Suprsinglyperfect (No. 5) edges Jin Tong
SURPRSINGLYPERFECT WINS AGAIN AT EMERALD DOWNS
AUBURN, Wash. (July 27, 2024) – The track’s hottest horse, jockey, and trainer teamed to capture Saturday’s $25,500 El Rey 1360 Purse at Emerald Downs on Fiesta Premio Esmeralda Weekend.
It wasn’t easy, but Suprsinglyperfect became the meet’s first four-time winner with a hard-earned nose victory over a resilient Jin Tong, running a mile and 70 yards in 1:40.56 and returning $3.94 as the public betting choice.
Kevin Krigger rode Surprsinglyperfect for trainer and co-owner Justin Evans—capping off a sixth straight day in which the jockey and trainer combined to win at least two races on the card.
Including a win by Border Vigil in race three, Krigger and Evans are a combined 23 for 49 at the meet for a sparkling win percentage of 45.8.
Surprsinglyperfect is responsible for four of those wins—beginning with an $8,000 claimer May 25, followed by a $10,000 starter June 16, and a $25,000 claimer July 3. Saturday’s score, for a $30,000 tag, improved the 10-year-old’s career mark to 21 wins in 83 starts with earnings of $354,757. The first win came over six years ago in a $7,500 maiden claimer at Sunland Park.
While Surprisnglyperfect took the overland route, Jin Tong rallied inside to reach even terms in mid-stretch and they battled head and head to the wire with Surprisnglyperfect the narrowest of winners.
Jin Tong, an 8 to 1 shot ridden by Carlos Montalvo, finished 3 ½ lengths clear of El Alto Hombre, the early leader, who held third place. Rounding out the order of finish were You’re the Cause, Son of Thunder, Dirt Road Red, and Falsely Accused. Saqeel was scratched earlier in the day.
Krigger and Evans team three more times Sunday, including morning line favorites Validate and Coastal Jazz.
NOTES: Saturday’s mutuel handle totaled $883,437 on a nine-race card. . .While Surprsinglyperfect is the first horse with four wins, Taino House, Mary Walker, and Candied Lute all have three wins at the meet. . .Krigger rode three winners overall and ranks second with 30 wins and first in win percentage at 37.5. . .Luis Reyes rode two winners. . .Evans’ two wins upped his lead to 38-24 over Blaine Wright atop the trainers’ standings. . .Sunday’s 10-race card begins with three Quarter Horse events including two trials for the Aug. 28 John Deere Juvenile Challenge and an 870-yard mixed breed race for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. First post 1:30 p.m.
