The West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association presented its 2020 year-end awards on May 23 at The Barns at Maple Valley in Shenandoah Junction, W.V., led by Horse of the Year Star of Night.
Star of Night won six of seven starts during her 2020 campaign, all at Charles Town, earning $152,405 for owner Huntertown Farm and trainer Jeff Runco.
The season was a steady climb up the class ladder, starting with a 5 1/2-length maiden special weight win on Jan. 30. A jump to the allowance ranks yielded similar results, going gate to wire to win by 5 3/4 lengths on Feb. 29. She suffered her lone defeat of the season in the following start, beaten just a head in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on May 15.
The Creative Cause filly got back on the winning track with force on June 27, winning a 6 1/2-furlong allowance by an astounding 10 3/4 lengths.
Star of Night moved up to stakes competition of that win, and the story remained the same. She won the Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths on Aug. 28, then she took the West Virginia Tourism Office Breeders' Classic Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths on Oct. 10.
Her season finished with her biggest test, stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for the My Sister Pearl Stakes. It was also her biggest fight of the year, battling against Bridging the Gap, the horse that handed her the lone defeat of the season, and prevailing by a half-length.
Star of Night was bred in West Virginia by Heinz Steinmann, out of the Mailbu Moon mare Splendiferous Moon.
Following is a complete list of winners from the WVTBA awards:
Horse of the Year: Star of Night
2017, Creative Cause x Splendiferous Moon, by Malibu Moon
Breeder: Heinz J Steinmann
Owner: Huntertown Farm, LLC
Trainer: Jeff C Runco
Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Shutupn'kissme
2018, Fiber Sonde x Kiss on Command, by Langfuhr
Breeder/Owner/Trainer: John McKee
Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: Youthinkthatsfunny
2018, Fiber Sonde x Humored, by Distorted Humor
Breeder/Owner/Trainer: John McKee
Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: Fancy Concho
2018, Fiber Sonde x Shes Pretty Fancy, by My Boy Adam
Breeder: Tim & Judith Grams
Owner: Grams Racing Stable LLC
Trainer: Timothy C. Grams
Champion Older Filly/Mare: Anna's Bandit
2014, Great Notion x Onearmedbandit, by No Armistice
Breeder: John Robb
Owner: No Guts No Glory Farm
Trainer: John Robb
Champion Older Colt/Gelding & Champion Sprinter: Dr. Feelgood
2015, Fiber Sonde x Happy Numbers, by Polish Numbers
Breeder: Francis W. Daniel III
Owner: Jill Daniel
Trainer: Crystal G Pickett
Champion West Virginia-Sired, Non-WV-Bred Runner: Bridging The Gap
2016, Fiber Sonde x Seet Sang, by Fusaichi Pegasus
Breeder: Don E. Cain,
Owner/Trainer: John McKee
West Virginia Broodmare of the Year: Happy Numbers
2000, Polish Numbers x Happenchance, by Alydar
Owner: Francis W Daniel, III
West Virginia Stallion of the Year: Fiber Sonde
2005, Unbridled's Song x Silken Cat, by Storm Cat
Owner: John McKee
West Virginia Breeder of the Year: John & Cindy McKee, Beau Ridge Farm
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