Oklahoma City, January 17, 2007 – The American Quarter Horse Association today announced the 2006 AQHA Racing Champions during a ceremony at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Oklahoma City. Hosted by American Quarter Horse authority Tom Dawson, a packed house listened as the 12 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 on nominees 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. 2006 will produce the inaugural AQHA Mexican champion.
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.
Canadian Champion – Its All About Speed (17)
Owner: Shady Lane Stables
Breeder: Shady Lane Stables
Trainer: Stan Webb
Jockey: Angelle Wilson (6), Carl Hebert (1)
Sire: Streakin La Jolla
Dam: Rosas Special by Special Task
2006 Record: 7-4(2)-2(0)-1(0)
Earnings: $75,455
Others receiving votes: Mezoomn(4), Zillas Secret(4)
Number in parentheses represents the number of times the jockey rode this horse in 2006.
Mexican Champion – SF Finita Dash (14)
Owner: Alvaro Sepulveda
Breeder: Alvaro Sepulveda
Trainer: Ruben Lecanda
Jockey: Silverio Muñoz (6), Alejandro Medellin (1), Donato Velaquez (1)
Sire: One Fine Leader
Dam: SF Pera Dash by Mr Perote
2006 Record: 8-4(1)-3(1)-0(0)
Earnings: $105,599
Others receiving votes: Totally Done Back(4), Aguerrido Cash(2), Rare Samako(2), Tequilero Streakin(2), one abstention
Champion Broodmare – First Prize Dash (13)
Owner: Weetona Stanley
Breeder: A. F. Stanley Jr. & L. D. Burbank
Sire: Dash For Cash
Dam: First Prize Rose by Gallant Jet
Foals: First Prize Robin, $295,147
First Carolina, $293,966
First Prize Perry, $241,226
Others receiving votes: Runaway Wave(5), Dashin Follies(4), Kiptys Kisses(2), one abstention
Champion Distance Horse – Snowbound Superstar (23)
Owner: Tom Brinkley
Breeder: Robert F. Pulse
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Cody Jensen
Sire: Snowbound (TB)
Dam: Shania Cash by Oh My Gee Whiz
2006 Record: 8-6(4)-0(0)-1(0)
Earnings: $94,298
Others receiving votes: On Star Cowboy(1), Strider Man(1)
Champion 2-year-old Colt – FDD Dynasty (16)
Owner: Smith/Guthrie/Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Breeder: Vessels Stallion Farm/ Fakri FM LP
Trainer: Michael W. Joiner
Jockey: G. R. Carter Jr. (6), Sam Thompson (1)
Sire: First Down Dash
Dam: Dinastia Toll BRZ by Tolltac
2006 Record: 7-5(1)-1(1)-1(1)
Earnings: $945,226
Others receiving votes: No Secrets Here(8), Okey Dokey Fantasy(1)
Champion 2-year-old Filly – Blues Girl Too (23)
Owner: Lucky Seven Ranch
Breeder: Lucky Seven Ranch
Trainer: Joe Bassett
Jockey: Saul Ramirez
Sire: Corona Cartel
Dam: Run The Dash by Sixarun
2006 Record: 7-5(1)-2(2)-0(0)
Earnings: $1,214,666
Others receiving votes: Angelina Ballerina(1), Remember Me Rose(1)
Champion 2-year-old Gelding – Jess You And I (10) (14 Runoff)
Owner: Double Bar S Ranch LLC
Breeder: Rhonda Rae & Dawn R. List
Trainer: Jaime Gomez
Jockey: J. R. Ramirez (5), Saul Ramirez (1)
Sire: Feature Mr Jess
Dam: Gold Daze by Tolltac
2006 Record: 6-5(1)-0(0)-0(0)
Earnings: $644,926
Others receiving votes: Dont Let Down(9)(11 Runoff), Gun Battle(5), Snowy Alibi(1)
Champion 3-year-old Colt – Wave Carver (25)
Owner: Wave Carver Syndicate
Breeder: Lucas Racing Inc.
