Emerald Downs history: top jockeys, trainers and horses

Gary Dougherty has handicapped each of the 9,150 races contested at Emerald Downs in 10 years for The Seattle Times.

As the track celebrates its 10-year anniversary today, Dougherty selects the top 10 jockeys, trainers, horses and races from the first 10 years.

Top horses
The best horses in 10 years of racing at Emerald Downs:
Rk Horse Emerald Record Money earned
1 Fleet Pacific 28/15-4-2 $307,058
She won nine stakes, including six straight. Washington-bred 8 for 10 when favored.
2 Handy N Bold 28/11-4-0 $319,122
One-time $25K claimer was 4 for 4 in Governor's H.; 10 stakes wins are track best.
3 Ropersandwranglers 12/10-2-0 $185,300
Ultra-talented chestnut won seven straight stakes, was 9 for 9 sprinting.
4 Flying Notes 10/6-3-1 $173,165
His 1:45-2/5 time (2002 Emerald Derby, 1-1/8m) is the fastest in U.S. since 1999.
5 Sabertooth 24/6-7-0 $290,778
Set world record at 6 ½ furlongs, winning 2005 FSN Handicap in unthinkable 1:13.
6 Kid Katabatic 16/6-1-3 $332,100
Biggest money winner at track; EmD track record at 1-1/16 miles (in 1998), 1:39-3/5.
7 Youcan'ttakeme 6/5-0-0 $133,065
She was the star in 2003, winning four stakes races; was 5 for 5 against same sex.
8 Name for Norm 9/6-1-1 $170,150
Best 2-year-old season, winning 5 straight stakes (4 at Emerald) in just 65 days in 1996.
9 Jumron Won 30/10-3-8 $325,007
First 7 wins all stakes; only horse to win Gottstein and Derby without help of DQ.
10 Makors Mark 21/10-0-2 $298,273
Won at least two added-money events at the route distance in consecutive years.

Nosed out on the wire — Edneator, Ema Bovary, Enduring Knight, Halonator, Lasting Code, Mishill, No Giveway, Poker Brad, Queenledo, Thetruthisoutthere, Tucumcari and Willie the Cat
Top jockeys
The best jockeys in 10 years of racing at Emerald Downs:
Rk Jockey Wins Mounts Win% Comment
1 Gallyn Mitchell 862 5,141 16.8 Track's all-time leader in wins.
2 Kevin Radke 317 1,476 21.5 Dominated in 2002 and 2003.
3 Ben Russell 446 2,097 21.3 Won 25 percent in 2001.
4 Vann Belvoir 148 624 23.7 148 wins in '96 still best.
5 Frank Gonsalves 561 3,618 15.5 Top 5 each of first 6 years.
6 Ricky Frazier 255 1,411 18.1 24 stakes wins in just 3 years.
7 Gary Baze 317 2,022 15.7 Won 25 stakes from 2000-05.
8 Pedro Alvarado 400 2,820 14.2 No worse than 6th first 4 years.
9 Jennifer Whitaker 230 1,716 13.4 Track's top female rider.
10 Chris Loseth 36 179 20.1 One-third of wins are stakes.

Lost out on a head bob — Amir Cedeno, Nate Chaves, Geoff Cooper, Juan Gutierrez, Laffit Pincay Jr. and Chelsea Zupan.
Top races
The best 10 in Emerald Downs' first 10 seasons:
No. Race Date Winner Dist. Time
1 Emerald Downs Derby Sept. 2, 2002 Flying Notes 1-1/8 1:45-2/5
The 2-1 second choice exploded in the stretch, winning by 11 ¼ lengths, soundly beating favorite Salt Grinder.
2 Bud-Emerald Handicap July 25, 1999 Thetruthisoutthere 1-1/16 1:41
Canadian invader Mike K. won, then stewards dismissed inquiry. After appeal, Thetruthisoutthere was declared winner a month later.
3 FSN Handicap May 22, 2005 Sabertooth 6 ½ fur. 1:13
Sabertooth set North American record for 6 ½ furlongs. Old mark was 1:13-1/5 (Hollywood Park, 1995).
4 King County Handicap June 28, 1998 Shay Mile 1:34-4/5
The $8,000 yearling purchase ended Ropersandwranglers' amazing steak of seven consecutive Emerald Downs stakes victories.
5 Longacres Mile Aug. 21, 2005 No Giveaway Mile 1:35-3/5
The $122 win price on this Washington-bred is the biggest payoff of any of the 376 stakes races run in 10 years.
6 Eagle Hardware Derby Aug. 30, 1998 I.M. Bzy 1-1/8 1:49-1/5
My Constant Star was surprise winner, but DQ'd weeks later on appeal. I.M. Bzy crossed the line third but moved up when second-place runner DQ'd for interference.
7 Governor's Handicap Aug. 3, 2003 Handy N Bold 6 ½ fur. 1:14-1/5
The 8-year-old hadn't hit the board in six races, spanning two years, but his early speed was too much for highly touted Salt Grinder and Flying Notes.
8 Bud-Emerald Handicap July 26, 1998 Kid Katabatic 1-1/16 1:39-3/5
The 1-5 favorite zoomed through the first 6 furlongs in 1:08-3/5, but held on, a neck in front of Thetruthisoutthere in track-record time.
9 Gottstein Futurity Nov. 17, 1996 Name for Norm 1-1/16 1:45-1/5
Name for Norm splashed through the slop to beat the favorite, Flying With Eagles, by a half-length after breaking from post 12.
10 Longacres Mile Aug. 20, 2000 Edneator Mile 1:33-1/5
The Washington-bred had never won around two turns, but led past every pole as a 41-1 longshot.
Top trainers
The best trainers in 10 years of racing at Emerald Downs:
Rk Trainer Wins Starts Win% Comment
1 Bud Klokstad 347 1,647 21.1 His 42 stakes wins were most.
2 Jim Penney 322 1,603 20.1 Only trainer with 2 LGA Miles.
3 Tim McCanna 491 2,652 18.5 Captured six of the 10 titles.
4 Sharon/Larry Ross 366 2,042 17.9 Their 151 route wins were tops.
5 Grant/Dave Forster 181 900 20.1 Canadian father-son combo.
6 Frank Lucarelli 396 2,287 17.3 Won at least 40 races six times.
7 Steve Bullock 198 1,303 15.2 Picked up 8 stakes wins in 2000.
8 Terry Gillihan 222 1,234 18.0 Top debut trainer (19% wins).
9 Howard Belvoir 293 2,045 14.3 Had at least 20 wins each meet.
10 Doris Harwood 182 1,256 14.5 Only woman with 100 wins.

Lost the photo — Dave Bennett, Dan Kenney, Roy Lumm, Dan Markle, Bill Tollett, Tom Wenzel, Richard Wright.