9/5/2026
(Auburn, WA) It’s closing weekend at the Auburn oval and also their Oktoberfest celebration. On Sunday the final 4 stakes races will be run. On Saturday it was a good 8 race card with lots of betting chances.
We’ll check in with Emerald Media Director Vince’s Bruun’s Track Note in the “Track Wire” followed by the race re-caps and replays.
By Vince Bruun
Saturday’s eight-race card handled $1,112,584. . .12-year-old Pistol Power ($7.54) won his 20th career race and 16th at Emerald Downs, scoring in the Saturday opener for Rigoberto Velasquez and Lisa Baze. A Washington-bred by War Power, Pistol Power debuted at Portland Meadows on Nov. 7, 2017. . .Counteract ($5) sizzled a mile and 70 yards in 1:39.11 to win a $15,000 claimer for 3 and ups. . .Jorge Rosales saddled two winners, pulling within two of the top spot in the trainers’ standing. With two days remaining, Howie Gibson leads with 32 wins followed by defending champion Rosales with 30, with Tom Wenzel third with 26. . .The $0.10 Jackpot Pick 6 carryover has grown to $10,431. . .Sunday’s 10-race spectacular features four stakes including Longacres Mile winner Adios Jojo in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. First post 1:50 p.m.
Feature Race 6th Race
Ole’s Surprise caught heavily-favored Stratojet in the final strides for a neck victory in Saturday’s $24,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse for 3-year-olds and up.
Ridden by a pistol hot Adrian Castellanos, Ole’s Surprise covered six furlongs in a snappy 1:08.32, returning $13.44 as the second betting choice. Mark Cloutier is the winning trainer for owners Roy and Dixie Jacobson of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Ole Nielson of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Shortening to a sprint following respectable showing in the Muckleshoot Derby and Seattle Slew Stakes, Ole’s Surprise scored his second win of the meeting, bumping his life mark to 2-1-0 from seven starts with earnings of $48,051.
The victory capped another riding triple for Castellanos—his fourth straight day with at least three wins. A late season surge has vaulted Castellanos to second in the standings with 58 wins, seven behind Silvio Amador with two days remaining in the 2026 season.
Stratojet, the 1 to 5 favorite ridden by Kevin Orozco, set fractions of :21.47 and :43.63, and held on well to just miss a third straight victory.
Impassable, Frank Alvarado riding, finished a close third with Verdi, Da Smoke, and Livin Right rounding out the order of finish.
| 1st: |
3
|
Ole’s Surprise | $13.44 | $3.00 | $2.56 |
| 2nd: |
6
|
Stratojet | $2.10 | $2.10 | |
| 3rd: |
5
|
Impassable | $2.64 | ||
| 4th: |
2
|
Verdi |
- $1.00 EXACTA 3-6 $13.74
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-6-5 $22.05
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-6-5-2 $10.32
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-3 $30.97
- $0.50 PICK 3 2,7-2,7-3 $33.89
- $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 6-2,7-2,7-3 $126.80
Race Replay was not available.
The rest of the Saturday races
1st Race
The opener saw a long time favorite still firing and winning with 12-year-old Pistol Power pulling away in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths running the mile in 1:36.17. Blake Nunnally had this race perfectly measured and let the old pro do his thing. Lisa Baze is the proud owner and trained by Jessie Velasquez. Pistol Power is a Washington bred by War Power out of Pistolpackin’gal by Tribunal and was bred by Donald Lawrence.
Upstart Yankee and Adrian Castellanos closed well for a clear 2nd, Midnight Fury with Lenny Seecharan took the show and El Joy ridden by Silvio Amador finished 4th.
| 1st: |
2
|
Pistol Power | $7.54 | $4.74 | $3.50 |
| 2nd: |
1
|
Upstart Yankee | $3.96 | $3.24 | |
| 3rd: |
3
|
Midnight Fury | $5.38 | ||
| 4th: |
6
|
El Joy |
- $1.00 EXACTA 2-1 $11.62
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-1-3 $29.58
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-1-3-6 $18.64
Race Replay
2nd Race
Apprentice Talliyah Timentwa up on My Sweet Forza rode a perfectly timed race coming from well off a quick pace to run down Strett Gun and pulling away by nearly 2 lengths. Street Gun and Alex Cruz were the front speed and couldn’t quite last to settle for 2nd, big favorite Kyalam with Silvio Amador flattened out late to hold 3rd and Hacksaw Mountain under Alex Anaya took 4th.
My Sweet Forza races for Salsa and Passion and trained by Jorge Rosales. My Sweet Forza ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.41.
| 1st: |
7
|
My Sweet Forza | $8.48 | $3.60 | $2.66 |
| 2nd: |
1
|
Street Gun | $4.72 | $2.66 | |
| 3rd: |
2
|
Kyalam | $2.10 | ||
| 4th: |
3
|
Hacksaw Mountain |
- $1.00 EXACTA 7-1 $26.76
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-1-2 $32.87
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-1-2-3 $26.10
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-7 $25.61
Race Replay
3rd Race
In the 3rd 7 went 6 1/2 furlongs and Stormy Lent went head and head with Tiz Dynamic and got the better of the pair at the wire to win by a neck in a final time of 1:15.92. Alex Cruz had Stormy lent rolling around the turn with favorite Favored Son and Jennifer Whitaker to his inside as they were aimed at reeling in Tiz Dynamic with Silvio Amador. Stormy Lent got the win over Tiz Dynamic and Favored Son was 3rd with Silver Ice taking 4th.
There was a question after the race with a Stweards inquiry looking to see if Favored Son got squeezed by either of the top 2 or both of them. in the end the Stewards ruled no change.
