The last time a sophomore filly was awarded Washington horse of the year was 22 years ago, and in fact since 1950, Blazingbellablu is only the sixth 3-year-old distaffer to achieve that high honor.
Her accomplishments and those of many other outstanding horses and worthy people were celebrated on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Washington Thoroughbred Champions Annual Awards and dinner held at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Wash.
Racing as a homebred for Petra Lewin's Rainbow Meadows Farm and trainer Charlie Essex, Blazingbellablu began her championship season with a respectful showing at Santa Anita Park before traveling north for a summer campaign at Emerald Downs where she recorded three straight victories, including a tally in the Kent Stakes. After finishing fourth in both the Washington Oaks and WA Cup Fillies and Mares Stakes, Blazingbellablu made her winter home at Turf Paradise where Essex saddled her to defeat older fillies and mares in the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. and City of Phoenix stakes. She finished her 3-year-old campaign with a second place finish in the Bell of the Ball Overnight Stakes on Dec. 29. The daughter of Grazen –Bellomesa was both the leading Washington-bred earner of the year ($152,848) and the only state-bred to emerge with three stakes victories during 2021.
Retiring Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (WTBOA) General Manager M. Anne Sweet became the 23rd recipient of the prestigious S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award for her nearly 44 years of service to the WTBOA and the Washington Thoroughbred industry beginning with her appointment as Art Director, which grew with her job as editor of the Washington Thoroughbred. Since 2012 Anne has provided steadfast leadership and integrity as the association's General Manager while still maintaining her other two positions.
Trainer Marshall Allen's efforts to help save longtime horse owner Jim Foulkes last year on the Emerald Downs' backside were acknowledged with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America White Horse Award.
Other horse awards included: champion sprinter and older horse Papa's Golden Boy; champion turf horse Harbored Memories; champion older filly or mare Itsallinthenotes; champion 3-year-old colt or gelding Coastal Kid; champion 2-year-old colt or gelding Cobra Jet; champion 2-year-old filly Koron; plater of the year Avalon King; and most improved plater of the year Ms Lynn.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst, breeders of Koron, were named 2021 Washington breeders of the year and their stallion Conveyance topped the state sire list. Both titles are awarded by earnings.
Pontiff, who moved to California last fall, was the state's top freshman sire and two-time stakes producer Brookie Girl was selected as broodmare of the year.
For the second year in a row, Khilia Giacobone's now Virginia-based Winter Knight (shown as Maei Platinum Star) was honored as top Washington-bred Off Track Thoroughbred (OTTB).
Others honored during the festive Longacres Mile-themed event were: Washington leading owners Todd and Shawn Hansen; Mark Kaufman Media Award winners Vince Bruun and Ray Paulick; and WHBPA Willing Hearts recipient Jill Hallin.
Racetrack special achievement awards were given to trainer Kay Penney Cooper and rider Alex Cruz, who both had exceptional 2021 seasons at Emerald Downs.
Washington champions and award winners of 2021:
2021 Richard Wright Memorial Horse of the Year, Blue Ribbon Farm Champion 3-year-old & Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Champion 3-year-old Filly: BLAZINGBELLABLU
(Grazen—Bellomesa, by Sky Mesa)
Owners and Breeders: Rainbow Meadows Farm (Petra Lewin) & Charles D. Essex
Trainer: Charles D. Essex
2021 Race Record: 11-5-3-0; $152,848
Stakes: Kent S. (EmD), Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. S. (TuP). City of Phoenix S. (TuP);
