Horse Racing: Emerald Downs Closing Day; Amador Jockey Champ, H Gibson Top Trainer, Todaro leads Owners

9/7/2026

(Auburn, WA) The final day of live racing arrived with a good 8-race card with good fields to contest for the 12k pick 6 carry-over that had to be paid out today. The only true race left for season honors was in the trainer standings. Howard Gibson held a 2 win lead over defending Champion conditioner Jorge rosales 32-30. Tom Wenzel was 3rd with 29.

We’ll re-cap the Trainer, Jockey and Owner season Champs in the Track Wire. All the post season awards will be completely released on Wednesday when Horse of the Meet will be announced.

Additionally, there were two feature races to wrap up the season thanks to Jody Peetz who again donated her own money to add $16,000 to each Carrots and Cupcakes Getaway races, one for the boys and one for the girls.

The Track Wire

We’ll include the final jockey, trainer and owner standings in this story but release a full Postseason Awards and Championships story on Wednesday when the Horse of the Meet is officially announced by Emerald Downs.

Final Standings

Jockey’s

Jockey Championship

Silvio Amador picked up his 1st Jockey Championship finishing the season with 68 wins. Amador and Kevin Krigger were 1 and 2 for most of the season but then Adrian Castellanos caught fire late delivering multiple 3 win days and made up a ton of ground and past Krigger for 2nd coming into the final day. Amador held a 67-59 lead starting on Monday and with only 8 races set for closing day and Castellanos did not ride the card, Amador clinched the win.

Castellanos led Krigger 59-56 coming into closing day and Krigger not happy with being past picked off two wins in the 2nd on Bob’s Honey and 4th with Nation of Faith to pull within 1 of Castellanos for 2nd. Castellanos then answered with a win on Creative Om in the 7th. Both Krigger and Castellanos had 3 seconds on the day as neither one gave in but Castellanos held onto 2nd place.

Here are the top 10 Jockeys by wins:

1) Silvio Amador         68
2) Adrain Castellanos     60
3) Kevin Krigger              58
4) Blake Nunnally           43
5) Frank Alvarado           29
6) Alex Cruz                     28
7)Kevin Orozco               27
8) Allyssa Morales          14
9) Isaias Enriquez           11
9) Talliyah Timentwa     11
9) Karlo Lopez                 11

Trainer Championship

Howie Gibson was in control but had just one runner going on closing day. Gibson led the defending Champion trainer Jorge Rosales by two, 32-30 heading into the final day. Tom Wenzel was three back but Wenzel did not have any starters on Monday.

Rosales had a chance to tie with two entries in the 4th race and one in the finale for 3 chances to win 2 and tie Gibson. Gibson had one runner in the 7th and Wenzel did not start any. Rosales would finish 3rd and 4th in the 4th race which clinched the trainer title for Howard Gibson his 1st ever training title. Rosales held on for 2nd and Wenzel was 3rd.

Blaine Wright had another solid year as well with 25 wins including one on closing day. Tim McCanna was the only trainer to double and was the 4th condition to top 20 wins for the year.

Here are the top 10 Trainers by wins:

1) Howie Gibson  33
2) Jorge Rosales       29
3) Blaine Wright       25
4) Tim McCanna       21
5) Frank Lucarelli     16
6) Charlie Essex        15
6) Jesse Velasquez    15
8) Kay Cooper            13
9) Joe Toye                 11
10) Alexis Silva-Martinez 10

Owner Championship

Dr George Todaro, one of Emerald’s initial investerors ran away with the Championship putting up 20 wins, 13 more than 2nd place. The 20 wins is the most by an owner since Justin Evans won 21 in 2023.

Todaro becomes the 11th owner in track history to have 20 or more wins in a season. He joins Chad Christensen, Chad and Josh, Swag Stables, Saratoga West, Mr & Mrs Don Munger, Ron Crockett, West Ridge Farm, John Parker and Howard Belvoir.

Only Chad Christensen has topped 30 wins with 32 in 2019. Swag Stables is second with 27 in 2009. John Parker, Ron Crockett and Saratoga West have all won 20+ in a season twice.

Here are the top 5 Owners by wins:

1) Dr George Todaro                    20
2) Joe & Gloria Russo                           7
2) Rancho Viejo & Jerry Carmody     7
2) Hat Trick Racing                               7
5) Sue Gilmour                                       6
5) Heredia, Sandoval & Thompson    6

Closing Day Notes

From the saddle, only Kevin Krigger doubled and added 3 second place finishes from his 5 mounts. Silvio Amador won a race along with Adrian Castellanos, Blake Nunnally, Frank Alvarado, Talliyah Timentwa and Jose Rodriguez. 

