STRYKER PHD Palmer Photography

  After a sensational racing season at Emerald Downs where he was unbeaten in a trio of stakes, including the 79th running of the Longacres Mile (G3), as well as two stakes placings on the always tough California circuit, Mona and Jim Hour's Stryker Phd was a popular choice for both older handicap and Xpressbet Horse of the Year honors. The now six-year-old gelding, his owners, breeders - Char Clark and Todd Havens - and his trainers, Larry and Sharon Ross, were warmly applauded by the crowd of over 200 in attendance for the Washington Thoroughbred Annual Awards ceremony held at Emerald Downs the evening of February 28. The Hours were also lauded as the NTRA Leading Owner by Washington-bred earnings in 2014, all due to Stryker Phd's 2014 tally of $192,900.

  Kama'aina Thoroughbreds' (Zack and Beth Correa) Madame Pele, a year younger half-sister to Stryker Phd, earned her second state championship title when the now five-year-old daughter of Salt Lake was named Brewer Law Office Champion Older Filly or Mare in Memory of Marva Jean. She hails from Washington Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jim Penney's barn.

  The two multiple champions are the first two foals out of 2014 Washington broodmare of the year Striking Scholar.

  For the third year in a row, Karl Krieg's homebred Absolutely Cool earned a year- end title. After being named the Evergreen State's champion older horse in 2012, for the past two years the son of Absolute Harmony has been awarded top sprinter honors. Just two weeks ago, the now eight-year-old gelding gave Krieg a Valentine's Day present when he took the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise.

  Krieg also bred and races 2014 Washington champion turf horse Lady Rosberg and the now-five year-old daughter of Rosberg gave him another stakes victory on February 14 card in the Arizona track's Sun City Handicap. Both Krieg runners are trained by Valorie Lund.

  Last Rose Stables' Noosito became the third Washington champion from the pairing of Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, after a season which saw the then three-year-old win three Emerald Downs stakes and place in two other black-type races in five starts.

  Champion sophomore filly honors went to Find Your Spot, a filly from the first crop of 2013 Washington leading freshman sire Nationhood. Raced by Jack Fabulich and Paul Heist's Where We At Stable and trained by Penney, Find Your Spot, who was bred by 2014 Washington leading breeders Rick and Debbie Pabst, won the Irish Day Handicap at Emerald and an allowance/$80,000 optional claimer at Santa Anita Park last year.

  It proved to be a memorable evening for the Pabsts, who own and operate Blue Ribbon Farm in Buckley. In addition to earning leading breeder honors and producing Find Your Spot - their sixth state champion - the Pabsts were honored with the S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award, the Washington industry's highest achievement. In the 35 years since the award's inception, the Pabsts become only the 18th honorees of this prestigious recognition.

  Two-year-old filly honors went to Todd and Shawn Hansen's unbeaten homebred Ethan's Baby, who was named in honor of their young son Ethan. The Hansens also stepped up to the podium to receive Griffin Place Broodmare of the Year honors for Striking Scholar, who they had purchased at the 2013 WTBOA Summer Yearlong and Mixed Sale.

  R.E.V. Racing's speedy Trackattacker, who won four of his five starts - including three Emerald Downs stakes - by wide margins was an easy choice as Freight NW Champion Two-year-old Colt or Gelding. The son of Harbor the Gold was bred by Dr. Duane and Susan Hopp, who also bred Washington plater of the year Touch the Son.

  Most improved plater accolades went to Dare Me Devil, who was bred by Andria Mengucci.

  The first title of Washington-bred OTTB (Off Track Thoroughbred) of the year went to Mathematician, a 2004 gelding by Petersburg who earned 231 points through The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program while ridden in dressage by his teenage owner Keaton Hoy, of Beaverton, Oregon.

  For the fourth consecutive year offspring of Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat earned him the El Dorado Farms Leading Washington Sire title. It was announced earlier this week that his leading earner, Ben's Cat, had earned his fourth consecutive Maryland horse of the year title and record 14th state title overall.

  The Thoroughbred Charities of America, in honor of their 25tth anniversary, presented The Prodigious Fund with the TCA Award of Merit.

  The evening, which also featured lively live and silent auctions and a popular raffle, also saw the Mark Kaufman Media Award awarded to Marc Rosen, Executive Sports Producer for Q13 FOX TV.

  Special Racetrack Achievement Awards were presented to popular and successful Emerald Downs trainers Mary Pirone and Monique Snowden.

  Retiring Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett's longtime industry contributions were acknowledged with a 2014 Special Achievement Award.

