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No Giveaway, Halonator Reap Year End Honors | |
10/13/2005
No Giveaway wins the Longacres Mile
AUBURN, WA – Longacres Mile (Gr. III) winner No Giveaway was named the Horse of the Meeting, Top Washington-bred and Top Older Horse for the 2005 season at Emerald Downs.
No Giveaway's performance in the Mile, after coming from 20 lengths back and upsetting the field at 60-1, provided one of the greatest moments at the Auburn oval this year. That effort was enough to convince voters that the 70th running of the Longacres Mile ought to be named Race of the Meeting.
“It was a dream come true, winning the Mile,” said Grant Forster, trainer of No Giveaway. “When you race horses in Washington, winning the Mile is like the Super Bowl and World Series all wrapped up in one.”
No Giveaway was 3-1-0 from five starts this year winning the Mile on Aug. 21, the Governor's Handicap on Mile Preview Day in July and an allowance in June. He earned $176,243, the most of any horse this season.
“It's wonderful to have had a brother and sister be Horse of the Meet and all within a couple years of each other.”
Owned and bred by Herman Sarkowsky, No Giveaway is a full brother to 2003 Horse of the Meeting, Youcan'ttakeme. The daughter of He's Tops by Takeaway also earned Top 3-Year-Old Filly and Top Washington-bred honors that season.
L-R: Blaine Wright, Grant Forster and Herman Sarkowsky
“What Mr. Sarkowsky has done for Washington racing, myself and our team has been outstanding,” Forster continued. “I am so grateful for what he's done for my career and I am equally as proud of the achievements our team has accomplished together.”
Forster is never one to take full credit for the successes he's enjoyed in this, or any, season. Frequently referring to his barn as “Team Forster”, the trainer is quick to credit his grooms, exercise riders and assistant trainer Blaine Wright who is an integral part of their successful operation and manages his stable at Emerald Downs.
Halonator - Top Claimer of 2005
Teamwork has also been a key to the success of Halonator, a multiple record setter at the Auburn oval this year, who garnered the meet's Top Claimer honors.
On April 30, the 4-year-old daughter of Delineator was entered in a claiming event for a $4,000 tag. It took, what seemed like forever, to get her loaded in the starting gate that afternoon.
Moments after finally getting her situated, she broke on top and never looked back.
No one could have predicted what was to come.
From that day forward, Halonator went on to win seven more races during the season. She holds the mark for most wins by any horse in one meet in the 10-year history at Emerald Downs with eight.
Even more astonishing was that she won them in succession.
Considered a “handful” to deal with because of her temperament, it is no surprise that her trainer Dan Markle has earned the honor for Top Training Achievement.
“That's [the starting gate] always been a problem for her,” said trainer Dan Markle. “Halo wasn't very comfortable in there. She likes to jump around like a little butterfly and she wants to run, not walk.”
Markle immediately credits those around him for her success.
“The gate crew here has been so patient with her, and me, in getting her acclimated,” he continued. “It takes a lot of schooling for her to be comfortable.
Markle has trained Halonator from the start for owners Sue and Tim Spooner.
“They are more deserving to win some kind of award than me just for their patience,” Markle said. “You couldn't work for better people than the Spooners.”
Halonator continued to move up the class ladder during that eight-race run, culminating her 2005 efforts with a stakes win in the Belle Roberts on Washington Cup Day.
“The biggest thing with her is just keeping her out of trouble. It is important to educate the rider on how to get along with her. It's more of what not to do than what to do.
“She's such a little thing, but you can never judge a horse's heart by the size of her body.”
Karis Makaw - Top Older Filly or Mare
Top Older Filly or Mare honors went to the two-time stakes winning filly Karis Makaw. A 4-year-old daughter of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Charismatic, Karis Makaw was 3-1-0 from five starts this meet, winning the King County Handicap and the Boeing Handicap. Owned by Evelyn Filler and trained by Robert Meeking, Karis Makaw also ran second in the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Marva Jean - Top Sprinter
Top Sprinter honors went to the Frank Lucarelli trainee, Marva Jean. The 5-year-old mare is owned by Chris and Diane Randall and won her first four races this season including the Hastings Park Handicap, the Washington State Legislators Stakes and the Betsy Ross overnight handicap. Accumulating $73,875 in earnings, the daughter of West By West went 4-0-1 from six starts in 2005.
