Gainesway Farm’s Spendarella was crowned 2022 New York-bred Horse of the Year as well as champion 3-year-old filly and champion female turf horse at the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ annual awards ceremony at Saratoga National Golf Course May 8.
Bred by the Kentucky-based Gainesway and foaled at Sequel New York near Hudson, Spendarella won four of five starts in 2022, which was her first year at the races. She started in February with a maiden victory at Gulfstream Park, added the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) in March, then went another step forward with a victory in Keeneland’s Appalachian Stakes (G2T) in April. The Appalachian triumph earned her a trip to England for the Coronation Stakes (G1) at the Royal Ascot meeting in June. Against some of the world’s best 3-year-old turf fillies, the daughter of Gainesway’s Karakontie finished second of 12 runners. She returned to the United States and in her next start won the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) in August.
Spendarella wins the 2022 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland
Navigated by trainer Graham Motion, the campaign produced $596,459 in earnings and the New York championships.
“It’s amazing having homebreds perform so well,” said Gainesway owner Antony Beck. “She’s a machine, an incredibly athletic, very well-balanced filly with an amazing hind leg. She has superb action and power and seems to be extremely intelligent and likes to win. That’s what you want.”
In her 2023 debut, Spendarella finished second in the Distaff Turf Mile (G2T) on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard at Churchill Downs May 6.
The 2022 New York-bred Horse of the Year and divisional champions were chosen by a vote of New York turf writers, handicappers, photographers, and television and radio hosts and analysts conducted by the NYTB. A commemorative awards magazine, written and produced by ST Publishing (the team behind The Saratoga Special and thisishorseracing.com), was distributed at the awards dinner and is available online.
Spendarella’s success also earned her dam, Spanish Bunny , the honor of New York Broodmare of the Year. The 17-year-old foaled a full brother to Spendarella in late April. The daughter of Unusual Heat was sent to Sequel New York to be bred to Destin , a stallion co-owned by Gainesway, and foaled New York-breds Spendarella in 2019 and a Destin filly named Spanish Destiny in 2020.
“We were supporting Destin’s early stallion career, that’s how Spendarella became a New York-bred,” Beck said. “New York is an important market and state for racing, and we’re very excited to have horses on the farm who performed well in New York.”
“On behalf of New York Thoroughbred Breeders and our board of directors, it’s a privilege to honor each of the 2022 New York-bred divisional champions and their connections,” said NYTB executive director Najja Thompson. “Everyone who participates in the New York-bred program should feel proud of the accomplishments each of our nominees and award winners have garnered in the past year. Showcasing the depth and quality of the New York-bred program nationally and worldwide.”
The New York-bred champions for 2022:
- Horse of the Year, champion 3-year-old filly, champion female turf horse: Spendarella
- 2-year-old filly: Les Bon Temps —Laoban x Winsanity
- Breeder: Southern Equine Stable. Owner: Deuce Greathouse, Cindy Hutson, Brett Setzer. Trainer: Mike Maker and Norm Casse
- 2-year-old male: Acoustic Ave —Maclean’s Music x Rock Ave. Road
- Breeder: Chester and Mary Broman. Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. Trainer: Christophe Clement
- 3-year-old male: Rotknee —Runhappy x In Spite Of Mama
- Breeder/owner: William “Buck” Butler. Trainer: Mike Maker
- Older dirt female and female sprinter: Bank Sting —Central Banker x Bee In A Bonnet
- Breeder: McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. Owner: Hidden Brook Farm and Joe and Anne McMahon. Trainer: John Terranova
- Older dirt male: Americanrevolution —Constitution x Polly Freeze
- Breeder: Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding. Owner: CHC and WinStar Farm. Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Male sprinter: Wudda U Think Now —Fast Anna x Unbridled Grace
- Breeder: Mina Equivest. Owner: The Elkstone Group. Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
- Male turf horse: City Man —Mucho Macho Man x City Scamper
- Breeder: Moonstar Farm. Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles. Trainer: Christophe Clement
- Steeplechase horse: Down Royal —Alphabet Soup x Miss Crown
- Breeder: Bernie and Katie Dalton. Owner: Joe Fowler and Kate Dalton. Trainer: Kate Dalton
- Broodmare of the Year: Spanish Bunny
- Breeder of the Year: Chester and Mary Broman
- Trainer of the Year: Christophe Clement
- Jockey of the Year: Manny Franco
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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