8/25/2024
(Auburn, WA) Two stakes races were run on Sunday with the Washington Cup Juvenile fillies and colts and geldings. Both races were Chamber of Commerce type of races meaning if you wanted to advertise the excitement of racing both of these races would have been the example.
We got breaking news on Monday that jockey Kevin Radke has officially retired, click here to go to our story link. 7 other races were on the card and some very fast times on a track that went from sloppy on Saturday to fast all day Sunday. A new 6 furlong fast time was recorded over the sizzling fast surface.
Up first is our coverage of the Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies followed by the boys. Then the rest of Sunday’s card plus limited news and notes and betting window features and the claim report.
It was Weiner Dog race day and the Wanna-be’s, for all that coverage click here for the Emerald Downs re-cap, videos and pictures here.
7th Race Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies
It not often a trainer roots for a dead-heat but in this one it would not have bothered trainer Kay Cooper. Cooper had 2 entries in the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvemile fillies which was 40% of the 5 horse field. The lack of opponents was due to knowing that Cooper has the market cornered in 2 year-old fillies at Emerald Downs with Precise Timing and Beauty Bark.
Precise Timing came into the Wa Cup 2-0 with both wins coming in Stakes races and was seeking a 3rd straight Stakes win to begin her career. According to Joe Withee the track’s Publicity Director you have to go back to 1985 and the legendary Firesweeper who won her 1st 5 career starts all in stakes races.
Precise Timing’s 1st start was in the Angie C on and won by 2 1/2 lengths. Her next race was the Lassie’s on August 3rd and took that race by 3/4’s a length. Kevin Orozco was of course back in the saddle as these two have clearly bonded to try to get #3 in a row for owners Blue Ribbon Racing #23 and Cooper.
Her competition was going to come from one of her stablemates, Beauty Bark. Beauty Bark is the daughter of Barkley and part of his 1st crop and was the 1st to win for the Barkley line when he took a maiden special weight on August 10 with an eye-catching move on the turn and pulled away for an easy 4+ length win with Isaias Enriquez aboard.
When the gates opened in the 6 1/2 furlong run it was pretty much a match race from the bell. Precise Timing and Orozco went straight to the lead by about a length with Beauty Bark 2nd and 9-1 Dynamic Dee Dee and Alex Cruz was right there early with Beauty Bark. 29-1 Lani’s Sweetheart and Javier Matias and 27-1 Dynamic Fire and Manuel Americano were also far back and finished 4th and 5th respectively.
Once Precise Timing and Beauty Bark cleared Dynamic Dee Dee the match race was set up. The pair never more than a length apart ran the quarter in 22.58 and the half in 45.73. Turning for home they were 6 in front of the rest and Beauty Bark had surged to take a short head lead. Enriquez was all out and on the outside of Precise Timing and so the question was popped to P-T and Orozco.
Unfortunately for B-B and Enriquez they had the answer and came right back. The slug fest continued for the final furlong and as they hit the wire no one knew who got the nose down or maybe if it was a dead-heat it was that close. Cooper said a dead-heat is definately not a bad thing in this race wanting both horses and owners to get the win.
When the Photo sign was turned off the number 1 was posted and Precise Timing picked up career win #3 by a nostril. Precise Timing and Beauty Bark were 11 1/2 lengths in front of Dynamic Dee Dee who was a clear 3rd. The final running time 1:17.18.
Precise Timing is a Washington bred by Dialed In out of Peaceful Nation by Nationhood and was bred by Frederick and Debbie Pabst who of course also lead the Blue Ribbon Racing syndicates.
Cooper says they will see how each comes out of this race and then give the Gottstein Futurity consideration on closing day. Precise Timing earned $27,800 to push her career earnings to $91,050 and is 3-0 in 3 starts. Beauty Bark picked up $10,300 to add to her bank account now at $23,980 and is 1-1-0 from 2 career starts.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
Wa Cup Fillies Replay
ESN talks with trainer Kay Cooper
8th Race Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings
The Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings was far more than a 2 horse race with a field of 8 and the public split with the favorite Impassable and Javier Matias at 9-5 followed by 2 7-2 shots, a 9-2 and a 7-1. The double digit odds were 13-1, 32-1 and 49-1. So, the bettors pretty well split on this field.