  The WHBPA Willing Heart Award went to Thelma Lynn who retired last year as a steward for the Washington Horse Racing Commission and who was instrumental in establishing the Backstretch Clubhouse Daycare Center at Emerald Downs, which was the first on-site daycare center at a racetrack in the nation.

  Industry favorites Joe and Sally Steiner were enthusiastically applauded as the winners of the 2014 WTBOA/WHBPA Special Recognition Award. The couple's "presence, kindness and thoughtful deeds, as well as great food, have made the Quarter Chute Café at Emerald Downs a beloved landmark since the track's inception."

Listed brlow are all the individuals and horses that were honored:

WASHINGTON CHAMPIONS & AWARD WINNERS OF 2014  

Xpressbet 2014 Washington Horse of the Year & Champion Older Horse

STRYKER PHD

(5YO, G., Bertrando-Striking Scholar, by Smart Strike)

Owners: Mona & Jim Hour

Breeders: Char Clark Thoroughbreds & Todd Havens (Western Stables)

Trainer: Larry D. Ross

2014 Record      5      3      1         1      $192,900

Stakes: Longacres Mile H.-G3 (EmD), Budweiser H. (EmD), Mt. Rainier H. (EmD),

2nd Big Bear S. (SA), 3rd Berkeley H.-G3 (GG).

WTBOA Sales Graduate

Brewer Law Office 2014 Washington Champion Older Filly or Mare
in Memory of Marva Jean

MADAME PELE

(4YO, Salt Lake-Striking Scholar, by Smart Strike)

Owner: Kama'aina Thoroughbreds (Zack & Beth Correa)

Breeder: Char Clark Thoroughbreds

Trainers: Jim Penney & Mike Anderson

2014 Record      10      3      1      0      $77,135

Stakes: Mesa H. (TuP), Pegasus Training Center S. (R) (EmD),
2nd Hastings S. (EmD).

WTBOA Sales Graduate

2014 Washington Champion Sprinter

ABSOLUTELY COOL

(7YO, G., Absolute Harmony-Coup de Foudre, by Basket Weave)

Owner & Breeder: Karl C. Krieg (KD Thoroughbreds)

Trainers: Valorie Lund & Tom Wenzel

2014 Sprint Record      7      1      2      2      $70,745

Stakes: Phoenix Gold Cup H. (TuP), 2nd Swift S. (TuP),

3rd Governor's H. (EmD), Caballos Del Sol S. (TuP), Bienvenidos S. (TuP).

2014 Washington Champion Turf Horse

LADY ROSBERG

(4YO, F., Rosberg-Enter Laughing, by Distorted Humor)

Owner & Breeder: Karl C. Krieg (KD Thoroughbreds)

Trainer: Valorie Lund

2014 Turf Record      2      1      1      0      $24,025

Stakes: Queen of the Green S. (TuP).

2014 Washington Champion Three-Year-Old &
Champion Three-Year-Colt or Gelding

NOOSITO

(C., Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave)

Owner: Last Rose Stable (Jeff Harwood, Pat & Mullan Chinn, Delores Christianson,

Duane Weber, Terry Tonasket, Michael Pollowitz & Jeff Wilson)

Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson)

Trainer: Doris Harwood

2014 Record      5      3      1      1      $105,525

Stakes: Auburn H. (EmD), Seattle Slew H. (EmD), Chinook Pass H. (R) (EmD),

2nd Coca-Cola H. (EmD), 3rd Emerald Downs Derby (EmD).

WTBOA Sales Graduate

2014 Washington Champion Three-Year-Old Filly 

FIND YOUR SPOT

(Nationhood-Sudden Departure, by Demons Begone)

Owner: Where We At (Paul Heist & Jack Fabulich)

Breeders: Mr. & Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst (Blue Ribbon Farm)

Trainer: Jim Penney

2014 Record      6      4      0      1      $88,685

Stakes: Irish Day H. (EmD).

WTBOA Sales Graduate

Freight NW 2014 Washington Two-Year-Old Champion &
Champion Colt or Gelding

TRACKATTACKER

(G., Harbor the Gold-Eclatante, by In Excess [Ire])

Owner: R. E. V. Racing (Roy & Ellie Schaefer)

Breeders: Dr. & Mrs. Duane Hopp (Castlegate Farm)

Trainer: Frank Lucarelli

2014 Record      5      4      0      0      $86,343

Stakes: WTBOA Lads S. (EmD), Emerald Express S. (EmD),

Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge S. (R) (EmD).

