Si That Tiger with Silvio Amador in the $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes

SI THAT TIGER EXPLODES IN WTBOA LADS STAKES

AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 4, 2024) – Si That Tiger appears to be the fastest 2-year-old at Emerald Downs in 2024.

In Sunday’s $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes, Si That Tiger took command around the turn and powered home to a convincing 5 ½-length victory, covering 6 ½ furlongs in a fast 1:16.33. Silvio Amador rode the winner at 121 lbs. for trainer Blaine Wright and the ownership partnership of John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald and Gail Schneider, all of Auburn, Wash.

A $20,000 yearling purchase, Si That Tiger has won two straight by a combined 12 ¾ lengths following a trouble-filled debut eight weeks ago. Including Sunday’s first-place check worth $27,500, his earnings now stand at $41,900.

Sandwiched between Kiss the Tiger and stablemate Vivacious Tribute on the backstretch, Si That Tiger spurted clear on the turn while running the half in :44.54, a potentially taxing fraction for a 2-year-old in early August. No problem, however, as Si That Tiger finished with a flourish in a dazzling performance.

“I thought he’d run good, but I didn’t know he had that (kind of race) in him right now,” Wright said in the post-race interview.

A California-bred by Smiling Tiger, Si That Tiger is out of Ros’s Girl, whose progeny include two-time Washington Horse of the Year Slew’s Tiz Whiz.

Wright now has four stakes wins at the meet, one better than Tom Wenzel, and those two are tied for second place all-time with 59 stakes wins at Emerald Downs.

Impassable, ridden by Javier Matias at 119 lbs., finished well for second place, 5 ½ lengths in front of third-place Big Bowie, with Verdi. Bodi Zafa, Kiss the Tiger and Vivacious Tribute rounding out the full order of finish.

He’s Not Talking was scratched earlier in the day.

Next for 2-year-olds is the $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts and Geldings for Washington-breds at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, Aug. 26. The next open race for 2-year-olds is the $50,000 Gottstein Futurity at 1 1/16 mile on Sunday, Sept. 15.

NOTES: Sunday’s mutuel handle totaled $1,088,454 on a none-race card. . .Mike Hill’s Crème De Menthe bagged her third win of the meet, holding off Ruby Ray in a furious stretch drive to prevail in a $25,500 allowance/optional claimer for older fillies and mares. Karlo Lopez rode the winner for trainer Frank Lucarelli. . .Trainer Bob Bean saddled a $274.31 exacta in race six with Vhagar ($77.02) edging stablemate Square Fun for the victory. . .Stay Sassy ($6.78) caught Victoria’s Charge to prevail in a $24,500 allowance for fillies and mares, the second win to go with a second in four starts at the meet for the 4-year-old Washington-bred out of stakes winner Pippa Bou Peep. . .Justin Evans and Kevin Krigger combined for two more wins are 28-64 combined this season (43.8 percent). They have combined for at least one win on 10 straight cards. . .Lopez also rode two winners. . .Entries for the 89th renewal of the $150,000 Longacres Mile are drawn Wednesday in the Emerald Room. . .After a four-day break, live racing resumes Friday with first post 7 p.m.

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