We mentioned Javier Matias who had the unfortunate position of having to choose between the 2 top favorites, Impassable and 7-2 He’s Not Talking. Matias with a lot of history with trainer Howard Belvoir winning a Longacres Mile for Belvoir on Barkley decided to stick with the Belvoir team.
Trainer Bonnie Jenne had to find a new rider for He’s Not Talking so why not go with the winningest jockey in Emerald Downs history and the #2 all time stakes winning rider, Juan Gutierrez.
This race also at 6 1/2 furlongs would be completely different from the fillies as 7-2 Vivacious Tribute and 7-1 Da Smoke both went to the lead while He’s Not Talking sat back in 3rd about 3 lengths behind, Big Bowie and Isaias Enriquez was 4th with Impassable back in 6th.
With fractions of 22.31 and then a quick 44.84 took it’s toll on the two pace setters who would tire and finish at the back of the pack setting up the come-from-behinders. He’s Not Talking got 1st run and Guti got the lead at the top of the stretch. Impassable and Matias moved earlier than in their last run where they took 2nd engaged quickly and the race was on as Impassable got to within a head of He’s Not Talking.
But He’s Not Talking did not give in and eased out to a slight lead and held off Impassable who flattened out just a tad late to lose by a 1/2 length. He’s Not Talking ran the 6 1/2 furlongs on 1:16.50. Impassable was 2nd by 3 1/2 lengths over Big Bowie who ran a good 3rd with 32-1 Tiz Grazen and Alex Cruz running on from 7th to get 4th.
He’s Not Talking is owned by the Q Stable and trained by Bonnie Jenne. He’s Not Talking is a Washingto bred by Brody’s Cause out of No Talking Back by Flatter. He’s Not Talking earned $27,500 for the win pushing his total earnings to $33,530. He’s now 1-1-0 from 3 starts.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
Wa Cup Colts and Geldings Replay
ESN talks with Jockey Juan Gutierrez
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The rest of Sunday’s Races
1st Race
Trainer Joe Toye extended his win streak to 3 straight days taking the opener with Creative Bid and Karlo Lopez. 4-1 Creative bid came from last in the 5 horse field to run by all them winning by a 1/2 length. Creative Bid is owned by Rage #1 and trained by Toye. Ko Samui and Alex Cruz ran 2nd as the 2nd favorite at 9-5, betting choice Winter Falcon and Kevin Krigger were 3rd and 14-1 Mahi Mahi with Silvio Amador took 4th. The winning time in the 1 mile and 70 yard race was 1:40.99.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
2nd Race
A last to 1st move from 2-1 Shelby Gold and Luis Reyes gotup just in time to win by a neck over top choice Willing to Burn and Karlo Lopez running the 1 mile in 1:37.18. 8-1 English Meadow and Manuel Americano ran on for 3rd and 6-1 Gold Coast Girl took 4th with Kevin Krigger aboard. Shelby Gold races for Hern/LePley Racing and trained by Tim McCanna. Shelby Gold is a Washington bred by Harbor the Gold out of Donadue by Uh Oh Bango and bred by Eric Jensen.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
Shelby Gold last to 1st
3rd Race
Chuckanut Bay and Allyssa Morales went to the front and sizzled the 6 furlongs in a new top time for the distance this season blowing out the field of 5 winning by nearly 11 lengths in a final time of 1:07.69. The race was for the minors was on and 14-1 March on Linch with Manuel Americano caught Corn Pop at the wire for 2nd. Corn Pop ridden by Luis Reyes at 7-1 was 5 in front of 4th place Handr’sDream and Alex Cruz. Chuckanut Bay is owned by Remmah Racing and trained by Jorge Rosales and is a Washington bred by Abraaj out of Zenovit by Private Gold and was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
Chuckanut Bay blazes to a new top 6 furlongs time
4th Race
A field of 6 went 6 furlongs and Prayforourcountry with Silvio Amador at 6-5 and won wire-to-wire pulling away for a 3 length win in a final time of 1:09.68. 9-5 Grammy Winner and Alex Cruz was a clear 2nd, 16-1 Simonsito and Manuel Americano ran 3rd with 15-1 Roper and David Martin were 4th. Prayforourcountry is owned and by Valentin G Garcia and Valentin L (Picho) Garcia and trained by Picho Garcia. The first pick 4 paid $95.88.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
