The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, January 16, 2008 – The American Quarter Horse Association today announced the 2007 AQHA Racing Champions during a ceremony at Heritage Place in Oklahoma City. Hosted by American Quarter Horse authority Tom Dawson, a packed house listened as the 13 horse categories, four horsemen categories, three divisional champions and the world champion were revealed. Following is a list of the champions, votes received, statistics and information in each category.
In each of the age divisions, an overall champion was named. From those three divisional champions, the world champion racing American Quarter Horse was selected. The distance category is for horses that have excelled in races at 550 yards or longer. Canadian champion and Mexican champion nominees are chosen from horses that race predominately in each respective country.
Horses were selected for the ballot in their specific category by meeting one or more of the following requirements for the year:
1. Earned a Grade 1 open stakes win.
2. Ranked among top year-end money earners as described below in each sex and age category.
· Top-10 2-year-old colts
· Top-10 2-year-old fillies
· Top-10 2-year-old geldings
· Top-six 3-year-old colts
· Top-six 3-year-old fillies
· Top-six 3-year-old geldings
· Top-five aged stallions
· Top-five aged mares
· Top-five aged geldings
· Top-five distance horses
3. Chosen as a nominee by a member of the racing committee
The nominees for champion owner, breeder, trainer and jockey are the five top-ranked individuals with the best overall placing according to money earned, races won and points earned. (In the case of owners and breeders, partnerships and ownerships in corporate or ranch names were considered separately. Therefore, an individual might not be listed in the top five because he or she owned horses in different partnerships.)
Outstanding mares considered for the champion broodmare award must have produced at least one foal finishing in the top five from the 10 AQHA champion age/sex or distance categories, or have produced more than one foal placing first, second or third in an open or restricted graded stakes race (Grade or Restricted Grade 1, 2 or 3) in the current year.
A group of 25 people comprising racing media, racing officials and AQHA Racing Committee members served on the voting body for the AQHA racing champions. Final votes are listed below in parentheses.
World Champion, Champion 3-Year-Old, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly – Blues Girl Too (24)
Owner/Breeder: Lucky Seven Ranch
Trainer: Joe “Bear” Bassett
Jockey: Saul Ramirez
Sire: Corona Cartel
Dam: Run The Dash by Sixarun
2007 Record: 6-3(3)-2-0
2007 Earnings: $817,662
Champion 3-Year-Old Colt – FDD Dynasty (23)
Owner: Billy Smith, Pat Guthrie, Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Breeder: Vessels Stallion Farm/ Fakri FM LP
Trainer: Michael W. Joiner
Jockeys: G.R. Carter Jr. (2), Sam Thompson (2)
Sire: First Down Dash
Dam: Dinastia Toll BRZ by Tolltac
2007 Record: 4-3(2)-0-1(1)
2007 Earnings: $227,775
Others receiving votes: Valiant Hero (1)
Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding – Little Bit Of Baja (18)
Owner: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and Los Bustardos
Breeder: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Trainers: John Bassett (7) and Adan Farias (3)
Jockeys: Sam Thompson (4), Saul Ramirez (3), Ramon Sanchez (2) and Rodrigo Aceves (1)
Sire: First Down Dash
Dam: BCR Pale Moon by Kingdom Key
2007 Record: 10-3(1)-2(1)-1
2007 Earnings: $540,411
Others receiving votes: Separate Bet (5), Dont Let Down (1)
Champion 3-Year-Old Voting:
Blues Girl Too (24)
World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse Voting:
Blues Girl Too (24)
Champion 2-Year-Old, Champion 2-Year-Old Filly – Heartswideopen (22)
Owner: La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC
Breeder: Kirk Goodfellow
Trainer: Carl Draper
Jockey: Oscar Hernandez
Sire: Feature Mr Jess
Dam: Dashing Phoebe by Dash For Cash
2007 Record: 7-6(2)-0-0
2007 Earnings: $1,282,690
Others receiving votes: Eye For Corona (2)
Champion 2-Year-Old Colt – Carters Cartel (23)
Owner/Breeder: Double Bar S Ranch LLC
Trainer: Jaime Gomez
Jockeys: Alejandro Luna (6) and J.R. Ramirez (3)
Sire: Corona Cartel
Dam: Jumping Tac Flash by Tolltac
2007 Record: 9-6(2)-1-1
2007 Earnings: $654,771
Others receiving votes: One Famous Eagle (1)
Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding – Illegal Memories (20)