Tim McCanna was the only trainer to double, leading trainer Howie Gibson won one of the feature Carrots and Cupcakes races with Ceative Om. Steve Fisher won the filly and mare division of the Carrots and Cupcakes feature race with Kinky Moon. It was Fisher’s 3rd win of the year.

There many honored during the day. The 1st race was the Horsemen Appreciation Purse, the 3rd race was the best track photographers in America. Reed and Erin Palmer were honored with the Reed & Erin Appreciation Purse. 

The 5th race was the Jody Peetz Appreciation Purse. Peetz is the anonymous donor that adds money purses several times during the season.

And the final race was in appreciation to the Muckleshoot tribe with the Muckleshoot Casino Resort purse. The Muckleshoots add money to the purse fund each year and this year was about 20% of the total money paid out in purses.

Opening and Closing Days

There were a few interesting notes comparing opening day on Saturday, May 2nd to Closing Day on Septemeber 7. First on opening ay there were only 6 races with a total of 28 starters and on closing day there were 8 races with 64 starters. This is a 4.7 average per race on opening day to 8 per race on closing day a 40%+ increase.

Opening day handle was $755,751, closing day was $1,081,181. Or the per race average was $125,959 on opening day to $135,148 on closing day. If there is any question that NW racing fans are not ALWAYS excited for opening day this should put that notion to rest. The fans show up like no other track in the country on a regular basis. This is the “hard” part of horse racing now days and no one does it better than here in the Pac NW.

Other notes of interest and remember there were only 6 races on opening day. Kevin Krigger doubled on both opening and closing day. Silvio Amador also double on opening day and Adrian Castellanos won a race so the top 3 riders all won on opening and closing day. 

Here’s the one that is kinda “wow”. Jose Rodriguez had 4 wins all season from 39 mounts. Rodriguez won on opening day and he won on closing day so half of his wins bookended the season. Let’s go one step further, he was on the longest shot in each of those races and both winners had the high $2 win pay of the day. 

On opening day he won the 6th and final race on 5-1 House of Lords in a 4 horse race. On closing day he won the 6th race on 24-1 Come on Amp. And we’ll throw this in as well, in both races the trainer of the 2nd place horse was Vince Gibson. and the last oddity of this is the purse was exactly the same $13,000 with the winner earning $7,410.

We’re not done yet, the trainers. Only one trainer doubled on opening day, Tim McCanna. McCanna was the only trainer to double on closing day. Alexis Silva-Martinez had 10 wins on the year and 20% of those wins came with a victory on opening and closing day and both wins were in the 4th race.

And leading trainer Howie Gibson had his year get off to a fast start winning the opening day feature and finished winning one of the two closing day feature races.

And owner Robert Jones finished the year with 3 wins and 67% of those came on the opening and closing days. Jones and trainer Tim McCanna took the 3rd race on opening day with the betting favorite Southern Anton and won the 2nd race on closing day with the favorite Bob’s Honey.

There were two horses that ran on both days, Deputy’s Dancer finished off the board in both races. But Mocktails Anyone was another crazy coincidence. Mocktails Anyone had the same owners in Two Putts for the Win, Lucarelli Racing and Aaron Bresko and Lucarelli training. Mocktails Anyone ran in the 3rd race both days, she was well beaten by the winner by 7 and 9 lengths. Mocktails Anyone was the clear 2nd best taking 2nd in both races by more than 2 lengths. Collected the same 2nd place purse money of $3,120 and the $2 place was 2-cents off paying $3.24 on opening day and $3.26 on closing day.

The Betting Window

Pick 6 carry-over and Season high Pick 5

With a $12,000+ carry-over in the Pick 6 and a mandatory pay-out on closing day the 10-cent Pick 6 attracted the biggest single day betting pool of $37,059 for a neary $50,000 total pool. Add a 9-1 and a 24-1 winner in the sequence and still you needed all 6 to get a share of the pot in fact there were more than 15 winninbg tickets with each returning $2,439.72.

The 9-1 and 24-1 were also part of the Pick 5 sequence which kicked up that pay-off all the way to the highest Pick 5 return of the season. One ticket held all 5 winners and $12,025.65.