2nd Bell of the Ball Overnight S. (TuP)
2021 Clay Ward Agency LLC Champion 3-year-old Colt or Gelding: COASTAL KID
(G., Coast Guard—Crème [Chi], by Somersham)
Owners: Steve & Letha Haahr
Breeders: Nina & Ron Hagen (El Dorado Farms LLC)
Trainer: Jeffry Metz
2021 Race Record: 12-1-5-2; $78,661
Stakes: Muckleshoot Tribal Classic S,-R (EmD);
2nd Muckleshoot Derby (EmD)
WTBOA Sale Graduate
2021 Freight NW Champion 2-year-old & Champion 2YO Colt or Gelding: COBRA JET
(G, Curlin to Mischief—Atta Gal Val, by Atta Boy Roy)
Owners: R. E. V. Racing (Roy & Ellie Schaefer), Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
(Aron Wellman) and Lucarelli Racing Corporation (Frank Lucarelli)
Breeders: Mr. & Mrs. William T. Griffin (Griffin Place LLC)
Trainer: Frank Lucarelli
2021 Race Record: 4-3-1-0; $76,496
Stakes: King County Express (EmD), WA Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings S.-R (EmD); 2nd WTBOA Lads S. (EmD)
WTBOA Sale Graduate
2021 Freight NW Champion Two-Year-Old Filly: KORON
(Nationhood—Muchas Coronas, by Macho Uno)
Owner: Blue Ribbon Racing Ladies
(Elaine Parks, Linda Metz, Carol Stenberg, Grace Stenberg & Debbie Pabst)
Breeders: Mr. & Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst (Blue Ribbon Farm)
Trainer: Kay Penney Cooper
2021 Record: 3-3-0-0; $66,196
Stakes: Barbara Shinpoch S. (EmD), WA Cup Juvenile Filly S.-R (EmD)
WTBOA Sale Graduate
2021 Left Coast Thoroughbreds Champion Older Horse or Gelding & Duane Weber Insurance Champion Sprinter: PAPA'S GOLDEN BOY
(5YO G., Harbor the Gold—Brookie Girl, by Proud Citizen)
Owners: Gary, Deborah, Jeff & Peyton Lusk
Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson)
Trainers: Vince Gibson & Jack Steiner
2021 Race Record: 7- 3-0-0; $80,571
Stakes: Budweiser S. (EmD), Governor's S. (EmD)
WTBOA Sale Graduate
2021 Castlegate Farm Champion Older Filly or Mare: ITSALLINTHENOTES
(4YO, Ministers Wild Cat—For Real Too, by E Dubai)
Owners: RMFR Stables (Dennis Bailey); Let It Ride Equine Holdings IV LLC;
Mark Dedomenico LLC
Breeder: Dunn Bar Ranch LLC (Charlie Dunn)
Trainers: Corey Deatherage; Chris A. Hartman; Michael Puhich
2021 Race Record: 9- 3-1-2 $103,771
WTBOA Sale Graduate
2021 Rainbow Meadows Farm & VanDorm Realty Inc. Champion Turf Horse: HARBORED MEMORIES
(3YO, C., Harbor the Gold—Fresia, by El Prado [Ire])
Owners: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. & Slugo Racing (Steve Gasparelli )
Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson)
Trainer: Mike Puype
2021 Turf Race Record: 5-2-2-0; $102,300
2021 Mahlum Thoroughbreds Plater of the Year – AVALON KING (6YO G., Heatseeker [Ire]—Oneknightledo, by Slewdledo). Owner: Larry O'Brien. Breeders: Sylvia Kenney & Regan Bray. Trainer: Debbie O'Brien. 2021 Race Record: 15 starts, 5-4-1, $58,833.
2021 K-V Racing Stables Most Improved Plater – MS LYNN (3YO, F., Linchpin—Point Da Harbor, by Harbor the Gold). Owner and breeder: Ronald L. Bohlman. Trainer: Roy Lumm. 2021 Record: 7 starts. 2-1-3, $55,488, Won Seattle S., 3rd Kent S., Washington Oaks, WA Cup Filly and Mare S.-R.
2021 El Dorado Farms Leading Sire Award – CONVEYANCE (2007, Indian Charlie—Emptythetill, by Holy Bull). Property of and standing at Blue Ribbon Farm. 2021 Earnings of $1,124,831.
2021 John and Joyce Loftus Leading Freshman Sire Award – PONTIFF (2010, Giant's Causeway—Preach, by Mr. Prospector). Stands property of Warlock Stables, Daehling Ranch & Perry Martin at Daehling Ranch, CA. 2021 Earnings of $30,053.
2021 Griffin Place Broodmare of the Year – BROOKIE GIRL (2005, Proud Citizen—Skatesheba (Fr), by Green Tune. Owned by Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Neal & Pam Christopherson). 6 foals, 5 starters, 4 winners, 2 SWs, 1 Washington champion. 2021 Washington champion older horse and sprinter PAPA'S GOLDEN BOY (by Harbor the Gold, $127,896), 2020 SW GOLD CRUSHER (by Harbor the Gold, $74.068) and winners Brooks Harbor (by Harbor the Gold, $17,975) and George W (by Harbor the Gold, $15,377).