Owner: Tim Lange and Charlie Forbes
Breeder: Fletcher Huskey
Trainers: Doug McMullen (6) and Johnie Goodman (3)
Jockeys: Roy Baldillez (4), James Brooks (2), Randy Edison (1), Jeff Jermain (1), Ray Mayo (1)
Sire: Illegal Runaway
Dam: Good Ole Memories by Leaving Memories
2007 Record: 9-4(1)-3(1)-0
2007 Earnings: $577,916
Others receiving votes: Magic Show Czech (3), Senor Seabolt (1)
Champion 2-Year-Old Voting:
Heartswideopen (22)
Eye For Corona (2)
Champion Aged Horse, Champion Aged Stallion – Ketel Won (24)
Owner/Breeder: R.D. Hubbard
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockeys: Freddie Martinez (5) and Saul Ramirez (1)
Sire: Stoli
Dam: Sixy Lady by Streakin Six
2007 Record: 6-4(4)-1(1)-1(1)
2007 Earnings: $370,900
Champion Aged Mare – Blazin Fire (First Vote: 10; Run-Off Vote: 12)
Owner/Breeder: Dan and Lisa McMahon
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Cody Jensen
Sire: This Snow Is Royal
Dam: Blazin Sin by Easy Crimson
2007 Record: 6-4(3)-0-0
2007 Earnings: $114,812
Others receiving votes: Strength In Numbers (First Vote: 10; Run-Off Vote: 11), Bullions N Garters (2), Five Bar Molly (1), Abstain (1)
Champion Aged Gelding – Strawkins (16)
Owner/Breeder: Donald and Peggy Boyle
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Freddie Martinez
Sire: Hawkinson
Dam: Shirleys Strawfly by Strawfly Special
2007 Record: 4-2(2)-0-0
2007 Earnings: $268,325
Others receiving votes: Gotta Get (3), Mr Chivato To You (3), Snowbound Superstar (1), Angelas Toast (1)
Aged Champion Voting:
Ketel Won (22)
Bullions N Garters (2)
Champion Distance Horse – Snowbound Superstar (23)
Owner: Tom and Brenda Brinkley
Breeder: Robert F. Pulse
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Cody Jensen
Sire: Snowbound (TB)
Dam: Shania Cash by Oh My Gee Whiz
2007 Record: 4-4(3)-0-0
2007 Earnings: $73,984
Others receiving votes: First To Ramble (1)
Champion Broodmare – Run The Dash (First Vote: 9; Run-Off Vote: 13)
Owner: Lucky Seven Ranch
Breeder: Jack W. Evans Jr.
Sire: Sixarun
Dam: Dashin Rosie by Dash For Cash
Foals Racing in 2007: Blues Girl Too $817,662
Others receiving votes: Country Zevi (First Vote: 9; Run-Off Vote: 11), Jumping Tac Flash (2), Dashing Phoebe (2), Runaway Wave (2)
Canadian Champion – First Kool Money (First Vote: 10; Run-Off Vote: 12; Racing Council Tie-Breaker Vote: 1)
Owner/Breeder: William “Bill” Taggart
Trainer: Don Reid
Jockeys: Kim Ito (8) and John Cutajar (1)
Sire: First Smart Money
Dam: Kool Kinda Star by Star Fire Dash
2007 Record: 9-6(2)-2(1)-1(1)
2007 Earnings: $95,305
Others receiving votes: Pow Wow Lane (First Vote: 9; Run-Off Vote: 12), Six Pack Of Corona (4), Its All About Speed (1)
Mexican Champion – Raise Chicks (22)
Owner/Breeder: Anselmo Aguilar
Trainer: Alfred Martinez
Jockeys: J.T. Diaz (3), J. Rugerio (2) and Jose Santos (2)
Sire: Chicks Beduino Jr
Dam: Raise A Chance by Raise Your Glass (TB)
2007 Record: 7-6(3)-0-0
2007 Earnings: $114,926
Others receiving votes: Fanatica (1), Simply Jackpot (1)
Champion Owner – Keilani Farms (15)
2007 Record: 39-11(2)-10(3)-2(1)
2007 Earnings: $1,316,577
Others receiving votes: Edward C. Allred (4), Lucky Seven Ranch (3), Double Bar S Ranch LLC (1), Javier Rodriguez (1)
Champion Breeder – MLA International Company (16)
2007 Record: 91-23(5)-15(5)-11(0)
2007 Earnings: $1,773,152
Others receiving votes: Edward C. Allred (3), Vessels Stallion Farm LLC (5)
Champion Trainer – Paul C. Jones (24)
2007 Record: 1,276-250(41)-219(27)-166(26)
2007 Earnings: $6,528,188 (Jones broke his previous record for trainer earnings.)
Champion Jockey – G.R. Carter Jr. (20)
2007 Record: 712-147(23)-107(9)-102(12)
2007 Earnings: $3,357,686
Others receiving votes: Freddie L. Martinez (3), Alfonso Lujan (1)
The champions also will be recognized in March at AQHA’s Annual Convention in San Francisco. The owner of the World Champion will receive a three-horse gooseneck Sooner trailer, AQHA’s official trailer.
To see a complete list of 2007 AQHA Racing Champion contenders, voting and 2007 AQHA Racing Champions, visit www.aqharacing.com. For more information about American Quarter Horse Racing, the 2007 AQHA Racing Champions or the champions selection process, visit the AQHA booth during the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, January 17-19 in Oklahoma City. You also may read a complete story about each of the 2007 AQHA Racing Champions in the March issue of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.