Several Chances to hit big on Closing day

Only 5 runners in the 1st race  but 5-1 At the Cross was an easy winner. A pair of favorites then won but 9-1 Nation of Faith kicked off the Pick 5 and was the 2nd leg of the Pick 6. 3-1 Bourbon Dancer and 15-1 Time Ticker was 3rd with the favorite Handsome Ticket 4th returned 70-1 on the exacta, paid $183.92 on the 50-cent trifecta and the $1 superfecta $1,878.60. 

24-1 Come On Amp took the 5th and that capped the season high Pick 3 pay-off of $664.08.  Come on Amp paid $51.08, $29.46 and $9.32 or $89.86 on the $6 combo ticket. The $1 Exacta was $137.96, the 50-cent trifecta $378.22 and the dime super $391.67 or $3,916.70 for the $1 bet.

In the 6th race the prvious season high pick 3 set by Come On Amp’s win lasted about 25 minutes as 6-1 Kinky Moon came flying late to get the win and destroyed the pick 3 high pay bymore than doubling the $664 to $1,598.37. This was also the final leg of a pick 4 which looked like would blow out the season high but instead paid just $53. That’s because no one had all 4 winners and paid 3 of 4. If this isn’t the only pick 4 of the season to pay 3 of 4 it is one of very few.

Two favorites finished off the day but there were many chances to cash big on closing day.

Closing Day Feature Races

6th Race Filly & Mare Feature Race Carrots & Cupcakes Getaway Weekend Purse

In the $30,000 Carrots & Cupcakes for fillies and mares, Kinky Moon and Frank Alvarado rallied from the clouds for a $15.58 upset over 2 to 1 favorite Princess Hekawi in 1:42.10. Steve Fisher is the winning trainer for owner Paul Hagemann of Portland, Ore.

Kinky Moon finished the meet with three wins, all with Alvarado aboard, earning $38,985 including $17,100 for Monday’s victory.

Princess Hekawi with Kevin Krigger pressed the pace and had the lead in the stretch but could not hold off the fast closing Kinky Moon. Bangie Go and Blake Nunnally finished strong but was in tight alog the rail for most of the stretch just inside Princess Hekawi and Gi Gis Map with Silvio Amador set the pace but tired holding on for 4th.

The Carrots & Cupcakes starters each included $16,000 contributions from longtime owner Jody Peetz.

• $1.00 EXACTA 2-5 $32.44
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 2-5-3 $84.71
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 2-5-3-4 $53.56
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-2 $261.14
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-1-2 $1,598.37
• $0.50 PICK 4 3 OF 4 5-1-1-2 $53.08

Race Replay

7th Race Feature Race Carrots & Cupcakes Getaway Weekend Purse

Creative Om capped a sensational season with gate to wire victory in Monday’s $30,000 Carrots & Cupcakes starter allowance for on closing day of Emerald Downs’ 31st season.

Ridden by Adrian Castellanos, Creative Om ran 1 1/16 miles in a meet-best 1:40.28, returning $4.60 as the betting favorite. Howie Gibson is the trainer for owners Tsujikawa Racing and Miranda Gibson.

Creative Om finished the season on a tear, leading gate to wire in three straight races at different distances—1 mile, 1 1/8 mile, and 1 1/16 mile. A 5-year-old California-bred by Om, Creative Om is 7 for 13 lifetime at Emerald Downs with earnings of $71,423 including $17,100 for Monday’s triumph.

Creative Om capped Gibson’s first ever training title with 33 wins.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-1 $4.73
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-1-8 $8.68
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-1-8-2 $11.00
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 2-7 $26.03
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-2-7 $827.64

Race Replay

The rest of the Closing Day Card

1st Race

After two late scratches five went to the gate and At the Cross was sent hard from the 1 hole by jockey Blake Nunnally and controlled the pace over 2-5 odds-on choice Tigersun with Adrian Castellanos. Nunnally and At the Cross set fractions of 22-flat and 44.61 when Tigersun made his move to challenge but At the Cross had plenty in reserve holding off Tigersun and pulling away to win by nearly 3 lengths in a final time of 1:09.59. Tigersun held 2nd, Shiny Orb and Alex Anaya ran on for the show and Simonsito finshed 4th with Talliyah Timentwa in the saddle.

