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Flightline Connections Among Honorees at TOBA Awards

With Flightline  ‘s dominating performance in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) embedded in the minds of many in attendance at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association’s National Awards Dinner Sept. 9 in Lexington, his owners landed one of the coveted national awards.

In Saturday’s dinner held at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, just a few miles from where Flightline closed out his undefeated career with that 8 1/4-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, the Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year award was presented to his owners, which included Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. 

Bill Farish of Lane’s End and Woodford Racing accepted the award, noting that they never get tired of watching Flightline’s record-breaking wins in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pacific Classic (G1) as video of those races played during the night.

“This horse brought us even closer together,” Farish said. “It’s been a real honor to be associated with this horse.”

Godolphin was announced as the winner of the 2022 National Owner of the Year, and 2022 National Breeder of the Year. 

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Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation enjoyed another sterling year, saving a particularly memorable day in North America for late in the racing year. Godolphin set the record for the most Breeders’ Cup World Championships wins in a given year as an owner and as a breeder behind victories by homebreds Cody’s Wish  in the Dirt Mile (G1), Modern Games  in the Mile (G1T), Rebel’s Romance  in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), and Mischief Magic  in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T). 

In accepting the owner award, Gerry Duffy, stud manager at Godolphin’s Stonerside Farm, thanked the farm leadership that has helped carry out Sheikh Mohammed’s vision.

“It’s the whole team top to bottom,” Duffy said. “We’re a family and it’s all the men and women that show up every day and put their heart and soul into it. So thank you all very much.”

Eighteen Godolphin homebred runners won 29 North American stakes throughout the year, which included 23 graded stakes. Remarkably, 13 (57%) of those graded stakes victories came in grade 1 races.

In accepting the breeder award, Danny Mulvihill, manager of Godolphin’s Gainesborough Farm, accepted the owner award. He thanked Sheikh Mohammed for making it possible and noted the strength of the Godolphin team.

“It’s an absolute honor and privilege to accept this award on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed and the entire Godolphin team, the Godolphin family as I like to call it,” Mulvihill said. “Awards like this come down to the sheer dedication, the hard work of every single member of the staff that we’ve got, everyone that puts on that blue shirt.”

Jon Cozart presented Danny Mulvihill of Godolphin with the 2022 National Breeder of the Year at the TOBA Awards at Fasig-Tipton on , Saturday Sept. 9, 2023  in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Mahan Mahan Multimedia
Photo: Mark Mahan Photo

Danny Mulvihill of Godolphin accepts the 2022 National Breeder of the Year award from Jon Cozart at the TOBA Awards at Fasig-Tipton

Other finalists for the national owner award included Peter Brant, Hronis Racing, Klaravich Stables, and Winchell Thoroughbreds. Other finalists for the national breeder award included Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and Summer Wind Equine. 

Elizabeth M. Merryman, breeder of Pennsylvania-bred Caravel , who defeated males in winning the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), was announced as the winner of the National Small Breeder of the Year. 

“All the breeders know what it is to dream and work and try their best. You make the best that you can with the best that you can afford to breed to. You hope for the best and take the best care of those babies from the day they hit the ground to the day they hopefully reach the starting gate because they try hard not to,” Merryman said with a laugh. “I feel like I’ve gotten so lucky with Caravel and she’s taken me to places that I never imagined going and I just couldn’t be happier to be here or more honored to be here.”

Frank Angst presented Elizabeth M. Merryman the 2022 National Small Breeder of the Year at the TOBA Awards at Fasig-Tipton on , Saturday Sept. 9, 2023  in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Mahan Mahan Multimedia
Photo: Mark Mahan Photo

Elizabeth M. Merryman accepts the 2022 National Small Breeder of the Year award from BloodHorse editorial director Frank Angst at the TOBA Awards at Fasig-Tipton

Dreaming of Julia , owned by Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Farm, was named National Broodmare of the Year. Dreaming of Julia is the dam of two-time Eclipse Award winner Malathaat  as well as grade 2 winner, grade 1-placed Julia Shining  from her first two starters. 

“She was the first foal out of our foundation mare Dream Rush and I named her for my beautiful daughter Juliana,” said Stonestreet’s Barbara Banke. “And she has been a joy ever since; every fall is something to look forward to. And she’ll continue, hopefully, to produce great stakes winners from from now on. 

The Robert N. Clay Award, presented by Equine Land Conservation Resource, was awarded to Greg Goodman, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use. One night earlier Goodman’s Mt. Brilliant Farm had hosted the annual Bluegrass International Cup, which showcases polo and raises money for the Fayette Alliance Foundation and the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Foundation.

