Muad'dib and Star of Night finished in a dead heat for Horse of the Year honors during the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association's 2021 Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation, held March 6 at Charles Town Races.
Muad'dib a 5-year-old Fiber Sonde gelding, was unbeaten in six starts during her 2021 campaign, and he remains undefeated in nine career races, all at Charles Town.
He started his season with a trio of allowance victories, then he made his first foray into stakes competition for the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes, which he won by a head. Muad'dib then stretched out to 1 1/8 miles to win the West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths. His season came to a close in the A Huevo Stakes, also at 1 1/8 miles, which he won by 1 3/4 lengths as an imposing favorite.
Muad'dib was bred in West Virginia by John McKee. He is trained by Jeff Runco for owner David Raim. The gelding was also named West Virginia's champion older male for 2021.
Star of Night, a 5-year-old daughter of Creative Cause, earned at least a share of West Virginia's Horse of the Year title for a second straight season, after winning the award outright in 2020. She also went unbeaten last year, winning all five her starts, all at Charles Town.
Following a pair of allowance scores to kick off her campaign, Star of Night rolled off three consecutive stakes victories, starting with a 1 1/4-length score in the seven-furlong Sadie Hawkins Stakes. She remained at that distance to win the West Virginia Cavada Breeders' Classic Stakes, then she proved her mettle at 1 1/8 miles when she drew off to win the My Sister Pearl Stakes by three lengths.
Bred in Heinz Steinmann, Star of Night is owned by Huntertown Farm, and she is also trained by Jeff Runco. She earned additional honors as West Virginia's champion older female.
Muad'dib's unbeaten run also influenced several of the evening's other awards.
His sire, Fiber Sonde, was named Stallion of the Year. Standing at Beau Ridge Farm, the son of Unbridled's Song saw his progeny tally 109 wins in 2021, with combined earnings of more than $2.7 million. Beyond Muad'dib's award-winning season, his runners were led by stakes winner Penguin Power, and 10 additional stakes-placed runners.
Holy Pow Wow, the dam of Muad'dib, was named West Virginia's Broodmare of the Year. The 14-year-old Indian Charlie mare is the dam of three winners from four foals to race, also including the multiple Grade 3 winner Late Night Pow Wow, also by Fiber Sonde.
Both Fiber Sonde and Holy Pow Wow are owned by John McKee, who was named the state's Breeder of the Year.
Following is a complete list of winners from the WVTBA Awards Presentation.
Champion 2-Year-Old Female: The Sky Is Falling
Cupid x Miss Henny Penny, by Half Ours
Breeder: Catherine Jennings & Scott Mallory
Owner: David Raim
Trainer: Jeff Runco
2nd: Fancy Her Up; 3rd: OK Smarty Pants
Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Run to Daylight
Runhappy x Daylight's Coming, by Stormy Atlantic
Breeder: James Miller
Owner: David Raim
Trainer: Jeff Runco
2nd: Jungle Beast; 3rd: Amidships
Champion 3-Year-Old Female: Door Buster
Speightster x Miss Henny Penny, by Half Ours
Breeder: Catherine Jennings & Scott Mallory
Owner: Jay Reese
Trainer: Ollie Figgins III
2nd: Moonlit Shadow; 3rd: Peppa Star
Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Social Chic
Upstart x Tres Chic, by Harlan's Holiday
Breeder: James Miller
Owner: Smart Angle, LLP
Trainer: Jeff Runco
2nd: Golden Key; 3rd: No Change
Champion Older Female: Star of Night
Creative Cause x Splendiferous Moon, by Malibu Moon
Breeder: Heinz Steinmann
Owner: Huntertown Farm
Trainer: Jeff Runco
2nd: Our Diamond Girl; 3rd: Privately
Champion Older Male: Muad'dib
Fiber Sonde x Holy Pow Wow, by Indian Charlie
Breeder: John McKee
Owner: David Raim
Trainer: Jeff Runco
2nd: Hypothesis; 3rd: Penguin Power
Champion Male Sprinter: Hypothesis
Algorithms x Ideal Thoughts, by Not For Love
Breeder: Francis Daniel III
Owner: Jill Daniel
Trainer: Crystal Pickett
2nd: Penguin Power; 3rd, Command the Cat
Champion Female Sprinter: Our Diamond Girl
Windsor Castle x Go For Diamonds
Breeder: Timothy & Judith Grams
Owner: Grams Racing Stable
Trainer: Timothy Grams
2nd: Privately; 3rd: Peppa Star
Horse of the Year (Tie): Muad'dib & Star of Night
Runner Up: Super Garner
Broodmare of the Year: Holy Pow Wow
Owner: John McKee
2nd: Miss Henny Penny; 3rd: Splendiferous Mood
Stallion of the Year: Fiber Sonde
Owner: John McKee
2nd: Windsor Castle; 3rd: Golden Years
Breeder of the Year: John McKee
2nd: Heinz Steinmann; 3rd: Francis Daniel III
Sam Huff Award: Carol Holden
The post Muad’dib, Star Of Night Tie For 2021 West Virginia Horse Of The Year Honors appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
