Emerald Downs | Starbird Road soars
AUBURN — Starbird Road, with an already incredible 2006 run to his credit, added a fitting capper on the year's final day of racing at Emerald Downs.
Starbird Road, a foregone lock to earn Emerald's Sprinter of the Year and Top Washington-bred honors in 2006, added a track-record-tying time in a one-length win over three others in the $21,743 Owners Handicap on Sunday's Closing Day, the 90th day of the meeting.
Emerald completed its 11th season with records in overall daily handle ($1,382,996), all-sources average daily handle on Emerald races ($843,832) and daily purse distribution ($111,597), though Emerald patrons bet less on out-of-state racing.
As a result of the latter, Emerald president Ron Crockett said, Emerald will lose about $427,000 in 2006 after making a modest profit last year.
"Our [satellite] signal has become more popular with other places," Crockett said, "and wagering on other places from here became less popular."
Starbird Road capped the best season by a sprinter in the track's 11-year history by clocking 55-2/5 seconds for 5 furlongs under jockey Debbie Hoonan-Trujillo as the 3-to-5 favorite, equaling the track record with Jazzy Mac in 2000 and Victor Slew in 2003.
"See, I can train a sprinter," said Sharon Ross, Starbird Road's trainer, who is better known for conditioning distance horses. "I just wanted him go home with another win under his belt and get Rick [owner Rick Beal] and his mom [Martha] in the winner's circle again."
In his previous start, Starbird Road broke Emerald's track record for 6 furlongs with a time of 1 minute, 7-2/5 seconds in the $40,000 Chinook Pass Handicap on Sept. 17. The 5-year-old dark-bay gelding, nicknamed "Star Man" around the barn, ran the second-fastest Governor's Handicap in 1:14 for 6 ½ furlongs on July 30.
Starbird Road reeled off his fourth win in a row and ran his 2006 record at Emerald to 5-0-0 from six starts and earnings of $92,472 with the $12,265 top prize on Sunday. His five wins at the meet were matched by only Westsideclyde, Magoo Can Do and Sowhatsyourpoint.
With 2006 Claimer of the Meet honors already secured, 4-year-old gelding Westsideclyde was denied his sixth win of the meeting in the 10th race. The Crockett-owned Don'twritemeoff rolled late under jockey Ricky Frazier to stop the clock in 1:34-3/5 for the mile to deny the 3-5 favorite Westsideclyde.
"I was just hoping the others up front would help us out," said Frazier, who finished as leading rider for 2006 with 88 wins, 10 in front of runner-up Kevin Krigger.
Westsideclyde finished 2006 with a record of 5-1-0 from seven starts.
Note
• Frank Lucarelli won one race on Closing Day to wrap up his third Emerald training title with 54 wins, one off Tim McCanna's 2003 record. Second was Howard Belvoir with 40 wins.
2006 awards
(as voted by media and Emerald Downs track officials)
Horse of the Meeting: Flamethrowintexan.
Top Older Horse: Flamethrowintexan.
Top 2-year-old Filly: Skewing.
Top 2-year-old Colt or Gelding: Immigration.
Top 3-year-old Colt or Gelding: Raise The Bluff.
Top 3-year-old Filly: She's All Silk.
Top Older Filly or Mare: Queenledo.
Top Sprinter: Starbird Road.
Top Washington-Bred: Starbird Road.
Top Claimer of the Meet: Westsideclyde.
Stat leaders
Trainer: Frank Lucarelli.
Jockey: Ricky Frazier.
Owners: Larry and Veralene Hillis.