Joe Withee, publicity director at Emerald Downs and one of the most knowledgeable people in the Thoroughbred racing community, suggests these five things to watch as the Auburn oval kicks in its 14th season:

1. Wasserman

Wasserman. Last year was a dream for the Howard Belvoir-bred, -owned and -trained runner, winning four stakes races in photo finishes including the Longacres Mile. Can he come close to duplicating 2008? Don’t count him out. He’s as healthy as ever in preseason training and got a taste of winning last year and liked it. In 2008, he became the track’s all-time top earner ($422,412), tied a track record with four stakes wins in one season, had the fastest time at three different distances (5½ furlongs, 6½ furlongs, 1 mile) and tied for most wins at the meeting with five.

2. Older horse division

This is going to be exciting. Wasserman is arguably the most popular horse in track history and the one to beat at the start of the season. The Great Face is back and the 2007 Longacres Mile winner has beaten fields with his keen speed from 5½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Another returner is Starbird Road, who had a huge year in 2006 and has won the Seattle Handicap twice. He’s now 8 years old and is trained by Larry and Sharon Ross, who have no trouble winning with older horses. Other stakes winners who are back include speedsters Bound to Be MVP and Westsideclyde. Add those to upcoming 4-year-olds Margos Gift, Gallon, Café Tortoni and Fear No Evil, and you’ve got some excitement leading up to the Aug. 16 Longacres Mile.

3. Two-year-olds

Emerald Downs always seems to have good 2-year-olds – the past two season we’ve sent two to the Breeders’ Cup – Smarty Deb in 2007 and Gallant Son last year. There are 2-year-olds bred locally, the ones purchased at Washington sales and the ones purchased in Kentucky. Trainers who are prominent with 2-year-olds include Frank Lucarelli, Doris Harwood, Jim Penney, Tim McCanna and Steve Bullock. Watch for a 2-year-old filly to beat the boys in an early season maiden race. It happens almost every year.

4. Jockeys

Gallyn Mitchell’s been Mr. Emerald Downs as far as jockeys go. He’s by far and away the leader in all statistical categories and is the only rider to compete here in all 13 seasons of racing. He also had the top winning percentage last season (22 percent), showing that he isn’t slowing down at age 46. Ricky Frazier is back and the one to beat as always. He’s won three of the past five riding titles and is tough when the money’s on the line. He’s been the leading stakes-winning jockey the past five years straight. Seth Martinez is expected to come north again from Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Last season was his first here and, despite arriving in late May, he won the title 121-117 (wins) over Frazier. Saul Arias is here for the first time and rides the powerful stable of Frank Lucarelli and should get off to a good start. Jennifer Whitaker again rides Wasserman – that alone might be enough for her to make a good living.

5. Training patterns (stats cover the past five seasons)

Jose Navarro has been excellent with horses returning off layoffs of three months or longer. He’s winning at 23 percent and if you’re betting on them, you’re doing very well, a $3.86 return on investment (ROI) for every $2 wagered. Navarro also is effective with maidens, with a nearly $3 ROI. Tim McCanna has his own farm in Yakima where he gets some work into his runners before they come to Emerald Downs. McCanna scores at 25 percent with horses returning off a three-month or longer layoff and a solid $2.50 ROI. Frank Lucarelli is the one to watch when running a horse back quickly. When he comes back in 10 days or less with a horse, he’s winning at 27 percent and a $2.50 ROI. Vann Belvoir, our leading jockey in the inaugural season of 1996, is now a successful trainer. Belvoir returned from the Midwest in mid-summer and won an amazing 4-of-6 starts with layoff runners of one to three months with a $14 ROI.

Note: Listen to Joe Withee on “The Win, Place Show” (8-9 a.m., Saturdays and

Sundays, KJR radio, 950 AM). The Thoroughbred racing show comes live from the Quarter Chute Café at Emerald Downs and includes interviews, handicapping, news from Emerald Downs and national topics. Withee also appears on “Emerald Downs Today”, 6-6:30 a.m., FSN TV, after each race day. The show includes interviews and feature reports when time allows.