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Ramon Sanchez
Sire: First Down Dash
Dam: Runaway Wave by Runaway Winner
2006 Record: 9-7(3)-2(2)-0(0)
Earnings: $739,036
Champion 3-year-old Filly – Ima Ramblin Girl (23)
Owner: Walter & Pat Fletcher
Breeder: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC/Walter Fletcher
Trainer: Jack W. Brooks (7)/Charlton S. Hunt (3)
Jockey: G. R. Carter Jr. (8), Jacky Martin (1), Juan Vazquez (1)
Sire: First Down Dash
Dam: Kiptys Kisses by Kiptys Charger
2006 Record: 10-4(2)-1(1)-1(0)
Earnings: $105,253
Others receiving votes: Dash Ta Moon(1), Ms Klee(1)
Champion 3-year-old Gelding – Strawkins (14)
Owner: Donald & Peggy Boyle
Breeder: Donald & Peggy Boyle
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Cody Jensen (6), Freddi Martinez (5)
Sire: Hawkinson
Dam: Shirleys Strawfly by Strawfly Special
2006 Record: 11-5(2)-1(1)-3(2)
Earnings: $276,496
Others receiving votes: Arealstraitheart(6), Magical Thunder(2), Snowbound Superstar(2), Angelas Toast(1)
Champion Aged Stallion – Country Chicks Man (25)
Owner: Sparky Mullins
Breeder: Sparky Mullins
Trainer: Sparky Mullins
Jockey: G. R. Carter Jr. (5), Jacky Martin (1)
Sire: Chicks Beduino
Dam: Country Zevi by Zevi
2006 Record: 6-4(4)-1(1)-1(1)
Earnings: $297,010
Champion Aged Mare – Apollitical Time (23)
Owner: Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga
Breeder: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Trainer: Juan Aleman
Jockey: Ramon Sanchez (5), Alex Bautista (1), Saul Ramirez (1)
Sire: Apollo (TB)
Dam: Half Time Attraction by First Down Dash
2006 Record: 7-5(5)-1(1)-0(0)
Earnings: $362,908
Others receiving votes: This Snow Is Cold(2)
Champion Aged Gelding – Gotta Get (14)
Owner: Gordon Cox and Rita Danley
Breeder: Gordon Cox
Trainer: Fred Danley
Jockey: James J. Gonzalez
Sire: Celadon
Dam: Chicory Glass by Raise Your Glass
2006 Record: 7-7(7)-0(0)-0(0)
Earnings: $504,505
Others receiving votes: Be A Bono(11)
Champion Owner – Double Bar S Ranch LLC (19)
2006 Record: 213-30-18-28
2006 Earnings: $1,298,051
Others receiving votes: EG High Desert Farms(2), Wave Carver Syndicate(2), Lucky Seven Ranch(1), Vessels Stallion Farm LLC/Benny Rosset(1)
Champion Breeder – Vessels Stallion Farm LLC (18)
2006 Record: 459-74(13)-68(4)-61(8)
2006 Earnings: $2,489,118
Others receiving votes: Michael A. Pohl(7)
Champion Trainer – Paul C. Jones (22)
2006 Record: 1,225-237(38)-203(25)-197(28)
2006 Earnings: $6,443,337
Others receiving votes: Jaime Gomez(2), Jack Brooks(1)
Champion Jockey – G.R. Carter Jr. (24)
2006 Record: 743-131(24)-113(15)-89(10)
2006 Earnings: $4,568,356
Others receiving votes: Cody Jensen(1)
Champion 2-year-old Voting:
 Blues Girl Too (17)
FDD Dynasty: (4)
No Secrets Here: (2)
Don’t Let Down (1)
Okey Dokey Fantasy (1)
Champion 3-year-old Voting:
Wave Carver (25)
Aged Champion Voting:
Apollitical Time (11) (16 Runoff)
Gotta Get (6) (9 Runoff)
Be A Bono (4)
Country Chicks Man (3)
This Snow Is Cold (1)
World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse – Wave Carver (25)
Owner: Wave Carver Syndicate
Breeder: Lucas Racing Inc.
Trainer: Paul C. Jones
Jockey: Ramon Sanchez
Sire: First Down Dash
Dam: Runaway Wave by Runaway Winner
2006 Record: 9-7(3)-2(2)-0(0)
Earnings: $739,036
The champions also will be recognized in March at AQHA’s Annual Convention in Houston. The owner of the World Champion will receive a three-horse gooseneck Sooner trailer, AQHA’s official trailer.
To see a complete list of 2006 AQHA Racing Champion contenders, voting and 2006 AQHA Racing Champions, visit www.aqharacing.com . For more information about American Quarter Horse Racing, the 2006 AQHA Racing Champions or the champions’ selection process, visit the AQHA booth during the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, January 18-20 in Oklahoma City. You also may read a complete story about the 2006 AQHA Racing Champions in the March issue of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal.