For the third time in four seasons, millionaire Altissimo was named Ohio-bred Horse of the Year.
The 9-year-old Noble Causeway gelding returned to the top of the list in 2021, after securing the same honor in 2018 and 2019. His connections will receive the trophy with the rest of the 2021 Ohio-bred champions in the Belterra Park winner's circle during the Best of Ohio Day card on June 3.
Altissimo tallied wins at all three of Ohio's Thoroughbred tracks in 2021, starting his season with a 1 1/4-length score in the Best of Ohio Babst/Palacios Memorial Stakes at Belterra Park. It was the third time the gelding has won the race.
He spent the summer at Thistledown, where he tallied a pair of allowance wins for owners Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski, and trainer Richard Zielinski. His season concluded at Mahoning Valley Race Course, where he won the Best of Ohio Sprint Stakes by a late-rallying two lengths, and the Cardinal Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths. It was his third Best of Ohio Sprint Stakes victory and his second win in the Cardinal.
Altissimo has won 23 of 53 career starts over six seasons of racing for earnings of $1,059,204. He is training toward his 2022 bow at Mahoning Valley.
Altissimo also secured honors as Ohio's champion sprinter, and his success landed Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski the Owner of the Year title.
Following is the complete list of Ohio's year-end award winners for the 2021 racing season:
Owner of the Year: Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski
Breeder of the Year: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farms
Horse of the Year: Altissimo
Owner: Nancy J. Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski
Breeder: Nancy J. Lavrich & Niknar Farm LLC
Trainer: Richard Zielinski
Stallion of the Year: Twinspired
Standing at: Poplar Creek Horse Center
Broodmare of the Year: Preseli's Pulpit
Owner: Hillburn Racing Stables
Champion Handicap Horse: Forewarned
Owner: Uriah St. Lewis
Breeder: Preston Stables, LLC
Trainer: Uriah St. Lewis
Champion Handicap Mare: Amadevil
Owner: Blue Snow Racing Stables and David Wolochuk
Breeder: Imagine
Trainer: David Wolochuk
Champion Sprinter: Altissimo
Owner: Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski
Breeder: Nancy J. Lavrich & Niknar Farm LLC
Trainer: Richard Zielinski
Champion Accredited Male: Big Truck
Owner: Smith Red Gate Farm, LLC
Breeder: Hal Snowden, Jr.
Trainer: Larry Smith
Champion Accredited Female: Mobil Lady
Owner: Shane Meyers and Lori Acree
Breeder: Phantom Farms, Cathy and Daniel Gale
Trainer: Shane Meyers
Ohio Bred Claimer of the Year: Dancin' Rosie
Owner: Michael J. Annechino
Breeder: Roger S. Braugh, Jr.
Trainer: Jeffrey Radosevich
Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Historically
Owner: Blazing Meadows Farm LLC & WinStar Farm, LLC
Breeder: Blazing Meadows Farm LLC & WinStar Farm, LLC
Trainer: Tim Hamm
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Amadevil
Owner: Blue Snow Racing Stables and David Wolochuk
Breeder: Imagine
Trainer: David Wolochuk
Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Thedayofthegrey
Owner: Robert C. Cline and Richard Wilkinson
Breeder: Richard Wilkinson
Trainer: Robert C. Cline
Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Candlelight Hours
Owner: Elkhorn Oaks, Inc.
Breeder: Elkhorn Oaks, Inc.
Trainer: James Jackson
OTBO Award of Merit: Mr. Greg Veit
The post Altissimo Earns Third Ohio Horse of the Year Title In 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
