He’s Not Grey and Gary Wales

HE’S NOT GREY SPLASHES TO BIG VICTORY

AUBURN, Wash. (May 25, 2019) – He’s Not Grey continued his winning ways Saturday at Emerald Downs, romping home by 9 ¾ lengths in the $11,200 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up.

Ridden by Gary Wales, He’s Not Grey zipped six furlongs in 1:08.61 on a sloppy track and paid $4, $2.80 and $2.20. Candi Cryderman is the winning trainer for three-time Emerald Downs’ leading owner John Parker.

A 4-year-old by Slew’s Tiznow, He’s Not Grey has won five of his last six starts, and is 6-1-2 in 11 outings overall. The winner’s share, $6,160, upped his bankroll to $63,287. It also was the second feature race victory this season for the gray gelding, who scored by two lengths in the opening day feature last month.

Seattle Smoke, ridden by Kevin Orozco, rallied from last to finish second and paid $4.40 and $3, while Ivy Mike, ridden by Heribert Martinez, finished third and paid $4.80 to show.

Das Bear, bidding for his third win of the meeting, set the pace for the opening half-mile before yielding to He’s Not Grey and finished fourth.

Way to go, Javier!

JAVIER MATIAS HITS EMERALD DOWNS MILESTONE

Javier Matias became only the ninth jockey with 500 career wins at Emerald Downs, achieving the milestone aboard Another Gem ($3) for trainer Vince Gibson and White Diamond Syndicate in Saturday’s first race.

Matias, 47, joins Gallyn Mitchell, Juan Gutierrez, Ricky Frazier, Leslie Mawing, Rocco Bowen, Frank Gonsalves, Kevin Radke and Ben Russell as riders with 500 wins at Emerald Downs.

“It’s a great feeling,” Matias said in a wet winner’s circle following his 500th win. “I want to thank owners and trainers for the opportunities to ride some good horses.”

Matias, who also won race six on Mystical Image, is off to a fast start in 2019, riding 12 winners in the first 13 days and is second to Gary Wales in the riders’ standings. Matias also ranks fifth all-time with 32 Emerald Downs’ stakes wins, topped by a victory on Barkley in the 2018 Longacres Mile.

A former leading rider at Portland Meadows, Matias has 1,179 career wins. His first Emerald Downs’ victory was July 12, 1998.

NOTES: The track was listed fast for the first two races, wet fast races three thru five, and sloppy races six through eight. . .Trainer Frank Lucarelli notched two more wins Saturday and has 18 victories in the first 13 days of racing. . .In addition to Matias, Kevin Orozco also rode two winners Saturday. . .Live racing continues Sunday with an eight-race card at 2 p.m.
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