New York-Bred 2021 Divisional Championship Nominees Announced

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce the nominees for the New York-bred divisional champions of 2021. A panel of New York Turf writers, broadcasters, handicappers, racing analysts and photographers will vote on the winners of each division and the 2021 New York-bred Horse of the Year.

The 2020 New York-bred divisional champions and New York-bred Horse of the Year will be unveiled this summer during the historic Saratoga Race Course meeting. Also to be honored with 2021 awards will be Broodmare of the Year, Champion Trainer, Champion Jockey and Outstanding Breeder.

A list of the 2021 New York-bred divisional championship nominees by category follows.

Champion 2-Year-Old Male
Adios Asher
Coinage
Dakota Gold
Geno
Rebel Empire
Run Curtis Run
Senbei
Shipsational

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
Classy Edition
Curly Girl
Derrynane
Howdyoumakeurmoney
Miss Alacrity
November Rein
Shesawildjoker
Venti Valentine
Yo Cuz

Champion 3-Year-Old Male
Americanrevolution
Excellent Timing
Hush of a Storm
It's a Gamble
Lobsta
Nicky the Vest
Ocala Dream
Perfect Munnings
River Dog
The King Cheek

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly
A Bit o'Irish Sass
A Life That's Good
Bank Sting
Betsy Blue
Byhubbyhellomoney
Make Mischief
Secret Love
Sport Model

Champion Older Dirt Male
Bankit
Captain Bombastic
Mr. Buff
Ny Traffic
Our Last Buck
Sea Foam

Champion Older Dirt Female
Dancing Kiki
Espresso Shot
Ice Princess
Maiden Beauty
Mrs. Orb
Sharp Starr

Champion Turf Male
Battle Station
City Man
Cross Border
Rinaldi
Somelikeithotbrown
Step Dancer

Champion Turf Female
Classic Lady
Giacosa
Myhartblongstodady
Robin Sparkles
Runaway Rumour
Sport Model
Time Limit

Champion Male Sprinter
Bank On Shea
Battle Station
Foolish Ghost
Jemography
My Boy Tate
Ny Traffic
Our Last Buck

Champion Female Sprinter
Awesome Debate
Espresso Shot
Miss Jimmy
Mrs. Orb
Sadie Lady
The Important One
Time Limit

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Kela’s Turn Named Iowa’s 2021 Horse Of The Year

Loretta McClintock's homebred Kela's Turn earned double honors from the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association for her accomplishments at Prairie Meadows in 2021.

The talented daughter of Kela – Lauren's Turn (Lion Heart) was recognized as the 2021 ITBOA Horse of the Year and the champion ITBOA “3-year-old filly.”

Kela's Turn earned $233,951 in total purse money last year, winning three of her six starts for her owner under jockey Shane Laviolette for trainer Henry Guillory, Jr.

Her 2021 season started with a bang when Kela's Turn took command early and drew off to a seven-length victory over five rivals in the traditional opening-weekend allowance sprint for the distaff 3-year-olds and up.

Kela's Turn bested the likes of Snapy Gal, 2020 seasonal champ Topless, and eventual top 2021 champion older Iowa-bred mare Naughty Shirley.

She won the Bob Bryant Stakes one month later and finished second to Naughty Shirley in the Mamie Eisenhower Stakes on June 19.

McClintock and Guillory decided to stretch out Kela's Turn into route races in her next two starts, which resulted in a third-place optional claiming finish and a narrow victory over Snapy Gal in The Hawkeyes Handicap at a 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 7.

“We really thought she could get a route of ground,” explained Guillory at the time. “After her first two-turn race, we decided to take the blinkers off and that really made the difference.”

The day after her tenacious victory in The Hawkeyes, Guillory stopped at the Prairie Meadows racing office to view the race again.

“I could watch the replay a hundred times,” Guillory exclaimed. “I knew she could win at two turns and she proved it!”