2021 One Horse Will Do Corporation Top Washington-bred OTTB – WINTER KNIGHT (shown as Maei Platinum Star), Dk.B./Brn. g., 2015, Harbor the Gold—Silver City Lilly, by Tiffany Ice. Owner and Rider: Khilia T. Giacobone. Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. With 1,547 points recorded through The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Performance Awards. WTBOA Sale Graduate
2021 S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award: M. ANNE SWEET– For 44 years of commitment to excellence in the Thoroughbred industry. Beginning as art director for the Washington Horse, her achievements significantly grew as Washington Thoroughbred editor. When promoted to WTBOA General Manager, her grace, fortitude and steadfast leadership was fully recognized.
2021 Race Track Chaplaincy of America White Horse Award: MARSHALL ALLEN – The RTCA defines a hero “as a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities.”
2021 Mark Kaufman Media Awards: 1) VINCE BRUUN – For continued outstanding work as Emerald Downs Director of Media Relations & stewardship of the Emerald Racing Club; 2) RAY PAULICK – For the support & coverage given the Washington Thoroughbred industry through the many state-related articles published in The Paulick Report.
2021 WHBPA Willing Hearts Award: JILL HALLIN – “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” Thank you for your dedication & consistent willingness to go above & beyond helping the horsemen & horses at Emerald Downs.
2021 Daily Racing Form Leading Breeder – MR. & MRS. FREDERICK L. PABST (Blue Ribbon Farm). Awarded on the Basis of 2021 Washington-bred Earnings of $395,855.
2021 NTRA Leading Owner –TODD & SHAWN HANSEN (Scatter Creek Training Center). Awarded on the Basis of 2021 Washington-bred Earnings of $258,615.
2021 Scatter Creek Training Center Special Training Achievement Award – KAY PENNEY COOPER – For continuing the family tradition of racing excellence and leading all 2021 Emerald Downs trainers with five stakes victories.
2021 Clemans View Farm Special Riding Achievement Award – ALEX CRUZ – For his second consecutive Emerald Downs riding title and new track record of 46 consecutive winning days
2021 WTBOA Sales Accomplishments
Highest Priced WTBOA-sold Yearling Colt/Gelding in 2021: LIAM'S MAP—ONE FOXY GREY, by Big Brown
Consigned by Dr. & Mrs. Duane Hopp, Castlegate Farm
Purchased by Sandy Gann, Agent for Glen Todd $47,000
Highest Priced WTBOA-sold Yearling Filly in 2021: ATTA BOY ROY—ROS'S GIRL, by Rosberg
Consigned by Griffin Place LLC, Agent
Purchased by Andy Mathias for $42,000
Best WTBOA-sold 2-year-old Performer in 2021: COBRA JET
(G, Curlin to Mischief—Atta Gal Val, by Atta Boy Roy)
Owners: R. E. V. Racing (Roy & Ellie Schaefer), Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
(Aron Wellman) and Lucarelli Racing Corporation (Frank Lucarelli)
Breeders: Mr. & Mrs. William T. Griffin (Griffin Place LLC)
Trainer: Frank Lucarelli
2021 Race Record 4 3-1-0 $76,496
Stakes: King County Express (EmD), WA Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings S.-R (EmD); 2nd WTBOA Lads S. (EmD)
Best WTBOA-sold Three-year-old Performer in 2021: COASTAL KID
(G., Coast Guard—Crème [Chi], by Somersham)
Owners: Steve & Letha Haahr
Breeders: Nina & Ron Hagen (El Dorado Farms LLC)
Trainer: Jeffry Metz
2021 Race Record: 12-1-5-2 $78,661
Stakes: Muckleshoot Tribal Classic S,-R (EmD); 2nd Muckleshoot Derby (EmD)
Best WTBOA-sold Older Performer in 2021: PAPA'S GOLDEN BOY
(5YO G., Harbor the Gold—Brookie Girl, by Proud Citizen)
Owners: Gary, Deborah, Jeff & Peyton Lusk
Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson)
Trainers: Vince Gibson & Jack Steiner
2021 Race Record: 7-3-0-0; $80,571
Stakes: Budweiser S. (EmD), Governor's S. (EmD)
The post Washington Racing Crowns Blazingbellablu 2021 Horse of the Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
