Si That Tiger snaps Slew's Tiz Whiz's Governor's Stakes streak
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The 8-year-old gelding Slew's Tiz Whiz was seeking a record-setting fifth straight Governor's Stakes victory on Sunday at Emerald Downs, but the 4-year-old favorite, Si That Tiger, refused to respect his elder, cruising to a gate-to-wire, 1 3/4-length victory.
The 6 1/2-furlong Governor's was one of six $50,000 stakes on Emerald's Sunday card, five of which were won by favorites.
Slew's Tiz Whiz rallied late to get up for second, finishing one spot behind Si That Tiger ($3.44) for the second straight race. The winner of their June 21 encounter, Tax Code, missed the break and settled for fourth in a seven-horse field. Only six horses crossed the wire after He's Not Talking reared up at the gate and immediately threw his rider, Alex Cruz.
In that June 21 race, the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes, Si That Tiger broke slowly, marking the only time in eight sprints that he hadn't won. He paid $3.44 to win on Sunday for trainer Blaine Wright and covered the distance in 1:14.41. Executive Chef, who was recently claimed out of Wright's stable by Mike Puhich for Muddy Waters Stables, finished third.
Legislators Stakes
Going off at odds of 1-5, Aloha Breeze won in an eerily similar manner as Si That Tiger, going gate-to-wire to claim the Washington State Legislators Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths over runners-up Precise Timing and Saleen G T.
It was the third straight victory in the Legislators for Aloha Breeze, who paid $2.60 to win and covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.33 for trainer Emerald's all-time winningest stakes trainer, Tom Wenzel, who had a record-tying three stakes victories on the day. Adrian Castellanos had the mount for the first time after the 6-year-old mare's regular rider, Carlos Montalvo, moved his tack to Colonial Downs in Virginia.
"Adrian was really excited to ride her," Wenzel said from the winner's circle after the race. "We were sad to see Carlos leave, but Adrian did a great job here."
Seattle Slew
Frank Alvarado was in the reins for Wenzel's other two stakes wins, the first of which came aboard favored Robin Racer ($3.74) in the Seattle Slew, a one-mile race for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
Chase led most of the way under leading jockey Silvio Amador before Alvarado and Robin Racer overtook them in deep stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths, covering the distance in 1:36.10.
Kent Stakes
Alvarado's second stakes win and third on the day came in the Seattle Slew's sister race, the Kent Stakes, aboard Falling Leaves ($9.78), who was the only non-favorite to win a stakes on Sunday.
A stakes winner at 2, Falling Leaves had shown plenty of speed in her young career but had also displayed a tendency to set sizzling early fractions before faltering in the stretch. That she stayed a mile in her two-turn debut came as an extremely pleasant surprise to George Todaro, who set an Emerald record for owners with three stakes wins on the day, and Wenzel.
"We wanted to try to back it up as much as we could today," said Wenzel. "She's been a bit of a puzzler for me. We always expected her to finish better, but she hasn't. Frank had saved enough horse when he asked her. I'm really happy about this filly today because I've struggled getting her to finish."
Falling Leaves finished the mile in 1:36.79. Alluring Valentine was second and Tipitap was third.
* Both of the winners of the 5 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds, the Angie C. for females and the King County Express for males, stayed undefeated with decisive front-running victories. Mattie Goincoastal ($2.82) won by five lengths under Kevin Orozco and gave trainer Howie Gibson his first stakes victory at Emerald in the Angie C., while Wyoming shipper Caps and Carnage ($3.30), who's never trailed in four career races, won his third straight stakes by 4 3/4 lengths for trainer Dru Hall.
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