Jockey Juan Gutierrez, a mainstay in Washington, recorded the 2,000th win of his riding career July 24, rallying Semi Sweet from last for a $15.60 upset in the opener at Emerald Downs. He then quickly added another two victories to sweep the first three races on the 11-race card.
A 50-year-old native of Jalisco, Mexico, Gutierrez has 1,388 wins at Emerald Downs and is only 31 wins away from equaling Gallyn Mitchell's all-time track record 1,419 wins, according to Emerald publicity.
"I feel really good, and it's an emotional moment for me," he said. "Getting 2,000 wins is great, I always try to be consistent. You can't do something like this without the help of the owners, trainers, grooms and everybody else on the backstretch."
The rider notched his first Emerald Downs' win April 28, 2000, and during one stretch recorded 13 straight top-five finishes in the standings. He captured the 2012 riding title with 117 wins and twice won the Longacres Mile (G3), including a $122 surprise on No Giveaway in 2005.
The 2,000th victory came via a picture-perfect rail-skimming ride, as Semi Sweet overhauled 7-5 favorite Gazing past midstretch and drew off by 3 1/2 lengths. Gutierrez followed up with victories on Mr. Takahashi ($6.20) and Daffodil Sweet ($3.20) in races two and three, piloting the latter to an easy triumph in the $18,500 allowance feature for fillies and mares.
A 3-year-old Ministers Wild Cat filly, Daffodil Sweet has rolled in her winning her two career starts,for trainer Chris Stenslie and owners One Horse Will Do Corporation and Steve Shimizu. Thursday, she covered six furlongs in 1:10.62.