Trained by Howard Belvoir and ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, Dutton notched victories in the Gottstein Futurity and WTBOA Lads Stakes and finished the campaign three for three with a meet-leading $71,500 for Rising Star Stable VIII.

A Washington-bred by Noosito, Dutton debuted Aug. 27 with an overwhelming 9-length victory in the WTBOA Lads at 6 ½ furlongs, followed by a 14-length triumph against allowance foes at 6 furlongs. In the Gottstein, Dutton was racing head and head with Coastal Kid when the latter ducked out sharply, allowing Dutton to cruise home by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:43.15 for a mile and one-sixteenth.

In addition to Horse of the Meeting, Dutton was honored as the meet's Top Washington-Bred. He is the 16th Washington-bred in 25 seasons to win Horse of the Meeting and joins Name for Norm (1996) as the only 2-year-olds to win the honor.

Alittlelesstalk and Unmachable also received votes for Horse of the Meeting and Top Washington-Bred. In fact, all three finished with two stakes wins and an allowance victory on their resumes.

Alittlelesstalk (4-3-1-0-$63,550) won races short and long, dominating the Emerald Distaff and prevailing in the Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes along with an early-season allowance dash. A daughter of 2004 Washington Horse of the Year Demon Warlock trained by Roddina Barrett, Alittlelesstalk was unanimously voted Top Older Filly or Mare. In 2019 she was voted Top 3-Year-Old Filly, and her overall Emerald Downs' record s 7-4-0 in 14 starts for owners Tim Floyd, Kelly Dougan and Barrett.

Unmachable (5-3-1-1-$65,225) also was versatile, winning the Seattle Slew Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs and Muckleshoot Tribal Classic vs. older horses at a mile and one-sixteenth. Trained by Jack McCartney for owner Tawnja Elison, the son of Macho Uno was voted Top 3-Year-Old Male.

Trainer Frank Lucarelli and owners Chad Christensen & Josh McKee enjoyed a smashing season with Elliott Bay, voted Top Older Horse and Top Sprinter, and Time for Gold, voted Top 2-Year-Old Filly for dominating victories in the Angie C Stakes and Barbara Shinpoch Stakes.

Daffodil Sweet, trained by Chris Stenslie and owned by Jody Peetz and Steve Shimizu, scored three victories including a score in the Coca-Cola Stakes and was voted Top 3-Year-Old Filly.

Omache Kid, the only horse to win four races, was voted Top Claimer.

Alex Cruz captured the riding title with 72 wins, 20 more than runner-up Juan Gutierrez, capping his inaugural Emerald Downs' season with five wins on closing night. Cruz also rode at least one winner the final 25 days of the season (Aug. 6 to Oct. 29).

Lucarelli won his second straight training title and seventh overall while Christensen, his main client, repeated as the track's leading owner. Lucarelli saddled 42 winners in 38 days while Christensen, who raced horses in partnership with McKee, topped the owners' standings with 24 wins.

Gutierrez was voted Top Riding Achievement for overtaking Gallyn Mitchell as Emerald Downs' all-time leading jockey. Historic victory No. 1,420 came aboard 5-year-old mare Stay in Grace on Oct. 14.

The Longacres Mile, in which the Blaine Wright-trained Anothertwistafate returned from a 16-month layoff to dominate by 4 ¼-lengths, was voted Race of the Meeting.

Nick Lowe was the leading Quarter Horse trainer for a second consecutive season and swept all three stakes Aug. 20.

Trainers Jorge Rosales and Sharon Ross received the Martin Durkan Award for leadership, cooperation and sportsmanship, while Cerapio Figueroa was voted the Lindy Award by his fellow riders for accomplishment and sportsmanship throughout the meeting.

Other awards included Stephanie Fiorito being named 2020 Exercise Rider of the Year and Taylor Brady being chosen as Jockeys Valet of the Year.

Harbor the Gold was the leading stallion for the seventh straight year and ninth in the last 10, and surpassed Slewdledo as Emerald Downs' all-time leading sire.

Emerald Downs 2020 Season Honors
Horse of the Meeting: Dutton (WA)
Top Washington-bred: Dutton
Top Older Horse: Elliott Bay (WA)
Top Sprinter: Elliott Bay (WA)
Top Older Filly or Mare: Alittlelesstalk (WA)
Top 3-Year-Old Male: Unmachable (WA)
Top 3-Year-Old Filly: Daffodil Sweet (CA)
Top 2-Year-Old Male: Dutton (WA)
Top 2-Year-Old Filly: Time for Gold (WA)
Top Claimer: Omache Kid (WA)
Race of the Meeting: Longacres Mile
Leading Jockey Wins: Alex Cruz (72)
Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: Juan Gutierrez (4), Eddie Martinez (4)
Leading Trainer: Frank Lucarelli (42)
Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Frank Lucarelli (5)
Leading Owner: Chad & Josh (24)
Leading Horse Wins: Omache Kid (4)
Leading Horse Stakes Wins: Alittlelesstalk (2), Dutton (2), Time for Gold (2), Unmachable (2)
Leading QH Trainer Wins: Nick Lowe (3)
Top Riding Achievement: Juan Gutierrez becomes No. 1 all-time
Top Training Achievement: Frank Lucarelli wins second straight title and seventh overall, also leading stakes trainer
Leading Apprentice: Joree Scriver (4)
Durkan Award: Sharon Ross, Jose Rosales
Lindy Award: Cerapio Figueroa
Jockeys Valet of the Year: Taylor Brady
Exercise Rider of the Year: Stephanie Fiorito
Leading Sire Wins: Harbor the Gold (38)

Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting
2020-Dutton (WA)
2019-Anyportinastorm (FL)
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)

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Jeff Metz, trainer of Coastal Kid, the 9-2 second choice in the wagering, said his jockey speculated that the photo finish lights above the finish line might have spooked the horse, who was making only his second career start.

“Alex (Cruz) said when the lights came on, the horse ducked out,” said Metz. It's unfortunate to lose a race that way.”

There are now a million and one ways to lose a horse race.

The Gottstein Futurity was anything but routine, even before the start, which was delayed more than 10 minutes after Great Gasby got loose at the gate and was subsequently scratched.

Dutton, who came into the Gottstein Futurity unbeaten in two stars by a combined margin of 23 lengths, sped off to quick lead at the start in his first try around two turns. Under jockey Jennifer Whitaker, Dutton went lickity-split: the opening quarter mile in :22.48, the half in :45.49 and six furlongs in 1:09.43.

“My horse is a little high strung and the wait didn't help,” trainer Howard Belvoir said of Dutton, who was wringing wet with sweat when the race began

Nearing the top of the stretch, it looked as though Dutton may have run out of gas.

“Jen said he was tired at the quarter pole, but he dug in,” Belvoir said of the Noosito gelding.

Dutton did fight back against Coastal Kid when the latter loomed to his outside. When Coastal Kid took a right-hand turn, causing Cruz to lose his irons, Dutton went on to the victory in 1:43.15 for 1 1/16 miles after a mile fraction in 1:36.15. Easy Silence finished second, with Coastal Kid hanging on for third, with Cruz riding bareback style.

“It's too bad for the horse that ducked out, that's a tough situation, but I'm very proud of Dutton,” said Belvoir.

Dutton and Jennifer Whitaker winning the Gottstein Futurity

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