In an Emerald Downs' first, 6-year-old mare Aloha Breeze and 3-year-old colt Robin Racer have been voted co Horses of the Meeting at the 47-day season that concluded Monday.
Aloha Breeze and Robin Racer--both owned by George Todaro and trained by Tom Wenzel--are the first horses to share Horse of the Meeting in the 31-year history of the track.
The resumes of Aloha Breeze and Robin Racer were nearly identical. Each had four wins overall including three stakes, with Aloha Breeze earning $107,320 and Robin Racer $106,750.
A Kentucky-bred by The Factor, Aloha Breeze is the track's all-time leading older filly or mare with 10 stakes wins, and joins Noosa Beach (2010-11), Stryker Phd (2014-15), and Slew's Tiz Whiz (2022-23) as the only two-time winners of Horse of the Meeting. In addition, Aloha Breeze was voted Top Sprinter and has won division honors at ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
A Kentucky-bred by Connect, Robin Racer capped his season with a victory over older horses in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. That followed decisive victories in the Seattle Slew Stakes and Muckleshoot Derby to go with a season-opening allowance triumph at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Todaro was the meet's leading owner in wins (20), stakes wins (9), and earnings ($513,550), averaging over $10,000 per start. Aloha Breeze, Robin Racer and Diamond Dasher combined for eight stakes victories flying the red, white and green Todaro silks.
Wenzel led all trainers with nine stakes wins, conditioned three champions (Aloha Breeze, Robin Racer, Diamond Dasher), while becoming No. 1 all-time with 76 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. Wenzel twice won three stakes in a day, tying his own track record, and took honors for Top Training Achievement.
Top 3-Year-Old Filly went to Ron Kalina's rapidly improving Tipitap, a California-bred daughter of Tacitus who finished the season with a victory over older fillies and mares including Aloha Breeze in the Muckleshoot Tribal Distaff. Trained by Blaine Wright, Tipitap overcame trouble to win the Washington Oaks and also was third in the Kent Stakes.
Silvio Amador took down his first riding title with 68 wins, winning at a 20.6 percent clip, and led in earnings with $1,004,852. Amador's previous best was a third-place finish in 2023.
Howie Gibson captured his first training title, winning 33 races, and scored his first Longacres Mile with Oregon-bred Adios Jojo at odds of 32 to 1. Gibson won at a 31.1 percent clip and developed division champions Mattie Goincoastal (2-year-old filly) and Adios Jojo (Older Horse).
Mattie Goincoastal (Coast Guard-Ms Moscow Mattie) took honors as top 2-year-old filly and top Washington-bred, winning three races including daylight scores in the Angie C and WTBOA Lassies.
Diamond Dasher's resounding five-length victory in the Gottstein Futurity cinched honors as Top 2-Year-Old Colt or gelding. A Todaro homebred by The Factor-Diamonds R, Diamond Dasher was second in the WTBOA Lads and finished the campaign 2-1-0 in four starts with $54,580 in earnings.
Kristin Lee earned Top Claimer with a 4-1-0 record in five starts, winning her final three starts by 6 3/4, 7 1/4, and 4 lengths. A 5-year-old Cat Burglar mare, she made her final four starts for trainer Coco Patino.
Frank Alvarado, regular rider on Robin Racer, led all jockeys with five stakes triumphs.
The 91st running of the Longacres Mile was voted Race of the Meeting. Kentucky invader Touchy was disqualified from first and placed second for interference in the stretch, becoming the first DQ from win in the storied history of the race.
California-breds won 118 of 390 races or 30.2 percent, followed closely by Washington-breds and Kentucky-breds with 106 wins apiece or 27.2 percent.
Smiling Tiger was leading sire for a second consecutive season with 19 wins including Longacres Mile winner Adios Jojo.
Claiming activity was hot and heavy throughout the meet with 176 horses red-tagged for an aggregate $1,089,000.
2026 Emerald Downs Season Honors
Horse of the Meeting: tie-Aloha Breeze, Robin Racer
Washington-bred: Mattie Goincoastal
Older Horse: Adios Jojo
Older Filly or Mare: Aloha Breeze
3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Robin Racer
3-Year-Old Filly: Tipitap
2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Diamond Dasher
2-Year-Old Filly: Mattie Goincoastal
Sprinter: Aloha Breeze
Claimer: Kristin Lee
Race of Meeting: Longacres Mile
Leading Jockey Wins: Silvio Amador, 68
Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: Frank Alvarado, 5
Leading Jockey Earnings: Silvio Amador, $1,004,852
Leading Apprentice Jockey: Talliyah Timentwa, 11
Leading Trainer: Howie Gibson, 33
Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Tom Wenzel, 9
Leading Trainer Earnings: Tom Wenzel, $642,455
Leading Owner: George Todaro, 20
Leading Owner Earnings: George Todaro, $513,550
Leading Horse Wins: 4 tie-Aloha Breeze, Robin Racer, Kristin Lee, Taino House, Can'tdealwithit
Leading Horse Stakes Wins: 3 tie-Aloha Breeze, Robin Racer
Leading Horse Earnings: Adios Jojo, $107,845
Riding Achievement: Silvio Amador, 68 wins (1.44 avg. per day)
Training Achievement: Tom Wenzel-9 stakes wins, becomes all-time leading stakes trainer
Martin Durkan Award: Kay Cooper & British Columbia contingent (Mark Cloutier, Robert Gilker, Steve Henson, Ian Jewell, Patty Leaney)
Lindy Award: Kevin Orozco
Leading Sire Wins: Smiling Tiger, 19
Claims: 176 ($1,089,000)
Largest Claim: $40,000, Executive Chef (7g), June 27
