The Bottom Line
- Vino Viking (4:29pm PT) — the 9/5 morning-line favorite in the card’s richest race, a $23,000 maiden special weight, for the potent Tom Wenzel/Frank Alvarado combination.
- Sweet Shoppe (1:50pm PT) — solid 6/5 chalk to get the card off on the right foot in the opening maiden claimer.
- Unbridled Scholar (6:04pm PT) — Blaine Wright’s runner looks the one to beat at 5/2 in the mile starter allowance.
- River Dance (6:34pm PT) — 3/1 in the nightcap and a fair price to anchor the late Pick 4.
Meeting Context
Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington rolls out a 10-race Saturday card with first post at 1:50pm PT, and there’s a distinct calm-before-the-storm feel about it. There are no stakes today — this is the final Saturday before Championship Sunday on August 16, when the 91st running of the Longacres Mile headlines a six-stakes blockbuster that smashed the track’s all-time handle record last year.
What we get instead is bread-and-butter Pacific Northwest racing: claimers, starter allowances and a pair of maiden events, all on the main dirt track, with seven of the ten races run at either six furlongs or the one-turn mile. August in Auburn usually means a fast, honest strip, and warm, dry weather is expected — no surface excuses today.
The jockey colony angle is impossible to ignore: perennial leading rider Alex Cruz has eight mounts, several of them favorites, and the meet’s dominant barns — Frank Lucarelli, Tom Wenzel and Blaine Wright — are all represented in the spots that matter. For the bigger Saturday stages elsewhere, see our Del Mar picks today and our Saratoga preview.
Here are our Emerald Downs picks today, race by race. All times Pacific; morning-line odds correct at time of writing.
Race 1 — 1:50pm PT: Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boss Girl | Blake Nunnally | Howard F. Gibson | 3/1 |
| 2 | My Eliana | Alex V. Anaya | Jorge Rosales | 7/2 |
| 3 | Bernie’s Big Baby | Pablo E. Castillo | Bruce Dillenbeck | 20/1 |
| 4 | Sweet Shoppe | Kevin E. Orozco | Kay Penney Cooper | 6/5 |
| 5 | Smoothie Ryder | Talliyah Timentwa | Jorge Rosales | 4/1 |
The Favorites: Sweet Shoppe is a clear 6/5 morning-line choice for Kay Penney Cooper, and with only four rivals in a bottom-level maiden claimer she won’t need to improve much.
The Value: Jorge Rosales saddles two of the five, and My Eliana at 7/2 is the more interesting half of the entry-in-spirit, stretching out to a mile.
The Verdict: Sweet Shoppe to kick the card off, with My Eliana underneath in the exacta.
Race 2 — 2:21pm PT: Claiming, 6 Furlongs
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Time Ticker | Alex M. Cruz | Howard F. Gibson | 6/5 |
| 2 | There Goes My Hero | Pablo E. Castillo | Steve Henson | 9/2 |
| 3 | Real Good Magic | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Alexis Silva-Martinez | 9/5 |
| 4 | Slew Skies | Kevin Krigger | Ramiro Meraz Martinez | 10/1 |
| 5 | Our Bloke | Lenny A. Seecharan | Ian Jewell | 5/1 |
The Favorites: This is effectively a two-horse market: Time Ticker (6/5) gets Alex Cruz for Howard Gibson, while Real Good Magic (9/5) is the obvious danger from an inside-out trip.
The Value: Our Bloke at 5/1 for Ian Jewell can outrun his price if the top two hook up early at this sharp trip.
The Verdict: Time Ticker — Cruz on the favorite at Emerald is the most reliable formula in Washington racing.
Race 3 — 2:51pm PT: Claiming, 1 Mile
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jess in Time | Kevin Krigger | Tim McCanna | 2/1 |
| 2 | Speed It Up | Adrian Castellanos | Melissa Ledford | 7/2 |
| 3 | Hacksaw Mountain | Alex V. Anaya | Jose Navarro | 10/1 |
| 4 | Fruit Lutes | Alex M. Cruz | Rosie Simkins | 5/2 |
| 5 | Oscar Production | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Scott Tubbs | 3/1 |
The Favorites: A tight heat. Jess in Time (2/1) represents the vastly experienced Tim McCanna barn, with Fruit Lutes (5/2) and Oscar Production (3/1) both within a point on the line.