Guillory dropped Kela's Turn into the entry box more than a few times the rest of August and into early September, but was unable to get his filly into a race before the season-ending Iowa Breeders' Oaks on Iowa Classic Day Sept. 25.

In her first start in almost two months, Kela's Turn settled for second behind open-lengths winner Bossy Moment, an effort that solidified her status as the top Iowa-bred 3-year-old of the season and ITBOA Horse Of The Year for 2021.

“I'm so proud of her and her accomplishments,” said McClintock. “That first allowance race win was amazing! You never know for sure whether or not a young horse is going to move forward off a good two-year-old season or not and she ran like she hadn't missed a beat.”

“Sure, we wanted her to end the season with an Iowa Classic stakes victory,” added McClintock. “But it's pretty tough to go into those races on works alone.”

Guillory added, “She was the best Iowa-bred filly on the grounds all season long. I'm not trying to make excuses, but they all dodged her in the weeks after The Hawkeyes.”

Before the end of 2021, Kela's Turn added to her win total and career earnings with back-to-back victories, including a stakes score, at Delta Downs in Louisiana.

“We'll bring her back to Prairie Meadows for her 4-year-old season,” said McClintock. “We've already got our eyes on the major stakes races for the older fillies and mares. And, if we have to, we'll ship out to take advantage of any opportunities that might come up at other tracks in the Midwest.”

The other Iowa-bred champions of 2021:

2-year-old Iowa-bred colt — Ain't Life Grand, a son of Not This Time – Cat D'Oro (Medaglia D'Oro), won three of his four starts last season for owner/breeder RPM Thoroughbreds of Prairie Meadows Hall of Famers Ray and Peggy Shattuck, earning $128,730.

The precocious 2-year-old set off some fireworks of his own in an impressive Fourth of July debut, breaking alertly under jockey Elvin Gonzalez, seizing command early, and pulling clear to a three-length score.

Under the care of Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame trainer Kelly Von Hemel, Ain't Life Grand finished third in the Iowa Stallion Futurity on July 24, then capped his season with a double-digits tally in the Richard Radke Memorial at one mile on Sept. 4 and a gutsy three-length victory in the Iowa Cradle on Sept. 25.

2-year-old Iowa-bred filly — Demidanu, bred by Iowa State University and running for trainer Kelly Von Hemel, also recorded three wins in four starts during her debut season, posting earnings of $102,390.

Campaigned by the ownership group of Lynette Dreifurst, Dana Hellbusch, Warren Hellbusch, and Anthony Schieffer, Jr., Demidanu scored by eight lengths first time out under jockey Kevin Roman on June 27.

The daughter of Formidable – Soaring Goddess (Desert God) was unplaced in the Iowa Stallion Futurity before winning on Aug. 24 and capping her season with a solid score in the Iowa Sorority on Sept. 25.

3-year-old Iowa-bred colt/gelding — Sir Wally Wally, the son of Revolutionary – Paws Up (Posse), notched two wins from six starts at Prairie Meadows in 2021 for the ownership group of Midnight Thoroughbreds, LLC, Parenza Farms LLC, and Mark Deterding.

Trainer Kelly Von Hemel sent out Sir Wally Wally to stakes scores under Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame jockey Glenn Corbett in the Grays Lake on May 31 and the Iowa Stallion Stakes on July 17.

Older Iowa-bred mare — Naughty Shirley, a daughter Jafmil – Pulpinit (Pulpit) enjoyed the best season of her career during a seven-race campaign as a five-year-old.

Bred by Joe Robson Thoroughbreds and owned by Mercy Man Racing of Dylan Robson, Naughty Shirley recorded back-to-back wins at Prairie Meadows in 2021 under jockey Ken Tohill for trainer Doug Anderson.

She added a victory at Gulfstream Park on November 19, to reach $110,091 in total earnings for her season.

Older Iowa-bred horse — Topper T, a son of Bellamy Road – Des Moines (Evansville), hadn't won a race at Prairie Meadows in almost three years when he tallied an optional claiming sprint score under Shane Laviolette on July 12.

