The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, January 16, 2008 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Horses were selected for the ballot in their specific category by meeting one or more of the following requirements for the year:
\n1. Earned a Grade 1 open stakes win.
\n2. Ranked among top year-end money earners as described below in each sex and age category.
\n\u00b7 Top-10 2-year-old colts
\n\u00b7 Top-10 2-year-old fillies
\n\u00b7 Top-10 2-year-old geldings
\n\u00b7 Top-six 3-year-old colts
\n\u00b7 Top-six 3-year-old fillies
\n\u00b7 Top-six 3-year-old geldings
\n\u00b7 Top-five aged stallions
\n\u00b7 Top-five aged mares
\n\u00b7 Top-five aged geldings
\n\u00b7 Top-five distance horses
\n3. Chosen as a nominee by a member of the racing committee
\nThe 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.)
\nOutstanding 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.
\nA 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.<\/p>\n
World Champion, Champion 3-Year-Old, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly \u2013 Blues Girl Too (24)<\/strong> Champion 3-Year-Old Colt \u2013 FDD Dynasty (23)<\/strong> Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding \u2013 Little Bit Of Baja (18)<\/strong> Champion 2-Year-Old Colt \u2013 Carters Cartel (23)<\/strong> Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding \u2013 Illegal Memories (20)<\/strong> Champion 2-Year-Old Voting: Champion Aged Mare \u2013 Blazin Fire (First Vote: 10; Run-Off Vote: 12)<\/strong> Champion Aged Gelding \u2013 Strawkins (16)<\/strong> Aged Champion Voting: Champion Broodmare \u2013 Run The Dash (First Vote: 9; Run-Off Vote: 13)<\/strong> Canadian Champion \u2013 First Kool Money (First Vote: 10; Run-Off Vote: 12; Racing Council Tie-Breaker Vote: 1)<\/strong> Mexican Champion \u2013 Raise Chicks (22)<\/strong> Champion Owner \u2013 Keilani Farms (15)<\/strong> Champion Breeder \u2013 MLA International Company (16)<\/strong> Champion Jockey \u2013 G.R. Carter Jr. (20)<\/strong> The champions also will be recognized in March at AQHA\u2019s Annual Convention in San Francisco. The owner of the World Champion will receive a three-horse gooseneck Sooner trailer, AQHA\u2019s official trailer.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
\nOwner\/Breeder: Lucky Seven Ranch
\nTrainer: Joe \u201cBear\u201d Bassett
\nJockey: Saul Ramirez
\nSire: Corona Cartel
\nDam: Run The Dash by Sixarun
\n2007 Record: 6-3(3)-2-0
\n2007 Earnings: $817,662<\/p>\n
\nOwner: Billy Smith, Pat Guthrie, Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
\nBreeder: Vessels Stallion Farm\/ Fakri FM LP
\nTrainer: Michael W. Joiner
\nJockeys: G.R. Carter Jr. (2), Sam Thompson (2)
\nSire: First Down Dash
\nDam: Dinastia Toll BRZ by Tolltac
\n2007 Record: 4-3(2)-0-1(1)
\n2007 Earnings: $227,775
\nOthers receiving votes: Valiant Hero (1)<\/p>\n
\nOwner: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and Los Bustardos
\nBreeder: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
\nTrainers: John Bassett (7) and Adan Farias (3)
\nJockeys: Sam Thompson (4), Saul Ramirez (3), Ramon Sanchez (2) and Rodrigo Aceves (1)
\nSire: First Down Dash
\nDam: BCR Pale Moon by Kingdom Key
\n2007 Record: 10-3(1)-2(1)-1
\n2007 Earnings: $540,411
\nOthers receiving votes: Separate Bet (5), Dont Let Down (1)
\n Champion 3-Year-Old Voting:
\nBlues Girl Too (24)
\nWorld Champion Racing American Quarter Horse Voting:
\nBlues Girl Too (24)
\nChampion 2-Year-Old, Champion 2-Year-Old Filly \u2013 Heartswideopen (22)<\/strong>
\nOwner: La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC
\nBreeder: Kirk Goodfellow
\nTrainer: Carl Draper
\nJockey: Oscar Hernandez
\nSire: Feature Mr Jess
\nDam: Dashing Phoebe by Dash For Cash
\n2007 Record: 7-6(2)-0-0
