For the Reporter
Sippin Fire was voted Horse of the Meeting, Top 3-Year-Old and Top Washington-bred as Emerald Downs Racetrack & Casino announced its 2018 season honors Monday.
Trained by Steve Bullock, Sippin Fire won a meet-high four stakes and earned $115,425 for owners How We Roll #4. He becomes only the third sophomore to win Horse of the Meeting, and is the third consecutive Harbor the Gold gelding to win the honor (Sippin Fire, 2018; Mach One Rules, 2017; O B Harbor, 2016).
Rocco Bowen, regular rider on Sippin Fire, topped the 100-win mark for the third consecutive year while becoming the first jockey to win three straight titles at Emerald Downs. Bowen led in wins (109), stakes wins (six) and earnings ($1,065,618).
Jeff Metz with 43 wins won his fourth straight training title, while Blaine Wright led in stakes wins (nine) and earnings ($787,191). Wright also trained four different 2018 champions—Riser (Sprinter and Older Horse), Reginella (Older Filly or Mare), Bella Mia (3-Year-Old Filly) and Baja Sur (Juvenile Male).
John Parker and Saratoga West tied for Leading Owner with 17 wins apiece, giving Parker his third straight title in that department.
Northwest Factor, upset winner of the Gottstein Futurity, was voted Top 2-Year-Old Filly. Her owners, How We Roll #4, won six stakes and were No. 1 in owners’ earnings with $211,800.
Papa Mambo, the meet’s only five-time winner, was voted Top Claimer. A 6-year-old mare by Papa Clem, Papa Mambo was 5-0-0 in six starts for trainers Manny Ortiz, Candi Tollett and Joe Toye.
H.R. Pat Mullens was honored with Top Training Achievement after becoming the oldest trainer to win a stakes at Emerald Downs at age 91. In fact, Hit the Beach won both the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and Pete Pedersen Overnight Stakes and won four races overall for Mullens.
Emerald Downs 2018 Season Honors
Horse of the Meeting: Sippin Fire
Top Washington-bred: Sippin Fire
Top Older Horse: Riser
Top Sprinter: Riser
Top Older Filly or Mare: Reginella
Top 3-Year-Old Male: Sippin Fire
Top 3-Year-Old Filly: Bella Mia
Top Juvenile Male: Baja Sur
Top Juvenile Filly: Northwest Factor
Top Claimer: Papa Mambo
Race of the Meeting: Longacres Mile
Leading Jockey Wins: Rocco Bowen (109)
Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: Rocco Bowen (6)
Leading Jockey Earnings: Rocco Bowen ($1,065,618)
Leading Trainer Wins: Jeff Metz (43)
Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Blaine Wright (9)
Leading Trainer Earnings: Blaine Wright ($787,191)
Leading Owner: tie-John E. Parker (17), Saratoga West (17)
Leading Owner Earnings: How We Roll #4 ($211,800)
Leading Horse Wins: Papa Mambo (5)
Leading Horse Stakes Wins: Sippin Fire (4)
Leading Horse Earnings: Barkley ($144,475)
Race of the Meeting: Longacres Mile
Top Riding Achievement: Rocco Bowen, first jockey to win three straight titles
Top Training Achievement: H.R. Pat Mullens, wins stakes at age 91
Leading Apprentice: Francisco Orduna-Rojas (12)
Durkan Award: Vince Gibson
Lindy Award: Lorenzo Lopez
Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting
2018-Sippin Fire (WA)
2017-Mach One Rules (WA)
2016-O B Harbor (ORE)
2015-Stryker Phd (WA)
2014-Stryker Phd (WA)
2013-Herbie D (BC)
2012-Class Included (KY)
2011-Noosa Beach (WA)
2010-Noosa Beach (WA)
2009-Assessment (KY)
2008-Wasserman (WA)
2007-The Great Face (WA)
2006-Flamethrowintexan (FL)
2005-No Giveaway (WA)
2004-Demon Warlock (WA)
2003-Youcan’ttakeme (WA)
2002-Flying Notes (KY)
2001-Makors Mark (WA)
2000-Edneator (WA)
1999-No Curfew (WA)
1998-Wild Wonder (KY)
1997-Kid Katabatic (BC)
1996-Name for Norm (WA)