Stormy Lent is owned by Joe and Gloria Russo and trained by Patty Leaney.
| 1st: |
6
|
Stormy Lent | $8.20 | $5.06 | $3.50 |
| 2nd: |
3
|
Tiz Dynamic | $4.48 | $2.94 | |
| 3rd: |
4
|
Favored Son | $2.44 | ||
| 4th: |
5
|
Silver Ice |
- $1.00 EXACTA 6-3 $20.97
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 6-3-4 $30.49
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 6-3-4-5 $15.74
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-6 $30.29
- $0.50 PICK 3 2-7-6 $83.93
Race Replay
4th Race
The 6 runners went a mile and it was quite a finish. As the pacesetters tired the come and get you’s were rolling with Bak to Liberty and Adrian Castellanos gaining the advantage at the 1/8th pole. Kevin Orozco on Lil Richards Bello had to wait for an opening but came running as well. Then launching from far back was You’re the Cause with Frank Alvarado. You’re the Cause needed two more steps and just missed as Bak to Liberty got the win by a neck in a final time of a quick 1;35.75. Lil Richards Bello was 3rd and My Vino under Blake Nunnally also coming from far back settled for 4th.
Bak to Liberty races for Woodway Stable and Charles Essex and is trained by Essex.
| 1st: |
2
|
Bak To Liberty | $5.02 | $3.16 | $2.82 |
| 2nd: |
6
|
You’re The Cause | $7.28 | $4.16 | |
| 3rd: |
3
|
Lil Richards Bello | $3.06 | ||
| 4th: |
4
|
My Vino |
- $1.00 EXACTA 2-6 $15.56
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-6-3 $46.78
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-6-3-4 $17.60
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 6-2 $13.55
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 6-7 $4.15
- $0.50 PICK 3 7-6-2,7 $41.43
- $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 2-7-6-2,7 $115.55
Race Replay
5th Race
Platinum Diva and Ms Flashy Harbor stalked the speed in the 1 mile run and both made their move at the quarter pole with Adrian Castellanos sending first and opening up a 2 length lead at the top of the stretch. Ms Flashy Harbor and Kevin Krigger had to go wide and simply could not run down the winner. Petite Ange and Blake Nunnally was one of the pacestters and held well to be 3rd while Saint Mihiel and Silvio Amador took 4th.
Platinum Diva races for Gene Heredia, Eliesid Flores Sandoval and Eliana Thompson and trained by Jorge Rosales.
| 1st: |
2
|
Platinum Diva | $7.48 | $3.50 | $2.80 |
| 2nd: |
5
|
Ms Flashy Harbor | $4.22 | $3.20 | |
| 3rd: |
1
|
Petite Ange | $4.64 | ||
| 4th: |
4
|
Saint Mihiel |
- $1.00 EXACTA 2-5 $13.01
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-5-1 $26.33
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-5-1-4 $14.75
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-7 $2.17
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-2 $8.67
- $0.50 PICK 3 6-2,7-2,7 $20.91
Race Replay
7th Race
3-2 betting choice Counteract found a seem up the rail to run down I’m Noble and Lucky Code to take the 1 mile & 70 yard run. Frank Alvarado just missed with an off the pace run earlier in the card on You’re the Cause, this time Alvarado had it right winning by a neck over I’m Noble and Silvio Amador who was a neck better than Lucky Code under Talliyah Timentwa. They were well clear of Background who finished with with Isaias Enriquez.
Counteract is owned by Sue and Tim Spooner and trained by Dan Markle.
| 1st: |
3
|
Counteract | $5.00 | $2.96 | $2.42 |
| 2nd: |
1
|
I’m Noble | $4.12 | $3.30 | |
| 3rd: |
4
|
Lucky Code | $4.00 | ||
| 4th: |
7
|
Background |
- $1.00 EXACTA 3-1 $8.13
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 3-1-4 $30.18
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 3-1-4-7 $21.04
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-3 $25.55
- $0.50 PICK 3 2-3-3 $66.17
Race Replay
8th Race
Alex Cruz wasted no time with the favorite breaking 1st with Star Travel and extending their lead in the 6 furlong dash winning by nearly 5 lengths in a final time of 1:09.32. Star Travel is owned by Richard Larson and trained by Vince Gibson. Star travel is a Washington bred by Conveyance out of Among the Stars by Harbor the Gold and was bred by John Parker.
19-1 Haka and Frank Alvarado ran on to be 2nd, Raven Rendezvous ridden by Kevin Orozco wasd 3rd, Whatwerewethinkin and Kevin Krigger took 4th and completing the Super Hi 5 was Twirling Wonder and Isaias Emriquez.
| 1st: |
2
|
Star Travel | $5.62 | $3.62 | $3.22 |
| 2nd: |
4
|
Haka | $9.30 | $4.92 | |
| 3rd: |
7
|
Raven Rendezvous | $4.36 | ||
| 4th: |
6
|
Whatwerewethinkin | |||
| 5th: |
1
|
Twirling Wonder |
- $1.00 EXACTA 2-4 $19.97
- $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-4-7 $39.15
- $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-4-7-6 $23.26
- $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 2-4-7-6-1 $918.50
- $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 3-2 $12.24
- $0.50 PICK 3 3-3-2,3 $40.09
- $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 2,7-3-2,3-2,3 $156.50
- $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 2,7-2,7-3-2,3-2,3 $398.96
- – PICK 6 CarryOver $10,430.57
- $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 6-2,7-2,7-3-2,3-2,3 $152.06
Race Replay
www.West42sports.com