Championship Sunday at Emerald Downs presents one of the premier racing cards in the Pacific Northwest, headlined by the 90th running of the historic Longacres Mile. The eleven-race program features six stakes races in the final portion of the card, creating exceptional wagering opportunities with all-stakes Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 sequences available.
The $125,000 Longacres Mile serves as the featured ninth race, bringing together a competitive field that includes Grade 3 winner Masen, multiple stakes winner Clovisconnection, and local favorite Slew’s Tiz Whiz, who captured this race in 2022. Supporting stakes include the Washington Oaks and Muskleshoot Derby, along with the $50,000 Emerald Distaff Stakes.
Weather Forecast and Track Conditions
Current weather conditions show mostly cloudy skies with temperatures around 73°F. The weekend was expected to feature excellent racing conditions with temperatures in the 70s and significantly reduced rain chances, a welcome change after Friday’s card was cancelled due to severe weather concerns.
Race-by-Race Analysis and Picks
Race 2 – $13,000 Claiming (6 furlongs, Dirt)
This claiming race for three-year-olds and up features six runners with Angier listed as the 7/5 morning line favorite. West Coast Bull appears as the second choice at 5/2, followed by Baie Longue at 9/2.
Angier showed a steady effort in his last start, finishing third by 1¾ lengths behind Summers Choice at six furlongs. Gate Guard enters off a dominant maiden victory, winning by 5¾ lengths in July. West Coast Bull displayed a strong closing kick in his last start, finishing second by two lengths.
Race 4 – $8,500 Maiden Claiming (1 mile, Dirt)
The maiden claiming event presents nine runners seeking their first victory. Code Breaker stands as the heavy 3/2 favorite with trainer Justin Evans and jockey Kevin Krigger. The gelding has shown consistency with two seconds and four thirds in eight starts, including a recent runner-up effort.
Arnie Boy offers value at 4/1 with trainer Dan Markle and jockey Frank Alvarado. Chasin A Dollar, with five-time defending champion Alex Cruz aboard, presents another intriguing option at 5/1.
Race 9 – Longacres Mile Stakes ($125,000)
The feature race brings together ten runners for the mile classic. Slew’s Tiz Whiz enters as the morning line favorite for trainer Tom Wenzel, making his fourth appearance in this race. The seven-year-old local star has made all 27 career starts at Emerald Downs and captured this race in 2022.
Clovisconnection, trained by Blane Wright and ridden by leading jockey Kevin Krigger, finished second by a head in last year’s edition. The California-bred has compiled a stellar 12-for-21 win record but faces questions about the distance after six consecutive sprint starts.
Apprehend ships in from Canada with regular rider Amadeo Perez and draws the challenging outside post position. The six-year-old enters on a five-race winning streak dating to July 2024.
Jockey Notes and Insights
Kevin Krigger leads the 2025 jockey standings at Emerald Downs and takes several prominent mounts on Championship Sunday. The accomplished rider teams with trainer Blane Wright aboard Clovisconnection in the Longacres Mile and has multiple other quality assignments throughout the card.
Alex Cruz, the five-time defending champion, currently sits in third place in the standings. Despite trailing in the title race, Cruz maintains his reputation for big-race performances and rides Bearings in the Longacres Mile for trainer Justin Evans.
Juan Gutierrez, the track’s all-time winningest jockey with three Longacres Mile victories, continues to be a factor. Manuel Americano has emerged as a promising apprentice rider, trailing Krigger in second place in the standings.
Julien Couton has shown excellent form in stakes races, particularly aboard fan favorite Slew’s Tiz Whiz. Francisco Monroy earned his first stakes victory at Emerald Downs in the Kent Stakes aboard Precise Timing.
Trainer Notes and Insights
Tom Wenzel conditions Longacres Mile favorite Slew’s Tiz Whiz and previously won this race in 2007. Wenzel’s patient approach with the seven-year-old, giving him fall and winter breaks each season, has paid dividends with 27 consecutive starts at the home track.
Blane Wright seeks his second Longacres Mile victory after capturing the 2020 edition with Anothertwistafate. Wright has managed Clovisconnection to an impressive 12-for-21 record and brings the horse back to the scene of his near-miss last year.
Justin Evans, the two-time training champion, continues to compete at the top level with multiple quality horses. Jorge Rosales led trainers with three wins in a recent week and has pulled into contention for training honors.
Best Wagering Strategies and Value Plays
The all-stakes sequence from races six through eleven presents the primary wagering focus for Championship Sunday. The Pick 6 spanning these races offers the potential for significant payoffs given the competitive nature of each event.
For single-race wagering, the Longacres Mile provides the best opportunity for exotic play. The competitive field and expected pace dynamics create conditions favorable for trifecta and superfecta wagering.
The claiming races early in the card may offer value opportunities for bettors seeking overlays on horses moving up or down in class. Race 2’s claiming event presents several runners with recent form that could exceed their morning line odds.
Consider keying Slew’s Tiz Whiz in multi-race wagers given his proven ability at the track and the sentimental favorite status that often creates value for opponents.
