The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association will hold its annual Awards Dinner and annual meeting March 12 at Le Méridien Hotel in Arcadia, Calif. The event will announce the 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year and recognize the year’s other champions.
Finalists for Horse of the Year in alphabetical order are 2023 Cotillion Stakes (G1) and Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) winner Ceiling Crusher ; dual surface stakes winner Kings River Knight ; and, 2023 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) victor and six-time stakes winner The Chosen Vron .
Other Cal-bred champions to be recognized at the banquet:
- Champion California-bred 2-year-old male—Yo Yo Candy , bred by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, owned by Happy Tenth Stable and trained by Daniel Velazquez.
- Champion California-bred 2-year-old female—Grand Slam Smile , bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and trained by Steven Specht.
- Champion California-bred 3-year-old male—One in Vermillion , bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, owned by Jonathan Kalman, trained by Esteban Martinez.
- Champion California-bred 3-year-old female—Ceiling Crusher, bred by Harris Farms, owned by Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff, and Ty Leatherman, trained by Doug O’Neill.
- Champion California-bred older male—The Chosen Vron, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, Sondereker Racing, and Richard Thornburgh, trained by Eric Kruljac.
- Champion California-bred older female—Closing Remarks , bred by owner Harris Farms, trained by Carla Gaines.
- Champion California-bred sprinter—The Chosen Vron, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, Sondereker Racing, and Richard Thornburgh, trained by Eric Kruljac.
- Champion California-bred Turf Horse—Closing Remarks, bred by owner Harris Farms, trained by Carla Gaines.
- Champion sire of California-conceived foals by earnings—Grazen , property of Nick Alexander.
- Champion sire of California-conceived foals by number of winners—Stay Thirsty , property of Terry Lovingier.
- Champion sire of California-conceived foals by turf earnings—Grazen, property of Nick Alexander.
- Champion sire of California-conceived 2-year-olds by earnings—Stay Thirsty, property of Terry Lovingier.
- Trainer of the year—Eric Kruljac.
- Broodmare of the Year—Lutess, owned by Connie & Mike Pageler.
- Champion breeder of California-foaled Thoroughbreds by earnings—Richard Barton Enterprises.
- CTBA Hall of Fame inductees—Russell Drake, Clay Murdock, Soviet Problem, Tribal Rule.
For ticket information for the awards dinner and annual meeting, visit the CTBA website or contact Christy Chapman at [email protected].
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
