Emerald Downs: Jockey Power Rankings Edition #13; Krigger's huge week keeps him on top!

8/2/2024

(Auburn, WA) This is the 1st week there is no change in the top 3. Kevin Krigger holds onto the top spot, Carlos Montalvo is havng a magnificent season and 4-time Champion Alex Cruz is again. Let’s get to this week’s Power Rankings!

2024 Power Rankings #13

#1 Kevin Krigger (Last week #1)
Kevin Krigger had another amazing week riding just 11 mounts but won on 6 and placed on 4 winning at an incredible 56% rate and a top 2 finish percent of 91%. He also swept all 3 feature races takinig the Friday night event and Saturday on Surprisinglyperfect who also became the 1st 4 win runner of the meet. Krigger lost the Sunday feature in the final strides placing 2nd. Not even close to gettting knocked off the top of the Power Rankings.

#2 Carlos Montalvo (Last week #2)
Even though Carlos Montalvo had 1 less win than both #3 and #5 it was the body of work that kept him in the #2 spot. Montalvo was 3-2-2-1 from just 10 mounts for a 30% win rate, 70% top 3 and 80% top 4 finish. Taking advantage of the chances you get is all about the Power Rankings and when you’re hitting these numbers you are rewarded.

#3 Alex Cruz (Last week #3)
Alex Cruz did have 4 wins and was on the board regularly but not enough to push Montalvo down the list. His 4 wins gave him a 21% win clip and finished 4-1-4-3 for a solid 63% top 4 finish. So not enough to push him back to #2 this week but certainly not getting moved out of #3. Cruz is focused on winning an unprecedented 5th straight riding title.

#4 Isaias Enriquez (Last week #6)
One of the biggest movers was Isaias Enriquez as we just talked about Carlos Montalvo taking advntage of his chances, Isaias is on a heater with his opportunities. He had just 6 rides and won on 3 then completed the superfecta with a 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finish for the 2nd 50%+ win rate this week and an 83% trifecta rate but the only one at 100% in the superfecta.

#5 Luis Reyes (Last week #4)
This was a tough one for us because if we based Power Rankings only on wins he would have been #2 but to bettors hitting the board at consistent rate is also important. Luis Reyes won 4 races and actually won a 5th but it didn’t count in the thorouoghbred standings and he won the mixed breed race on Sunday. But Reyes fell short in the runner up positions going 4-2-0-3 from 18 starts for a 22% win clip but 33% top 3 and 50% top 4. He slips just 1 and if he keeps winning like this he is gonna shoot up the standings soon.

#6 Jose Zunino (Last week #7)
Last week Jose “The Carpenter” Zunino zoomed up from the unranked to #7 and makes another move to #6 while riding only 3 mounts. He got a win and a 2nd for the 33% win rate and 67% top 3 and 4 finish.

#7 Juan Gutierrez (Last week unranked)
Juan Gutierrezis the one who prevented Krigger from sweeping the feature races with a perfect ride on Executive Chef to get his lone win of the weekend from 6 rides and he placed 3 times for a 67% exacta finish. Guti back in the PR’s this week.

#8 Kiaman McGregor (Last week unranked)
Kiaman McGregor returned to the top 10 picking up his 3rd win of the season and finishing the week 1-2-1-1 from 8 rides. It’s his 1st win since doubling earlier in the season.

#9 Manuel Americano (Last week unranked)
Although the apprentice didn’t get a win this week as only 8 riders got to the winners circle he was very productive going 0-2-4-2 from 9 mounts. He is starting to gain the confidence of trainers by consistently finishing in the top 4. Don’t be surprised if he breaks out one of these days.

#10 Allyssa Morales (Last week #8)
Allyssa Morales also did not get a win but was in the superfecta 60% of the time from her 10 mounts. Morales isn’t on a lot of favorites but you better pay attention to her when she’s in the race.