/2 length. 10-1 Won Sassy Ride and Karlo Lopez took 3rd with 14-1 Nation’s Belle and Isaias Enriquez capping the superfecta.

Hannahaza Hetty ran the 6 furlongs in 1:09.93 and is owned by Katy Farquharson and trained by Charlie Essex. Essex also trains Stay Sassy for the Essex exacta which paid just $5.22. The 1st pick 4 paid just $29.24. Hannahaza Hetty is a Washington bred by Raise the Bluff out of Pulpit Hanna by Lucky Pulpit and was bred by the owner.

5th Race

After a couple of late scratches 5 fillies and mares went 6 1/2 furlongs and the odds on choice, Ms Flashy Harbor began well but had nothing in the tank and finished last leaving the door open for the other 4. Frisco Frills with Allyssa Morales took the early lead and never looked back rolling to a huge 5 3/4 length win setting fractions of 22.44, 45.11 and fnishing in a quick 1:15.01. Frisco Frills is the one who ran like  an odds-on choice and races for Vanessa Arballo and is trained by Miguel Hernandez. The 6 year-old mare by Coast Guard out of Tango Twist by Kentucky Lucky is a Washington bred and was bred by Cliff and Leslie Balcom.

6-1 Nan Elizabeth ran on well to be 2nd with Karlo Lopez aboard, Stein’s Girl and Luis Reyes at 9-2 was 3rd and 8-1 Lemon Drop Lady and Silvio Amador took 4th. The $1 exacta paid $16.92, the $1 trifecta $44.04 and the $1 superfecta $202.40.

6th Race

The 6th race was just the 2nd time they would run from the 1 mile and 70 yards distance and Surprisinglyperfect at 3-1 was in fact nearly perfect. Kevin Krigger sat just off the speedy 8-5 favorite Meant for Me with Rocco Bowen then blew by the pace on the far turn to lead by 1 1/2 at the top of the stretch and extended it to a blitzing 5 1/4 length win in a time of 1:38.49 just missing the track record for the distance. Meant for me held 2nd with 8-1 Happy Does and Alex Cruz close for 3rd and capping off the superfecta was 9-1 Club Mesquite and Kiaman McGregor.

Surprisinglyperfect runs for Rakoczy Racing and Justin Evans and trained by Evans. The 2nd pick 4 paid $65.88 the 50-cent trifecta returned $40.83 and the dime super $45.16.

7th Race

The 3rd straight race where the winner blew the competition away this one the 2nd largest margin of victory of the year when Arma d’Oro began far back in the 1 mile race but Kevin Krigger got things rolling heading into the far turn rolling past nearly the entire field to take a 2 1/2 length lead at the top of the stretch and pulled away to win by 8 lengths in a final time of a dazzling 1:34.04.

6-1 Coastal Jazz was the early pace setter with Karlo Lopez did well to be a clear 2nd, 23-1 Muncey closed from last up the rail to be 3rd with Javier Matias and 7-1 Falsely Accused with Rocco Bowen was 4th. The 50-cent trifecta paid $182.33 and the $1 superfecta $2,045.20.

Arma d’Oro rolls to a huge win

9th Race

Kevin Krigger and Justin Evans would team up again to triple in the final 4 races in the weekend finale. Krigger was aboard 1-5 odds-on choice Napoletano going 6 furlongs and virtuall9y went gate to wire winning by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths. Evans and Krigger did it this time for owners the Rockingham Ranch in a final time of 1:09.92.

8-1 Devil’s Off Duty with Allyssa Morales ran a solid 2nd, 21-1 Hadlees Honor and Rocco Bowen was 3rd, 4th went to 20-1 Validate with Leslie Mawing and finishing off the Super High 5 was 53-1 Northern Blend and Carlos Montalvo. The pick 5 paid $233.95, the final pick 4 with 3 of the winners being Krigger and Evans paid $50.20 and the Pick 6 paid $792.95. The Super High 5 paid out $453.40.

News and Notes

One of the new riders this year Brayan Pena has decided to pack up his tack and head east to Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. We reached out to Pena but did not hear back. Pena came to Emerald for the first time this Spring after a solid meet at Turf Paradise. Pena connected with agent David Singer who also handles Alex Cruz and Karlo Lopez.

It was reported to us that Pena was asked to ride for a couple of trainers at Canterbury and felt his chances were better in Minnesota. Pena compiled a solid record at Emerald tied for 4th with 8 wins, 5 places and 22 shows from 73 mounts for an 11% win rate and 48% top 3 finish. He had banked $121,141 in earnings thr0ugh 15 days of racing.

Singer has since picked up a 3rd rider which is the most any single agent is allowed to represent in Luis Reyes. Reyes also came to Emerald after riding at Turf Paradise.

Big Back-to-Back Wins

Owners Rakoczy Racing and Justin Evans and Evans as the trainer with Kevin Krigger won back-to-back races in the 6th and 7th races by a total of 13 1/4 lengths. Krigger took the 1 mile and 70 yard race in near track record time with Surprisinglyperfect by 5 1/4 lengths and then blitzed the field in the 7th going a mile by 8 lengths. Neither horse was favored and were 3-1 and 7-2 and the Rakoczy-Evans-Krigger Daily Double paid $15.38 and both broke from the 6 position.

Largest and closest margin of Victory
Measuring the Largest margin of victory is easy but the closest is simply by a nose before you get to a dead-heat. Some are a full nose and others by a half nose but a nose victory doesn’t happen often. Here is the list of the largest margin with a minimum of 5 lengths and all the nose finishes so far in 2024.

The Betting Window

We had 2 more high pays for the season set this weekend with a new high in the $2 place and show. Here’s our update on all high pays for all bets.

Claims

1st Race
Unbridled Violet was claimed by Juan Garcia Ruia and Elodio Madrigal and will be trained by Madrigal for a claiming price of $5,000.
2nd Race
Cielo Diamonte was red tagged by Elianna Thompson and Kevin Chavarria for trainer Jorge Rosales at a price of $2,500.
Red Nova was taken by Luciano Gabriel Medina and Hon Cheung Kum and will be trained Medina for the price of $2,500.
3rd Race
Summanus was claimed by John Parker and goes to trainer Candi Cryderman for a claiming price of $8,000.
5th Race
Ms Flashy Harbor goes to new owner Ron & Nina Hagen, Ron Bohlman & Steve Bullock and will be trained by Bullock for $15,000.
9th Race
Napoletano went to owner/trainer Miguel Hernandez for $5,000.
Validate was tagged by owner/trainer Alexis Silva-Martinez for $5,000.
Hot Memories was taken by Mary Bluff and goes to trainer Billy Christian for $5,000.

Jockey Standings

Complete Jockey Standings for 2024 through June 16

Trainers Standings

Top Trainer Standings for 2024 through June 16 with a minimum of 3 wins

Owner Standings

Top Owner Standings for 2024 through June 16 with a minimum of 2 wins

Photo Gallery

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