At the Cross is owned by Terri Eaton and Joe Gibson and trained by Eaton.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-3 $8.51
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-3-4 $16.94
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-3-4-5 $7.85

Race Replay

2nd Race

Even money favorite Bobs Honey got a perfect stalking ride from Kevin Krigger. Out of the gate Thebiggerthebetter and Silvio Amador took control and set some quick fractions of 21.97 and 44.65. Krigger and Bob were in the middle of the track and when asked Bobs Honey was money pulling away for a length win over a closing Samarolu under Adrian Castellanos. Thebiggerthebetter held 3rd and Cape Blossom closed for 4th with Alex Cruz.

Bobs Honey ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.32 and races for Robert Jones and trained by Tim McCanna.

• $1.00 EXACTA 7-1 $7.61
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 7-1-4 $27.82
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 7-1-4-2 $11.63
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-7 $20.23

Race Replay

3rd Race

Tiosimage was bet down to odds-on and ran like it going gate to wire in this 6 furlong sprint. Silvio Amador led all thway and when they straitened out for the stretch run Amador said go and Tiosimage pulled away for an 8 length win in a fast 1:08.13. Tiosimage races for William Hedrick and is trained by Blaine Wright.

Mocktails Anyone and Kevin Krigger was a clear 2nd but couldn’t get close to the winner, Mimi Kai and Kevin Orozco took 3rd with Simply Smiles and Adrain Castellanos wrapping up the superfecta.

• $1.00 EXACTA 5-6 $3.95
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 5-6-4 $2.82
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 5-6-4-7 $3.54
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-5 $5.29
• $0.50 PICK 3 1-7-5 $23.14

Race Replay

4th Race

Handsome Ticket and Deputy’s Dancer went to the front and set fast fractions as a host of stalkers lined up behind the pacesetters. Handsome Ticket and Talliyah Timentwa scooted away to take the lead turning for home but then the calvary charge was let go and Nation of Faith with Kevin Krigger got first run and used that to streak to a clear win in a final time of 1:09.29, Bourbon Dancer and Kevin Orozco closed for the place, Time Ticker and Adrian Castellanos took the show and Handsome Ticket flattened out and held on for 4th.

Nation of Faith is owned by Jane Catherine Maller and trained by Alexis Silva-Martinez. Nation of Faith is a Washington bred by Nationhood out of Screaminleapofaith by Matricule and was bred by James Kiser.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-6 $71.72
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-6-5 $183.92
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-6-5-8 $187.86
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 5-1 $18.19
• $0.50 PICK 3 7-5-1 $26.95
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 1-7-5-1 $167.81

Race Replay

5th Race

A stunning upset in the field of 7 going 6 furlongs as 24-1 Come On Amp went to the front for Jose Rodriguez and did not stop pulling away to win handily in a final time of 1:09.72. Come On Amp is owned by Tucker Stillwell and trained by Gary Greiner, Greiner’s 2nd win of the season.

One Phil ran a solid 2nd for Alex Anaya, Coastal Journey was 3rd under Allyssa Morales and taking 4th was Whiskeythenwine with Silvio Amador.

• $1.00 EXACTA 1-7 $137.96
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 1-7-4 $378.22
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 1-7-4-2 $391.67
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 1-1 $229.11
• $0.50 PICK 3 5-1-1 $664.08

Race Replay

8th Race

In the finale, odds-on choice Carita Linda had no trouble sitting behind some early speed, then taking the lead turning for home and opening up for a huge win by 7 lengths with a perfect ride from Talliyah Timentwa. Carita Linda ran the 6 furlongs in 1:10.21 and is owned by Run Fast Racing and trained by Tim McCanna.

Rise Up and Go with Adrian Castellanos ran 2nd, R D Stimulus ridden by Alex Cruz was 3rd, Tiger Passion under Isaias Enriquez was 4th and Avellinasa with Kevin Orozco completed the super Hi 5.

• $1.00 EXACTA 4-10 $4.96
• $0.50 TRIFECTA 4-10-3 $24.29
• $0.10 SUPERFECTA 4-10-3-6 $25.47
• $0.50 SUPERHIGHFIVE 4-10-3-6-8 $358.65
• $1.00 DAILY DOUBLE 7-4 $5.28
• $0.50 PICK 3 2-7-4 $24.46
• $0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4 1-2-7-4 $832.18
• $0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5 1-1-2-7-4 $12,025.65
• $0.10 PICK 6 6 OF 6 5-1-1-2-7-4 $2,439.72

Race Replay

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