Cross the Causeway (No. 7)
CROSS THE CAUSEWAY PREVAILS AT EMERALD DOWNS
AUBURN, Wash. (May 3, 2025) – Cross the Causeway nailed Finger Gun in the final strides for a 17 to 1 upset in Saturday’s featured Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse at Emerald Downs.
With Kevin Orozco aboard, Cross the Causeway ran the six furlongs in 1:09.79 and returned $36.72 as second longest price in a field of eight older $10,000 claimers. Charles Essex is the winning trainer for owner Michael Stark, who claimed the 5-year-old gelding for $6,250 in February at Turf Paradise.
A Kentucky-bred by Cross Traffic, Cross the Causeway now has four wins in 14 starts lifetime with earnings of $56,643. Saturday’s race was his debut Emerald Downs.
Uncle Leon, ridden by Francisco Duran, rallied wide into the lane, surged to the lead between calls and was tagged late in a game effort.
Square Cat, with Emerald Downs newcomer David Haldar at the controls, finished third while rounding out the order of finish were Company’s Dream, No d’Oro, Man Overboard and Lucky Lad.
The Winners of the Fabulous Hat / Best Dressed Contest
NOTES: Wasserman and Jennifer Whitaker led the post parade for Saturday’s 4th race—Wasserman Hall of Fame Purse—with the 23-year-old gelding slated to enter the Washington Racing Hall of Fame on Aug. 16, eve of the 91st running of the Longacres Mile. . . Mutuel handle totaled $1,100,355 on a seven-race card. . .Kevin Krigger was the riding star with three wins on the day. . .3-year-old gelding Goin’ South was a $25,000 claim out of Saturday’s third race by Chad and Josh, with Howie Gibson the new trainer. A Washington-bred by Om-Clever Bird, Goin South ($3.28) edged first-time starter Ruby N Ray in :57.03 for five panels. . .Francisco Monroy chalked up his first Emerald Downs win in boxcar fashion, guiding first-time starter Kir Royale to a $67.10 upset vs. maiden special weight fillies and mares. Kay Cooper saddled the daughter of Atta Boy Roy for Pat Crow, Jill Fabulich and Debbie Pabst. . .West Coast Bull ($4.78) prevailed in the Saturday opener as trainer Steve Bullock tied Terry Gillihan for 16th place all-time at Emerald Downs with 342 wins apiece. . .Alex Cruz, gunning for his sixth straight riding title, scored his first victory of 2025 aboard Moonlight Grey ($5.52) in the Saturday nightcap. . .Emerald Downs offers two days of racing next week with 1:50 posts Saturday and Sunday.
