Meant for Me and jockey Kevin Krigger

MEANT FOR ME ALL THE WAY IN FRIDAY FEATURE RACE

AUBURN, Wash. (July 26, 2024) – Meant for Me was never headed and rolled to a 1 ¾-length victory for the track’s hottest combination in Friday’s $16,500 Browne Family Spirits Purse at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Kevin Krigger, Meant for Me zipped 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.35 and paid $3.12 as the prohibitive favorite in the field of six 3-year-olds and up. Justin Evans saddled the winner for owner Don Heim.

Including a win with Lady Cruiser in the Friday opener, Krigger and Evans have combined for at least two wins on the last five racing cards, believed to be an unprecedented achievement at Emerald Downs. All told, they are 21 for 47 combined at the meet for a sparkling 44.6 percent strike rate.

Krigger and Evans team twice on Saturday’s nine race card including Surprsinglyperfect, the 7 to 5 morning line favorite gunning for his fourth win of the meet in the $25,500 feature race.

Allowed to set leisurely fractions of :22.93 and :45.38, Meant for Me still had plenty in the tank for the stretch run. The victory is his second straight and sixth in 22 starts lifetime with earnings of $113,499.

Moonlightnwine, ridden by Carlos Montalvo, chased the winner to the wire and was clearly second best. The 4-year-old gelding is on a nice roll of his own with two wins and two seconds in his last four starts for trainer Vince Gibson and owners Jim Leslie and Joan Hutchison.

Club Mesquite, Kiaman McGregor riding, finished third while Awesome Move, Elevado, and Mahi Mahi rounded out the complete order of finish. Lie and Deny and Im Still Thirsty were scratched earlier in the day.

NOTES: Friday’s handle was $767,474 on a seven-race card. . .Alex Cruz also doubled Friday and tops the standings with 42 wins. He needs one win to hit the 350 mark at Emerald Downs. . .Evans leads Blaine Wright 36-24 in the trainers’ race. . .Including a win by Soldatna ($3.28) in race two, Wright has 493 wins at Emerald Downs and about to become only the sixth trainer in track history to win 500 races. . .Congratulations to trainer Jose Gutierrez on his first Emerald Downs victory as Made the Team ($8.38) triumphed under Carlos Montalvo in race four. . .Emerald Downs honors Hispanics in racing with its annual Fiesta Premio Esmeralda throughout the weekend. . .Live racing continues Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. post.

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