\n2007 Earnings: $1,282,690
\nOthers receiving votes: Eye For Corona (2)<\/p>\n
\nOwner\/Breeder: Double Bar S Ranch LLC
\nTrainer: Jaime Gomez
\nJockeys: Alejandro Luna (6) and J.R. Ramirez (3)
\nSire: Corona Cartel
\nDam: Jumping Tac Flash by Tolltac
\n2007 Record: 9-6(2)-1-1
\n2007 Earnings: $654,771
\nOthers receiving votes: One Famous Eagle (1)<\/p>\n
\nOwner: Tim Lange and Charlie Forbes
\nBreeder: Fletcher Huskey
\nTrainers: Doug McMullen (6) and Johnie Goodman (3)
\nJockeys: Roy Baldillez (4), James Brooks (2), Randy Edison (1), Jeff Jermain (1), Ray Mayo (1)
\nSire: Illegal Runaway
\nDam: Good Ole Memories by Leaving Memories
\n2007 Record: 9-4(1)-3(1)-0
\n2007 Earnings: $577,916
\nOthers receiving votes: Magic Show Czech (3), Senor Seabolt (1)<\/p>\n
\nHeartswideopen (22)
\nEye For Corona (2)
\nChampion Aged Horse, Champion Aged Stallion \u2013 Ketel Won (24)
\n<\/strong> Owner\/Breeder: R.D. Hubbard
\nTrainer: Paul C. Jones
\nJockeys: Freddie Martinez (5) and Saul Ramirez (1)
\nSire: Stoli
\nDam: Sixy Lady by Streakin Six
\n2007 Record: 6-4(4)-1(1)-1(1)
\n2007 Earnings: $370,900<\/p>\n
\nOwner\/Breeder: Dan and Lisa McMahon
\nTrainer: Paul C. Jones
\nJockey: Cody Jensen
\nSire: This Snow Is Royal
\nDam: Blazin Sin by Easy Crimson
\n2007 Record: 6-4(3)-0-0
\n2007 Earnings: $114,812
\nOthers receiving votes: Strength In Numbers (First Vote: 10; Run-Off Vote: 11), Bullions N Garters (2), Five Bar Molly (1), Abstain (1)<\/p>\n
\nOwner\/Breeder: Donald and Peggy Boyle
\nTrainer: Paul C. Jones
\nJockey: Freddie Martinez
\nSire: Hawkinson
\nDam: Shirleys Strawfly by Strawfly Special
\n2007 Record: 4-2(2)-0-0
\n2007 Earnings: $268,325
\nOthers receiving votes: Gotta Get (3), Mr Chivato To You (3), Snowbound Superstar (1), Angelas Toast (1)<\/p>\n
\nKetel Won (22)
\nBullions N Garters (2)
\nChampion Distance Horse \u2013 Snowbound Superstar (23)<\/strong>
\nOwner: Tom and Brenda Brinkley
\nBreeder: Robert F. Pulse
\nTrainer: Paul C. Jones
\nJockey: Cody Jensen
\nSire: Snowbound (TB)
\nDam: Shania Cash by Oh My Gee Whiz
\n2007 Record: 4-4(3)-0-0
\n2007 Earnings: $73,984
\nOthers receiving votes: First To Ramble (1)<\/p>\n
\nOwner: Lucky Seven Ranch
\nBreeder: Jack W. Evans Jr.
\nSire: Sixarun
\nDam: Dashin Rosie by Dash For Cash
\nFoals Racing in 2007: Blues Girl Too $817,662
\nOthers receiving votes: Country Zevi (First Vote: 9; Run-Off Vote: 11), Jumping Tac Flash (2), Dashing Phoebe (2), Runaway Wave (2)<\/p>\n
\nOwner\/Breeder: William \u201cBill\u201d Taggart
\nTrainer: Don Reid
\nJockeys: Kim Ito (8) and John Cutajar (1)
\nSire: First Smart Money
\nDam: Kool Kinda Star by Star Fire Dash
\n2007 Record: 9-6(2)-2(1)-1(1)
\n2007 Earnings: $95,305
\nOthers receiving votes: Pow Wow Lane (First Vote: 9; Run-Off Vote: 12), Six Pack Of Corona (4), Its All About Speed (1)<\/p>\n
\nOwner\/Breeder: Anselmo Aguilar
\nTrainer: Alfred Martinez
\nJockeys: J.T. Diaz (3), J. Rugerio (2) and Jose Santos (2)
\nSire: Chicks Beduino Jr
\nDam: Raise A Chance by Raise Your Glass (TB)
\n2007 Record: 7-6(3)-0-0
\n2007 Earnings: $114,926
\nOthers receiving votes: Fanatica (1), Simply Jackpot (1)<\/p>\n
\n2007 Record: 39-11(2)-10(3)-2(1)
\n2007 Earnings: $1,316,577
\nOthers receiving votes: Edward C. Allred (4), Lucky Seven Ranch (3), Double Bar S Ranch LLC (1), Javier Rodriguez (1)<\/p>\n
\n2007 Record: 91-23(5)-15(5)-11(0)
\n2007 Earnings: $1,773,152
\nOthers receiving votes: Edward C. Allred (3), Vessels Stallion Farm LLC (5)
\nChampion Trainer \u2013 Paul C. Jones (24)
\n2007 Record: 1,276-250(41)-219(27)-166(26)
\n2007 Earnings: $6,528,188 (Jones broke his previous record for trainer earnings.)<\/p>\n
\n2007 Record: 712-147(23)-107(9)-102(12)
\n2007 Earnings: $3,357,686
\nOthers receiving votes: Freddie L. Martinez (3), Alfonso Lujan (1)<\/p>\n