5th Race
A field of 6 lined up to go 6 1/2 furlongs and the front speed was still holding and the filly beat the boys in this showdown. Juan Gutierrez went to the lead with 7-2 Victoria’s Charge and cleared off by 2 lengths holding the others at arms length to finish what she started by a length and half in a final time of a slick 1:15.01. Victoria’s Charge races for Kelly Dougan and Brett Brophy and trained by Alan Bozell. Knightline and Carlos Montalvo ran 2nd at 9-1, 7-2 Uncle Pete and Karlo Lopez 3rd with 3-1 Lucky Code and Luis Reyes 4th.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
6th Race
The 6th race was pretty much a stakes race any other time and the speed was oh display with 4 year-old Neiman and the ol’ vet Papa’s Golden Boy. Papa took the lead with Alex Cruz in the 6 furlong dash as expected with Neiman and Luis Reyes sitting just off Papa. Neiman wasn’t going to waste any time engaging Papa’s Golden Boy and the pair squared off around the turn. At the top of the stretch odds-on favorite Neiman was rollig and Papa was done ending up near the back of the pack. Neiman rolled to a 4 length win geared down in a final time of 1:08.02. Mike Abraham, Leslie and Jean Pierre Amistoy own the speedster trained by Justin Evans. Naval Escort at 26-1 closed from far back to be 2nd with Karlo Lopez, 25-1 Firewalker and David Martin were 3rd and 11-1 Fantastic Day with Carlos Montalvo 4th. The 2nd pick 4 of the day paid $43.19.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
Neiman rolls
9th Race
In the finale of the week going a mile the 1st one out was the 1st one to finish. 9-2 Cajun Treasure and David Martin went to the front and made every pole a winning one with an easy 3 length win in a final time of 1:35.63 for the 1 mile. Cajun Treasure is owned by Miguel H Racing and trained by Miguel Hernandez. 5-1 Westphal and Manuel Americano was 2nd, 3rd went to 8-1 Summer Shandee and Silvio Amador, Made the Team and Carlos Montalvo 4th at 2-1 wirth 7-1 Mashhad Flats and Karlo Lopez was 5th to complete the Super High 5 which was not hit and carries over $2,648 to next Friday.
Link to Equibase Chart with Full Pay-outs
News and Notes
Radke Retires/Whitaker eyes 2025
Jockey Kevin Radke announced his retirement on Monday. Additionally, jockey Jennifer Whitaker also confirmed she will not be attempting to ride this season and will focus on 2025. For our full report click on this link for more on both Radke and Whitaker.
Luis Reyes has a big week
Luis Reyes breaks free with a big 5 win week. Reyes got off to a rough start and then righted himself and has been one of the most consistent riders in this deep jock’s room. Reyes finished the week with a 5-2-3-4 record from 20 starts. Reyes is now 4th in the standings with 37 wins and a win rate of 19%. Look for Reyes to keep this rolling through the end of the season.
Joe Toye’s best week of the season
Trainer Joe Toye had 5 wins this week with 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday and a win on Sunday. Toye has moved into 5th place in the trainer’s standings. Toye has heated up and in fact this past week accounts for 29% of his total wins for the season. Toye is poised to finish strong.
Karlo Lopez
Karlo Lopez won the track’s jockey of the week and was our top rider in our weekly Power Rankings as he accepts the weekly award from our Winner’s Circle main man Gary!
The Betting Window
Sunday was a solid handle for the 9 race course of $1,199,545 but the longest of the day bookended the card with a 9-2 shot winning the 1st and a 9-2 shot to end it.
The final 50-cent pick 4 paid $61.39 with none of the 3 paying triple digits. The pick 5 paid just $351.39 and a single bettor took home the pick 6 of $2,421.22.
Claims
1st Race
Creative Bid was claimed by Bryon Seymore and Justin Evans and will be trained by Evans for $10,000.
4th Race
Simonsito got tagged by Rancho Viejo and Lisa Baze for trainer Rigoberto Velasquez for $5,000.
5th Race
Victoria’s Charge has new owners Donna Wright and Anne MacLennan for trainer Dan Markle for $20,000.
9th Race
Westphal goes to Wayne Williams and Terra Firma Farm and Joe Toye will train for $3,500.
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