The Value: Speed It Up at 7/2 from the two-hole could get an easy lead in a race without much pace.
The Verdict: Jess in Time narrowly, but this is a race to spread in the rolling exotics.
Race 4 — 3:23pm PT: Maiden Claiming, 6 Furlongs
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simply Smiles | Alex M. Cruz | Dan L. Markle | 2/1 |
| 2 | Carita Linda | Talliyah Timentwa | Tim McCanna | 7/2 |
| 3 | Belle of Edmonds | Isaias D. Enriquez | Frank Lucarelli | 9/2 |
| 4 | She’s Just Grand | Pablo E. Castillo | Frank Lucarelli | 5/1 |
| 5 | Little Minnie Mo | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Cliff Balcom | 3/1 |
| 6 | Infernal Tori | Lenny A. Seecharan | Alan Bozell | 12/1 |
The Favorites: Simply Smiles is 2/1 with Cruz aboard, but note Frank Lucarelli — Emerald’s multiple champion trainer — fires two bullets with Belle of Edmonds (9/2) and She’s Just Grand (5/1).
The Value: Belle of Edmonds is the pick of the Lucarelli pair at the price.
The Verdict: Simply Smiles, with the Lucarelli duo for the trifecta.
Race 5 — 3:56pm PT: Starter Allowance, 6 Furlongs
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bells and Whistles | Frank T. Alvarado | Gary E. O. Greiner | 12/1 |
| 2 | Eyelight | Isaias D. Enriquez | Frank Lucarelli | 7/2 |
| 3 | Can’tdealwithit | Kevin E. Orozco | David B. Martinez | 3/1 |
| 4 | Clubhouse Drama | Blake Nunnally | Howard F. Gibson | 5/2 |
| 5 | Flyin By | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Kimberley Johnston | 5/1 |
| 6 | Bronze Girl | Adrian Castellanos | Jorge Maravilla | 4/1 |
The Favorites: Clubhouse Drama (5/2) gives Howard Gibson a third live favorite on the card, with Can’tdealwithit (3/1) and the Lucarelli-trained Eyelight (7/2) close up.
The Value: Bronze Girl at 4/1 for Jorge Maravilla is interesting dropping into a winnable starter spot.
The Verdict: Clubhouse Drama in a competitive sprint.
Race 6 — 4:29pm PT: Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vino Viking | Frank T. Alvarado | Tom Wenzel | 9/5 |
| 2 | Illusion of Choice | Javier Matias | Marshall Allen | 7/2 |
| 3 | Favored Son | Jennifer Whitaker | Howard Belvoir | 5/1 |
| 4 | Il Vincenzo | Isaias D. Enriquez | Melissa Ledford | 12/1 |
| 5 | Subtle Prince | Adrian Castellanos | Tom Wenzel | 8/1 |
| 6 | Livin Right | Alex V. Anaya | Jorge Rosales | 10/1 |
| 7 | Annabelle’s Asset | Alex M. Cruz | Faustino Patino | 8/1 |
| 8 | Cozumel | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Blaine D. Wright | 10/1 |
The Favorites: The $23,000 maiden special weight is the day’s richest and deepest race, and Wenzel — who has won more Longacres Miles than any active trainer — saddles both the 9/5 favorite Vino Viking and Subtle Prince (8/1). The eight-strong field makes it the betting race of the day.
The Value: Cozumel (10/1) for Blaine Wright and the Cruz-ridden Annabelle’s Asset (8/1) are the logical upset candidates in the biggest field of the day.
The Verdict: Vino Viking — our best bet on the card. These Wenzel firsters and second-timers tend to be ready.
Race 7 — 5:02pm PT: Claiming, 1 Mile
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chatty Leroybrown | Allyssa Morales | Michael Puhich | 4/1 |
| 2 | Solo Un Beso | Blake Nunnally | Rigoberto Velasquez | 6/1 |
| 3 | Lucy L | Adrian Castellanos | Rigoberto Velasquez | 7/2 |
| 4 | Escapefromparadise | Alex V. Anaya | Liz Kowalski | 20/1 |
| 5 | Acclaimed Preacher | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Marcelino Trujillo | 3/1 |
| 6 | Thirsty Nic | Alex M. Cruz | Ramiro Meraz Martinez | 5/2 |
| 7 | Pocket Knife | Lenny A. Seecharan | Doug A. Carlson | 15/1 |
The Favorites: Thirsty Nic (5/2, Cruz again) heads a wide-open claiming mile from Acclaimed Preacher (3/1) and Lucy L (7/2), one half of a Velasquez pair.