The 2018 Iowa Cradle winner for breeder Black Oak Farm (Sherry Tracy) changed hands four times after his two-year-old year and was claimed out of his July win by owner Gene Burkholder and trainer William Martin.

Topper T ran three times for Burkholder and Martin, winning the Dan Johnson Sprint on Iowa Classic Day to finish 2021 with earnings of $128,094.

The ITBOA also named champions based on earnings at Prairie Meadows in 2021:

Owner/Breeder of the Year—Allen Poindexter, whose Iowa-owned runners earned $854,870 and whose Iowa-bred foals earned $936,399.

Stallion of the Year — Native Ruler, now pensioned at Unbridled Spirits in Lisbon, IA. His progeny earned $430,295.

Broodmare of the Year — Paws Up, owned by Midnight Thoroughbreds, whose offspring earned $166,423.

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Star Of Night Named West Virginia’s 2020 Horse Of The Year

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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Canadian Derby Winner Real Grace Named Alberta’s 2020 Horse Of The Year

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division) hosted the 47th Annual Alberta Thoroughbred Awards in a virtual format on May 20th, 2021, led by Horse of the Year Real Grace.

Real Grace, a Mineshaft gelding, won two of nine starts in 2020, highlighted by an 18-1 upset victory in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile. Earlier in the season, he also won the Derby Trial Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.

The gelding started his 2020 campaign at Tampa Bay Downs after selling as a unraced racing-age prospect at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Winter Mixed Sale in January. He raced twice in Florida, including a second-place effort in a maiden special weight for owner and trainer Bernell Rhone. He then shipped north to Canterbury Park for another second-place effort, this time with additional owners Shelley Brown, Jean McEwan, and Bette Holtman.

Real Grace then went north of the border for the remainder of his campaign and raced for trainer Shelley Brown, starting at Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, where he broke his maiden in the Derby Trial Stakes. He then finished fifth in the Manitoba Derby.

The remainder of the gelding's season was spent at Century Mile in Alberta. He debuted with a win in the Count Lathum Handicap, and later found the highlight of his season in the Canadian Derby, Alberta's biggest race.

In addition to taking home Horse of the Year honors, Real Grace also earned the title as Alberta's champion 3-year-old male.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter Johnson, Real Grace is out of the stakes-winning Yes It's True mare True Way of Grace.

Following is a complete list of winners from the Alberta Thoroughbred Awards.

The H.B.P.A. Trophy
Champion Claimer: Something About Me
Trainer: Allen Goodsell
Owner: Carter Goodsell
Breeder: Paul Treasure & Harry Bettis
Ch. F. 4., by Boos – Justbluffin (Pine Bluff)
2020: 9 Starts – 5 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $39,424
Winner: Allowance Optional Claiming, Claiming

The Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy
Champion Sprinter: Stone Carver
Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Breeder: T/C Stable, LLC
B. G. 5., by Birdstone – Vermilion Sea (Boundary)
2020: 7 Starts – 1 wins – 3 second – 0 thirds – $42,290
Winner: Journal Handicap (BT)

The Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy
Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: She Likes to Party
Trainer: Greg Tracy
Owner: Don Danard
Breeder: Lou Neve
B. F. 2., by Maclean's Music – Gone to Party (All Gone)
2020: 4 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 0 thirds – $81,000
Winner: Princess Margaret Stakes, Freedom of the City Stakes (BT)

The Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy
Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: Bang On*

Trainer: Craig Smith
Owner: True North Stables Ltd.
Breeder: Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds Ltd.
B. C. 2., by Commissioner – Next Big Nothin' (Forest Wildcat)
2020: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds – $59,264
Winner: Birdcatcher Stakes (BT)

The Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Pearl of Knowledge*
Trainer: Karline Kingston
Owner: Don Danard & Jim Juris
Breeder: Starline Thoroughbreds
B. F. 3., by Cape Canaveral – Lil Missknowitall (Kafwain)
2020: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 2 second – 1 thirds – $54,760
Winner: Alberta Oaks

Sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd.
Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: Real Grace
Trainer: Shelley Brown
Owner: Shelley Brown, Jean McEwan, Bette Holtman, Bernell Rhone
Breeder: Peter Johnson
B. G. 3., by Mineshaft – True Way of Grace (Yes It's True)
2020: 9 Starts – 2 wins – 3 second – 0 thirds – $89,162
Winner: Derby Trial Stakes, Canadian Derby (G3)

The Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy
Champion Older Mare: Sunburst
Trainer: Barbara Heads
Owner: Russell & Lois Bennett
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. R J Bennett
Ch. F. 4., by Sungold – Tierra Del Feugo (Finality)
2020: 4 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds – $70,560
Winner: Redtail Landing Handicap, Northlands Distaff Handicap (Listed)

The Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Trophy
Champion Older Horse: Go Away
Trainer: James Brown
Owner: Kirk Sutherland
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd.
B. G. 4., by Scat Daddy – Elbow (Woodman)
2020: 11 Starts – 3 wins – 3 second – 3 thirds – $80,980
Winner: Don Getty Handicap (BT)

The Ted Connor Memorial Trophy
Champion Alberta-bred: Maskwecis*
Trainer: Ron K Smith
Owner: Jim & Carole Barker, Red Ron Farms
Breeder: Doug Oberg
B. G. 3., by Jimmy Creed – Maidstone (Aptitude)
2020: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 1 thirds – $57,760
Winner: Western Canada Handicap, Beaufort Stakes

The Horse Racing Alberta Trophy
Horse of the Year: Real Grace
Trainer: Shelley Brown
Owner: Shelley Brown, Jean McEwan, Bette Holtman, Bernell Rhone
Breeder: Peter Johnson
B. G. 3., by Mineshaft – True Way of Grace (Yes It's True)
2020: 9 Starts – 2 wins – 3 second – 0 thirds – $89,162
Winner: Derby Trial Stakes, Canadian Derby (G3)

Sponsored by the H.B.P.A.
Leading Apprentice Jockey: Mauricio Malvaez
Starts: 191 – Wins: 16 – Seconds: 27 – Thirds: 16
Earnings $280,625

Canadian Sovereign Apprentice Jockey, Mauricio Malvaez, was the top apprentice last season at Century Mile with 16 wins including a victory in the biggest race in Alberta, the Grade 3 Canadian Derby/

The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy
Leading Jockey: Rico Walcott
Starts: 204 – Wins: 68 – Seconds: 39 – Thirds: 38
Earnings $820,968  

Rico Walcott returned to the track last season after a health battle sidelined him in 2019. This award becomes the ninth Leading Jockey title for Rico in the past ten years.

The H.B.P.A. Trophy
Leading Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Starts: 237 – Wins: 42 – Seconds: 38 – Thirds: 46
Earnings $646,551  

Tim Rycroft earned the third Leading Trainer title for the third consecutive year with Rycroft trained horses earning over $640,000 and 42 wins last season. The top runner for Tim in 2020 was the multiple stakes placed Alberta bred runner, Saveitforarainyday.

The C.T.H.S. Trophy
Leading Breeder: Highfield Investment Group
Starts: 74 – Wins: 16 – Seconds: 4 – Thirds: 7
Earnings: $290,736

The Leading Breeder goes to Highfield Investment Group for a season that saw horses bred by Highfield earn over $290,000 with 16 wins. The top Highfield-bred horse last season was Jasper Shine, out of their multiple stakes winning mare, Golden Made. 

The Jockey Club of Canada Trophy
Leading Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Starts: 130 – Wins:  23 – Seconds: 25 – Thirds: 23
Earnings: $417,781

The Leading Owner title was awarded to Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. for back to back awards in this category. Horses owned by Riversedge earned over $400,000 with 23 wins. The leading earners for Riversedge last season include Stone Carver, Bareback Jack and Dad's Legacy. 

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