The Fayette Alliance, co-founded by Goodman, is dedicated to smart, sustainable, and equitable growth in Lexington-Fayette County through land-use advocacy, education, and research. It aims to build ties between Lexington and the Bluegrass farm community through advocacy at City Hall and with local decision makers and community education.

“It’s an honor to be in great company of the previous winners of this award, key figures in protecting the farm industry,” Goodman said. “I’m proud of the work the Fayette Alliance has done.”

Old Friends founder Michael Blowen was honored with the J. David Richardson Industry Service Award. Launched in 2003, Old Friends has grown from the original farm near Georgetown, Ky., that provides a home to Thoroughbreds retired from racing and breeding—including many of the sport’s biggest stars—to housing more than 200 horses in multiple states and even Japan.

“It’s such an honor. I’m flabbergasted that Old Friends now has its name attached with David,” Blowen said. “He loved the sport—everything about it. He worked on trying to solve racing’s problems. That’s one of the bonds we all have.” 

Invaluable  was honored as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA. Claimed for $32,000 at Saratoga Race Course in the summer of 2022 by trainer Mike Maker for owner Peter Proscia of Paradise Farms, the mare splashed her way to victory on a sloppy track in the $109,850 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper—a one-mile race for fillies and mares who had run for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2021-22.

“She was a nice, balanced filly—looked sound. She was consistent,” said Maker, a 21-time Claiming Crown winner. “She was running at Saratoga. If you run well up here (at Saratoga), you have to like your chances for the Claiming Crown.”

The Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year went to Satins Angel (Queen Satin). In 2022 Satins Angel and rider Alexa Lee of Columbus, Ohio. In 2022 the pair won the Rood & Riddle Jumping Open Horse of the Year Award, earned Champion Junior Amateur at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, won the Ohio Hunter Jumper Association Junior-Amateur/Owner Jumper, were the United States Equestrian Federation Reserve Horse of the Year for Low Adult Amateur Jumpers (Zone 5), and won the Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championship for the High Central Division.

Well-traveled during her racing career, Satins Angel has found a home as a sport horse.

“We put everything together with teamwork, and she learned she could trust me and I would do right by her,” Lee said.

TOBA president Dan Metzger celebrated with all of the winners.

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the TOBA national and state awards,” Metzger said. “We were honored to recognize the outstanding achievements of all of tonight’s winners and finalists, including the amazing success of Godolphin as both National Owner and Breeder of the Year.”

On Friday the National Awards Luncheon was held at WinStar Farm, where state and Canadian breeders of the year for 2022 were honored. Those award winners include:

• Arizona Breeder of the Year, Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC (Marvin and Gerald Fleming)

• Arkansas Breeder of the Year, Shortleaf Stable (John E. Anthony)

• California Breeder of the Year, Nick Alexander

• Canada Breeder of the Year, Adena Springs (Frank and Elfriede Stronach)

• Canada Small Breeder of the Year, Flying Horse Farm (Russell and Lois Bennett)

• Florida Breeder of the Year, Arindel Farm (Alan and Brian Cohen)

• Indiana Breeder of the Year, Justice Farms (Greg Justice)

• Iowa Breeder of the Year, Poindexter Thoroughbreds (Allen Poindexter)

• Kentucky Breeder of the Year, Godolphin

• Louisiana Breeder of the Year, Allied Racing Stables (Chester Thomas)

• Maryland Breeder of the Year, Dance Forth Farm (Tom and Chris Bowman)

• Minnesota Breeder of the Year, Lothenbach Stables (Robert Lothenbach)

• New Jersey Breeder of the Year, Bright View Farm (Christine Connelly)

• New Mexico Breeder of the Year, Bar Y Equine (Robert M. and DelRae Driggers)

• New York Breeder of the Year, Chestertown Farm (Chester and Mary Broman)

• North Carolina Breeder of the Year, Rockhouse Farm (Nancy Shuford)

• Oregon Breeder of the Year, Lisa Baze

• Pennsylvania Breeder of the Year, Elizabeth M. Merryman

• South Carolina Breeder of the Year, Franklin G. Smith Sr.

• Texas Breeder of the Year, Windy Hill (Ronald and Margaret Ellerbee)

• Virginia Breeder of the Year, South Gate Farm (Amy Moore)

• Washington Breeder of the Year, John E. Parker

TOBA National Awards sponsors included Jackson Family Wines, FanDuel, WinStar Farm, BloodHorse and The Jockey Club, Castle & Key Distillery, NTRA/John Deere/Equine Discounts, Big Ass Fans, Daily Racing Form, Darley, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Fasig-Tipton, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and White Birch Farm, Inc.

TOBA, based in Lexington, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders. A co-owner of BloodHorse, TOBA’s mission is to improve the economics, integrity, and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders.

Eric Mitchell, Byron King, Evan Hammonds, and Lauren Gash contributed to this story.

 

 

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