Les Arcs Named 2006 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year

Les Arcs was named 2006 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, champion older male, sprinter, and turf runner, in the annual poll conducted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.

Bred by James Moran’s Elk Manor Farm in North East, Md., Les Arcs rose as a 6-year-old last season to establish himself as a top sprinter in England. He won the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot June 20, and 20 days later captured the July Cup (Eng-I) at Newmarket, each time defeating international sprint star Takeover Target. He also won the Cammidge Trophy at Redcar.

Les Arcs, a gelding by Arch, out of the Cormorant mare La Sarto, was consigned by Moran to the 2001 Keeneland September Yearling sale, where bloodstock agent John Ferguson bought him for $140,000 on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Stable. In the fall of his 2-year-old season, he was offered at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training sale. His current owner, British soccer agent Willie McKay, bought him at that auction for the U.S. equivalent of approx­imately $63,000.

Les Arcs is one of only two Maryland-bred runners to earn the Maryland-bred Horse of the Year title in races out­side of this country. The other was El Gran Senor, Europe’s champion 3-year-old colt in 1984.

Les Arcs is the second Maryland-bred champion to represent Moran, who also bred 2003 juvenile filly champion Richetta. Moran still owns La Sarto, who he claimed for $25,000 in 1994 at Saratoga.  La Sarto is in foal to Two Punch.

Other divisional champions
Champion 2-year-old male: Clifton Park (dk.b./br.c., Allen’s Prospect—Cat Nap, by Storm Cat). Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Laura Schrock and Allen’s Prospect Syndicate; owned by Trade Winds Farm (Tom and Connie D’Ambra); trained by Bruce C. Jackson.

Champion 2-year-old filly: Spectacular Malibu (gr./ro.f., Malibu Moon—Spectacular You, by Spectacular Bid). Bred by Charles H. Hadry and Constance H. Hadry; owned by Country Life Farm; trained by Michael J. Trombetta.

Champion 3-year-old male: Ah Day (b.g., Malibu Moon—Endette, by Thirty Eight Paces). Bred by K.T. Leatherbury Assoc., Inc.; owned by The Jim Stable (King T. Leatherbury); trained by King T. Leatherbury.

Champion 3-year-old filly: Livermore Valley (dk.b./br.f., Mt. Livermore—Secret Prospect, by Allen’s Prospect). Bred by Robert Hahn; owned by Conover Stable (Robert Hahn); trained by James T. Ryerson.

Champion older female: Promenade Girl (b.m., 2002, Carson City—Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony). Bred by Sondra and Howard M. Bender; owned by Sondra D. Bender; trained by Lawrence E. Murray.

Champion steeplechaser: Good Night Shirt (ch.g., 2001, Concern—Hot Story, by Two Punch). Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman; owned by Sonny and Ann Via; trained by Jack Fisher.