Dancing in Silks, winner of the 2009 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), has been named California champion sprinter and older male by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
Dancing in Silks, an Eclipse Award finalist for top sprinter, is a finalist for Cal-bred Horse of the Year, along with California Flag and The Usual Q. T. California Flag, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, was named California champion turf horse, and The Usual Q. T. , victorious in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT), was voted the state’s champion 3-year-old male.
Following is a listing of California’s 2009 champions:
2-Year-Old Female - Repo, bred by Ron Gomez, owned by J.Paul Reddam, trained by Doug O’Neill, sired by In Excess.
2-Year-Old Male - Caracortado, bred by Mike Machowsky, owned by Blahut Racing and Lo Hi Racing, trained by Mike Machowsky, sired by Cat Dreams.
3-Year-Old Female - Excessive Blend, bred by Williamson Racing, owned by Warren Williamson, trained by Carla Gaines, sired by In Excess.
3-Year-Old Male - The Usual Q. T., bred by Carlee Van Kempen, owned by Don Van Racing, Michael Nentwig, George Saadeh, et al, trained by James Cassidy, sired by Unusual Heat.
Older Male - Dancing in Silks, bred by Ronald Jex, owned by Ken Kinakin, trained by Carla Gaines, sired by Black Minnaloushe.
Turf Horse - California Flag, bred by Hi Card Ranch, owned by Hi Card Ranch, trained by Brian Koriner, sired by Avenue of Flags.
Older Female - Lethal Heat, bred by Madeline Auerbach, Barry Abrams, and Tom Roberts, owned by Madeline Auerbach, Barry Abrams, and Ron McCauley, trained by Barry Abrams, sired by Unusual Heat.
Sprinter - Dancing in Silks, Ronald Jex, owned by Ken Kinakin, trained by Carla Gaines, sired by Black Minnaloushe.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings - Unusual Heat, owned by Madeline Auerbach, Barry Abrams, and David Abrams.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings - Unusual Heat, owned by Madeline Auerbach, Barry Abrams, and David Abrams.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Two-Year-Olds by Earnings - Swiss Yodeler, owned by Heinz Steinmann.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Number of Winners - Benchmark, owned by Financial Services.
Champion Freshman Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings - Ministers Wild Cat , owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds.
Champion Breeders of California Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings - Tommy Town Thoroughbreds.
Trainer of the Year Award - Brian Koriner.
The CTBA champions will be honored at the organization’s annual meeting and awards dinner, to be held Feb. 22 at the Claremont Hotel Club and Spa in Berkeley. For reservations, contact Christy Chapman at 626-445-7800 ext: 247 or email at christy@ctba.com.
Also at the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Walter and champions Flying Continental and Hill Rise will be inducted into the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Hall of Fame.