Saint Liam Named Kentucky's Horse of the Year

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders has named Saint Liam as the state-bred Horse of the Year and Baby Zip as Broodmare of the Year. The organization honored those two and other 2005 winners at its awards banquet April 27 at Keeneland.

Saint Liam, who also was named state-bred champion older male, won 2005 Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and best older male by virtue of four grade I wins, including the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I). He is standing his first year at stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.

Baby Zip is the dam of 2004 Horse of the Year and champion older male Ghostzapper and earlier grade I winner City Zip  . Ghostzapper, who won the 2004 Classic, stands at stud Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Kentucky near Midway, and City Zip stands at Lane's End.

"What can I say? I would like to specialize in having the broodmare of the year every year," Stronach said during an April 27 awards luncheon at Keeneland in Lexington. "It's our second one, so I think I have some clue."

Stronach credited his son, Andy, for urging him to purchase Baby Zip as well as Primal Force, the dam of Awesome Again  . He also thanked adviser Dan Hall, the former manager of Adena Springs.

"As you know, we're expanding our operations in Kentucky, which is a sign it's a great place to raise horses," Stronach said.

Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps received the P.A.B. Widener Award Trophy for 2005, which is the KTOB's highest award bestowed for breeding. A third-generation horseman, Phipps bred and raced 2005 Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old filly Smuggler.

The complete list of champion Kentucky-breds of 2005 follows: Horse of the Year and older male, Saint Liam, bred by Edward P. Evans; 2 year-old-filly, Folklore, bred by Robert and Beverly Lewis; 2 year-old male, Stevie Wonderboy, bred by John Gunther, Tony Holmes, and Dr. Walter Zent; 3 year-old-filly, Smuggler, bred by Phipps; 3 year-old male, Flower Alley, bred by George Brunacini; female turf runner, Honey Ryder, bred by Diane Perkins; male turf runner, Artie Schiller, bred by Haras du Mezeray SA; sprinter, Silver Train, bred by Joe Mulholland Sr. and Jr. and John Mulholland; older female, Ashado, bred by Aaron and Marie Jones; steeplechase runner, McDynamo, bred by Nathan Fox, Richard Fox, and Richard Kaster; overseas runner, Divine Proportions, bred by Flaxman Holdings.

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Award also honored A.P. Indy (who stands at Lane's End) as leading sire; Folklore (owned by the Lewises) as leading earner; Robert Holthus as trainer, and Brereton C. Jones as breeder.

Charlsie Cantey received the Charles W. Englehard Award, which is given to a member of the media in recognition of his/her outstanding service to the Thoroughbred industry.

Josephine Abercrombie, owner of Pin Oak Stud, was selected as the 2005 hardboot breeder. "It's a wonderful honor," she said. "I feel so lucky to be able to live in this beautiful Bluegrass (region). It's the answer to everything."