The $50,000 Governor’s Stakes headlines Race 9 at Emerald Downs on Sunday, July 20, 2025, with post time set for 5:46 PM PT. This 6½-furlong dirt sprint for 3-year-olds and up features a deep field of nine contenders, including past stakes winners, regional champions, and pedigrees built for speed and stamina. The race is a key prep for the Longacres Mile and a showcase of Washington’s top older horses.
Contenders & Horse Profiles
| Horse Name | Pedigree | Trainer | Jockey | Morning Line Odds |
| Papa’s Golden Boy | Harbor the Gold – Brookie Girl | Vince Gibson | Carlos Montalvo | 20-1 |
| Moneyshot | Frosted – Cool Beans | Ian Jewell | Frank Alvarado | 15-1 |
| Tougherthantherest | Take Charge Indy – Cat Ten | Blaine Wright | Silvio Amador | 15-1 |
| Chuckanut Bay | Abraaj – Zenovit | Howard Gibson | Manuel Americano | 5-1 |
| Positivity | Paynter – Sam’s Sunny City | Justin Evans | Kevin Krigger | 6-1 |
| Slew’s Tiz Whiz | Slew’s Tiznow – Ros’s Girl | Tom Wenzel | Julien Couton | 2-1 |
| Clovisconnection | Vronsky – La Darling | Blaine Wright | David Haldar | 9-5 |
| Hockey Dad | Nyquist – Ann Summers Gold | Justin Evans | Francisco Duran | 15-1 |
| Bearings | Candy Ride (ARG) – Steady Course | Justin Evans | Alex Cruz | 20-1 |
Pedigree Insights & Dirt Sprint Potential
Slew’s Tiz Whiz, by Slew’s Tiznow, is a two-time Washington Horse of the Year and excels at Emerald Downs. His dam Ros’s Girl adds stamina and class. Clovisconnection, sired by Vronsky, brings California-bred speed and has already defeated several rivals in the Budweiser Stakes. Chuckanut Bay, by Abraaj, is riding a three-race win streak and has a pedigree built for tactical speed and late acceleration. Positivity, by Paynter, is a graded stakes-placed sprinter with back-class from Santa Anita and Del Mar. Papa’s Golden Boy, a local fan favorite, is by Harbor the Gold, Washington’s leading sire, and often sets the early pace.
Jockey & Trainer Matchups to Watch
Julien Couton (Slew’s Tiz Whiz) and Tom Wenzel are a dominant duo at Emerald Downs, especially in stakes sprints. David Haldar (Clovisconnection) and Blaine Wright teamed up for a win in the Budweiser Stakes and return with confidence. Carlos Montalvo (Papa’s Golden Boy) knows how to use his mount’s early speed to advantage. Kevin Krigger (Positivity) brings Southern California stakes experience and could be dangerous if the pace collapses.
Recent Form & Speed Figures
| Horse Name | Last Race Result | Speed Rating | Surface |
| Clovisconnection | 1st @ Emerald Downs (6f – Budweiser Stakes) | 103 | Dirt |
| Slew’s Tiz Whiz | 2nd @ Emerald Downs (6f – Budweiser Stakes) | 101 | Dirt |
| Chuckanut Bay | 1st @ Emerald Downs (6f – Allowance) | 100 | Dirt |
| Moneyshot | 1st @ Emerald Downs (6f – Allowance) | 96 | Dirt |
| Bearings | 2nd @ Emerald Downs (1m – Allowance) | 94 | Dirt |
| Hockey Dad | 5th @ Emerald Downs (6f – Allowance) | 89 | Dirt |
| Papa’s Golden Boy | 8th @ Emerald Downs (6f – Budweiser Stakes) | 85 | Dirt |
Predicted Finish & Strategy
Winner: Slew’s Tiz Whiz – proven class, strong closing kick, top connections
Place: Clovisconnection – tactical speed, recent stakes win
Show: Chuckanut Bay – improving form, versatile running style