In the 3-year-old division, current leading trainer Tim McCanna conditioned winners in both categories.
Alexandersrun - Top 3-Year-Old Male
Top 3-Year-Old Male was Alexandersrun who captured the $65,000 Seattle Slew Breeders' Cup Handicap then returned a month later to win the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby. Owned by Thomas Bell, Alexandersrun was second in earnings behind No Giveaway at Emerald Downs in with $90,750.
Queenledo - Top 3-Year-Old Female
McCanna's Queenledo was named the meet's Top 3-year-old filly. The multiple stakes winning daughter of prominent Washington sire Slewdledo, captured the U.S. Bank Stakes, the Federal Way Handicap and the Irish Day Handicap. With earnings of $81,000 at Emerald Downs in 2005, Queenledo was 3-2-0 from five starts at the Auburn oval for the Kings and Queens Stable.
Chestnut Lady - Top Juvenile Filly
Juvenile Filly honors went to Chestnut Lady. Undefeated in two career starts, the filly has exhibited versatility and talent. She raced successfully with a front running style in a maiden allowance and then came from 10-lengths back to win the $75,000 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes. Owned by Michael and Amy Feuerborn and conditioned by state Hall of Fame trainer Jim Penney, Chestnut Lady will run against the boys in Saturday's $100,000 Gottstein Futurity.
With nine of the 10 horses entered for the 2005 edition of the Gottstein being colts or geldings, Top Juvenile Male honors will be determined after its running.
Ricky Frazier has earned the Top Riding Achievement award for the year. Frazier won nine stakes races this season, most of any rider. He won three aboard Queenledo, two aboard Karis Makaw, two aboard Alexandersrun and one on Tom Two and A Classic Life. Currently second in the standings (107 wins) behind Kevin Krigger (121), Frazier has a very narrow lead in the earnings category with $1,318,149 over the leading rider with $1,314,543.
Although is likely that Kevin Krigger will earn Leading Rider honors with just three days remaining in the race meet, he was also named the 2005 recipient of the Lindy Award. Named after former Clerk of Scales Lindy Aliment, the receiver of the award is chosen by the Emerald Downs riding colony for the jockey that best represents sportsmanship, leadership, community service and contribution to racing.
Similarly, in the training ranks, conditioner Robbie Baze earned the Martin Durkan Award. Selected by the Emerald Downs Race Office, the Durkan Award is a representation of leadership, cooperation, sportsmanship and excellence on and off the track.
Leading Trainer honors remains up for grabs and the race for top conditioner is proving to be as exciting as this year's Mile.
Tim McCanna, who leads with 51 wins over Frank Lucarelli with 50, seeks his sixth training title at Emerald Downs. This is the seventh year McCanna has saddled 50 or more winners in a race meet. He holds the record for most wins in a season at the Auburn oval with 55 (2000 and 2003).
Lucarelli seeks his third title here and second consecutively.
As of Thursday, McCanna is expected to run 12 horses through Saturday, Lucarelli has 10 entered and third place trainer Jim Penney (46 wins) has nine entered to compete.
Leading Owner honors has track president Ron Crockett, Inc. as the likely winner. He is on the lead by four wins with 21 victories to date. Behind him are Sue and Tim Spooner with 17 wins.
Giving Crockett several of his wins were 3-year-olds The Great Face (3-1-1 from five starts) and John & Kitty Fletcher Stakes winner Golden Pine (3-0-0 from four starts). He's also enjoyed success with juveniles such as The Case Queen, Carrie With a C and Gottstein hopeful Raise the Bluff.
Crockett leads all owners in earnings with $332,230 made through 98 days of racing.
Presentations for all award recipients will be made over the weekend during the meet's final days.
Post time Friday is 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
