Stryker Phd repeats as Horse of the Meeting | Emerald Downs

Jim and Mona Hour's Stryker Phd was voted Horse of the Meeting, Top Older Horse and Top Washington-bred Sunday as Emerald Downs announced its 2015 season honors on closing day of the track's 20th season.

For the Reporter

Jim and Mona Hour’s Stryker Phd was voted Horse of the Meeting, Top Older Horse and Top Washington-bred Sunday as Emerald Downs announced its 2015 season honors on closing day of the track’s 20th season.

A 6-year-old Washington-bred gelding, Stryker Phd was unbeaten in four starts including a second straight victory in the $200,000 Longacres Mile (Grade 3), becoming only the fourth two-time winner of the Northwest’s most historic race, and is the first two-time winner at Emerald Downs.

The Larry Ross-trained stretch-runner also led the meet in earnings, $197,430, and tied Stopshoppingdebbie’s track record of eight straight stakes wins.

Stryker Phd has never been out of the money in 16 starts at Emerald Downs, racking up $496,476 in earnings, and joins Noosa Beach (2010-11) as the only horses to win Horse of the Meeting twice.

Trainer Jeff Metz, who tied the single-season record of 66 wins while winning his third straight title, was voted Top Training Accomplishment, and Leslie Mawing, who won his second straight Longacres Mile and had 10 stakes wins, was voted Top Riding Accomplishment.

Belle Hill, a triple stakes winner for Ross and Aithon Stables, was unanimously voted Top 3-Year-Old Filly, and Dr. Mark Dedomenico’s Prime Engine, six-length winner of the Emerald Downs Derby, was chosen Top 3-Year-Old.

Coach Royal, a 6-year-old gelding that began the meet in the $2,500 claiming ranks, was selected Top Claimer after a five-win campaign that included a win for a $25,000 tag.

Trainer Tom Wenzel again swept the older filly and mare series, this time with Lady Rosberg, voted Top Older Filly or Mare after big route wins in the Boeing Handicap and Emerald Distaff, and Kikisoblu, voted Top Sprinter for her victories in the one-turn Hastings Handicap and Washington State Legislators Stakes.

Mach One Rules, a triple stakes winner for trainer Frank Lucarelli, was voted Top 2-Year-Old Male, and Princess Kennedy, 8¾-length winner of the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes was selected Top 2-Year-Old Filly.

Emerald Downs 2015 Season Honors
Award, winner

Horse of the Meeting: Stryker Phd (WA)
Top Washington-bred: Stryker Phd (WA)
Top Older Horse: Stryker Phd (WA)
Top Sprinter: Kikisoblu (KY)
Top Older Filly or Mare: Lady Rosberg (WA)
Top 3-year-old Male: Prime Engine (KY)
Top 3-year-old Filly: Belle Hill (KY)
Top Juvenile Male: Mach One Rules (WA)
Top Juvenile Filly: Princess Kennedy (KY)
Top Claimer: Coach Royal (KY)
Race of the Meeting: Longacres Mile
Leading Jockey: Julien Couton (100)
Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: Leslie Mawing (10)
Leading Apprentice: Osvaldo Gonzalez (8)
Leading Quarter Horse Jockey: Javier Matias (9)
Leading Trainer: Jeff Metz (66)
Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Larry Ross (7)
Leading Quarter Horse Trainer: Pablo Madrigal (7)
Leading Owner: Saratoga West (24)
Top Riding Achievement: Leslie Mawing (leading stakes & LGA Mile)
Top Training Achievement: Jeff Metz (three straight titles)
Durkan Award: Rosie Simkins, Rigoberto Velasquez
Lindy Award: Leslie Mawing