The Value: Chatty Leroybrown at 4/1 for Michael Puhich, a barn that always has its milers fit.
The Verdict: Thirsty Nic, but keep stakes sensible — this is the trappiest race on the card.
Race 8 — 5:34pm PT: Claiming, 1 Mile
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upstart Yankee | Blake Nunnally | Jorge Maravilla | 9/5 |
| 2 | Dekudylan | Alex M. Cruz | Scott Tubbs | 4/1 |
| 3 | Gordy’s Boy | Alex V. Anaya | Guillermo Preciado | 12/1 |
| 4 | Prowling Cat | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Jorge Rosales | 5/2 |
| 5 | K R Rules | Kevin Krigger | Jose Puentes | 8/1 |
| 6 | Ruler of Angels | Kevin E. Orozco | Marcelino Trujillo | 10/1 |
| 7 | Tex Hanley | Allyssa Morales | Robert Gilker | 6/1 |
The Favorites: Upstart Yankee is a warm order at 9/5 from the rail, with Prowling Cat (5/2) the main threat for the in-form Rosales barn.
The Value: Dekudylan (4/1) gives Cruz and Scott Tubbs a live longer-priced play, and Tex Hanley (6/1) hits the board more often than not.
The Verdict: Upstart Yankee to make his own luck on the front end.
Race 9 — 6:04pm PT: Starter Allowance, 1 Mile
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C’S Lilly Dancer | Kevin Krigger | Scott Tubbs | 4/1 |
| 2 | Exington | Adrian Castellanos | Francisco Rodriguez | 8/1 |
| 3 | Nephele | Alex M. Cruz | Scott Tubbs | 7/2 |
| 4 | Bangie Go | Blake Nunnally | Charles Essex | 3/1 |
| 5 | Unbridled Scholar | Kevin E. Orozco | Blaine D. Wright | 5/2 |
| 6 | Vulin | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Gary E. O. Greiner | 5/1 |
The Favorites: Unbridled Scholar (5/2) carries the colors of the powerful Blaine Wright stable in the $14,000 starter mile, with Bangie Go (3/1) and the Tubbs pair of Nephele and C’S Lilly Dancer next in the market.
The Value: Vulin at 5/1 for Gary Greiner is overpriced on consistency.
The Verdict: Unbridled Scholar — Wright doesn’t run them here unless they’re primed.
Race 10 — 6:34pm PT: Claiming, 1 Mile
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Army Knife | Blake Nunnally | Doug A. Carlson | 12/1 |
| 2 | River Dance | Alex M. Cruz | Scott Freeman | 3/1 |
| 3 | Coconut Dreams | Silvio Ruiz Amador | Kimberley Johnston | 12/1 |
| 4 | Chokechery Shari | Allyssa Morales | James L. Gilmour | 15/1 |
| 5 | Bella Ciao Ciao | Kevin Krigger | Faustino Patino | 7/2 |
| 6 | Booster Club | Kevin E. Orozco | David B. Martinez | 9/2 |
| 7 | Swift Caro | Frank T. Alvarado | Tom Wenzel | 5/1 |
| 8 | Happy Is | Adrian Castellanos | Marcelino Trujillo | 6/1 |
The Favorites: River Dance (3/1, Cruz) and Bella Ciao Ciao (7/2) head an eight-runner finale that closes the late Pick 5.
The Value: Swift Caro (5/1) gives Wenzel a live closer if the nightcap pace gets hot.
The Verdict: River Dance to send the crowd home happy — and to send Cruz to the winner’s circle one more time.
Accumulator
Our four-leg parlay for Auburn: Sweet Shoppe (1:50pm, 6/5), Vino Viking (4:29pm, 9/5), Unbridled Scholar (6:04pm, 5/2) and River Dance (6:34pm, 3/1) — combined odds around 85/1 at the morning line.
If you’re building a bigger multi-track Saturday ticket, our Canterbury Park picks today dovetail nicely with this evening card. And circle next Sunday: Championship Sunday and the 91st Longacres Mile is the day Emerald Downs has been building toward all summer.
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