42,000 in the Pick 6 pool, all cashed in by one lucky bettor — Joe Withee — at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The longtime Publicity Director and track personality, who calls the shots from the broadcast booth, did the math and nailed every leg of the Jackpot Pick 6. His ticket was sold at the track, and he didn't just walk away with a smile.
Withee wasn’t the only one celebrating a big win. His broadcast partner and handicapper, John Lindley, had a huge day as a race owner. His first-time starter, a maiden special weight 3-year-old, stormed home in a front-running win. Lindley’s horse didn’t just win — it made it look easy, and the crowd was treated to a strong showing from a new face in the Emerald Downs stable.
Slew’s Tiz Whiz steals the spotlight in the feature
The $25,000 Muckleshoot Casino Resort Purse had one of the track’s all-time greats in the saddle — Slew’s Tiz Whiz. Piloted by Frank Alvarado, the favorite stayed true to form, sticking to the rail and closing hard to collar Cap It Daddy in a tight finish. The race, a neck decision, was the highlight of the card and a warm-up for the Longacres Mile in two weeks. The crowd roared as the two rivals ran side by side until the wire, a final flourish in a day full of surprises.
First-time starters and rail runners dominate the day
First-time starters had their moment in the sun, winning races 4 and 5. Spicy Coronarita, a 2-year-old daughter of Coronado’s Quest, won the fourth by 12 lengths under Alex Cruz. The 2-1 favorite wasn’t supposed to win — but she did. Owner Steve Haarh and trainer Melissa Ledford had hoped to get their filly through a $25,000 claiming event, but she was snatched up by trainer Frank Lucarelli before the race. She was gone for good.
Bolt Action Beau, another first-timer, did something similar in the fifth. The 12-1 underdog went gate to wire under Isaias Enriquez and won for the same Lucarelli. The rail was the place to be on Saturday — seven of eight races had a #1 post and five of them won. Speed ruled. Inside ruled. That’s what made this day at Emerald Downs feel different from most.
The rail wasn’t just fast — it was dominant. Eddiecoyle in the sixth, Lucky Code in the third, and Simonsito in the second all proved it. Each won from the inside and each denied outside threats who never got close. The crowd knew what was happening and the announcers didn’t try to sugarcoat it. The rail was hot. The front-runners ruled.
Then there was the finale. Golden Regal, a 12-1 shot, stole the show with a bold move by Talliyah Timentwa. As Tigersun tired and drifted, Golden Regal dove to the rail and pulled away, winning in a flash. The race had everything: a late move, a strong finish, and the kind of underdog moment that only a first-timer can deliver.
The day didn’t just deliver big money and big races — it served up a reminder of why Emerald Downs continues to be a local treasure. Withee’s Pick 6 win, Lindley’s first-time victory, and Slew’s Tiz Whiz all speak to the blend of history, heart, and high stakes that makes horse racing more than a sport — sometimes it’s a livelihood, a lifestyle, and a legend in the making.