The fifth annual Renaissance Awards, a collaborative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and Maryland Jockey Club, which recognizes excellence in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Maryland in the past year, went virtual again this year.
Throughout the week of Feb. 28, awards were presented through the MHBA's social media accounts to the top Maryland owner, trainer, jockey, breeder, broodmare and stallion, Backstretch Workers of the Year, one for Pimlico Race Course and one for Laurel Park, as well as the champion Maryland-breds of 2021.
Maryland-bred honorees of 2021 included Knicks Go, the 2021 Eclipse Award winner as Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male who was crowned Maryland-Bred Horse of the Year. The son of Paynter—Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker, was bred by Angie and Sabrina Moore and is owned by Korea Racing Authority. He is trained by Brad Cox
Other Maryland divisional champions are:
Champion 2-year-old male: Joe (b.c., 2019, by Declaration of War—Battle Bridge, by Arch). Bred and owned by The Elkstone Group LLC; trained by Michael J. Trombetta;
Champion 2-year-old filly: Luna Belle (b.f., 2019, by Great Notion—Heavenly Moon, by Mojave Moon). Bred by Fred A. Greene Jr., Deborah Greene and Hamilton Smith; owned by Deborah S. Greene and Hamilton A. Smith; trained by Hamilton A. Smith;
Champion 3-year-old male: Jaxon Traveler (dk.b./br.c., 2018, by Munnings—Listen Boy, by After Market). Bred by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau; owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner; trained by Steven M. Asmussen;
Champion 3-year-old filly: Street Lute (ch.f., 2018, by Street Magician—Alottalute, by Midnight Lute). Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Dr. Brooke Bowman; owned by Lucky 7 Stables; trained by John J. Robb;
Champion older female: Hello Beautiful (dk.b./br.m., 2017, Golden Lad—Hello Now, by Tiznow). Bred by Hillwood Stables LLC; owned by Madaket Stables LLC, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stable and Magic City Stables, LLC; trained by Brittany Russell;
Champion turf runner: Field Pass (gr./ro.h, 2017, by Lemon Drop Kid—Only Me, by Runaway Groom). Bred by Mark Brown Grier; owned by Three Diamonds Farm; trained by Michael J. Maker; and
Champion sprinter: Aloha West (dk.b./br.h., 2017, by Hard Spun—Island Bound, by Speightstown). Bred by Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss; owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; trained by Wayne M. Catalano.
Also presented were the annual breeder, stallion, and broodmare of the year awards.
The late Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss, breeders of 2021 Maryland-bred champion sprinter Aloha West, were crowned the Maryland Breeders of the Year, while their mare Island Bound, dam of Aloha West, was named Maryland Broodmare of the Year, and Northview Stallion Station's Great Notion took home the title of Maryland Stallion of the Year for the sixth consecutive year.
Other award winners for 2021 include Hillwood Stable LLC, Maryland Owner of the Year; Brittany Russell, Maryland Trainer of the Year; Jevian Toledo, Maryland Jockey of the Year. Julio Garcia was honored as the Pimlico Backstretch Worker of the Year, while Antoinette Charles Orellana earned the title of Laurel Backstretch Employee of the Year.
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