2014 Washington Two-Year-Old Champion Filly

ETHAN'S BABY

(Offlee Wild-Hope and Vow, by Broken Vow)

Owners & Breeders: Shawn & Todd Hansen (Scatter Creek Training Center)

Trainer: Howard Belvoir

2014 Record      2      2      0      0      $37,043

Stakes: Angie C. S. (EmD).

2014 Washington Plater of the Year
 TOUCH THE SUN

(1997, G., Bertrando-Sweethrtofsigmachi, by General Meeting).
Owners: Charles Garvey & TG Racing LLC; Breeders: Dr. Duane & Susan Hopp; Trainer, Robertino Diodoro. 2014 Record: 15 7-2-3, $43,806

2014 Most Improved Washington Plater
 DARE ME DEVIL

(1998, G., Devil On Ice-She Can Too, by Western Fame).
Owner: Sunset Racing; Breeder: Andria I. Mengucci; Trainer: Jeffrey Metz.
2014 Record: 11 4-1-1, $53,801

El Dorado Farms 2014 Leading Sire
PARKER'S STORM CAT

(2000, Storm Cat-Macoumba, by Mr. Prospector)

Property of Mr. & Mrs. Elwin F. Gibson; Standing at Gibson Thoroughbred Farm

2014 Progeny Earnings of $840,520

Griffin Place 2014 Broodmare of the Year
STRIKING SCHOLAR

(2004, Smart Strike-Degree, by Vanlandingham) Owned by Todd and Shawn Hansen. 3 named foals, 2 starters, both winners, 2 Washington champions STRYKER PHD, Horse of the Year (2014), champion handicap horse twice (2013, 2014) and MADAME PELE, champion 3-year-old filly (2013) and older mare (2014). Total earnings: $471,673.

2014 Top Washington-bred OTTB
MATHEMATICIAN

(2004, gelding, Petersburg-Fibonacci, by Mahogany Hall)
Owner & Rider: Keaton Hoy. With 231 points recorded through The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Performance Awards.

2014 Leading Breeder by Washington-bred Money Won

MR. & MRS. FREDERICK L. PABST (Blue Ribbon Farm)

Awarded on the Basis of Total 2014 Washington-bred Earnings of $383,107

NTRA 2014 Leading Owner by Washington-bred Money Won

MONA & JIM HOUR

Awarded on the Basis of Total 2014 Washington-bred Earnings of $192,900

Other 2014 Awards:

Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit
THE PRODIGIOUS FUND

Presented in honor of the TCA's 25th anniversary and in recognition of the individual, organization or group that works to uphold the TCA mission of providing a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing career, by supporting rescue, retirement and research and by helping the people who work with them.

S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award
MR. & MRS. FREDERICK L. PABST (Blue Ribbon Farm)
 For their countless contributions for over 40 years, from breeding to racing, service to the Washington Thoroughbred community and WTBOA, commitment to youth and education and love of the Thoroughbred.

Mark Kaufman Media Award
 MARC ROSEN, Executive Sports Producer for Q13 FOX TV.
 For excellence in continuing coverage of Thoroughbred racing in the State of Washington.

Special Racetrack Achievement Awards
 MARY PIRONE
 Who enjoyed her finest season at Emerald Downs, recording career highs in wins & earnings & also had her first career stakes win with 2-year-old Seattles Best Copy in the Northwest Farms Stakes;

MONIQUE SNOWDEN
 Who compiled a 7-5-4 record from 25 starts at Emerald Downs for 28% wins & 64% in the money, which included 2 stakes placements & was led by the stakes return of Disruption 2014.

2014 Special Achievement Award
RON CROCKETT
 For his steadfast commitment to keep Thoroughbred racing alive and vibrant in Washington through his leadership, as well as maintaining Emerald Downs as a significant member of the local sport and entertainment community for the last two decades.

WHBPA Willing Heart Award
THELMA LYNN
 In recognition of a lifetime of selfless dedication to the children and families of Washington Thoroughbred racing's backstretch community. 

WHBPA/WTBOA Special Recognition Award
JOE and SALLY STEINER
 Whose presence, kindness and thoughtful deeds, as well as great food,
have made the Quarter Chute Cafe at Emerald Downs a beloved landmark
since the track's inception.

Other 2014 Accomplishments:

Highest Priced WTBOA-sold Yearling Filly in 2014

TRIBAL RULE - BELLA CAMPANA, by Slewdledo

Sold for $57,000

Consigned by Griffin Place LLC; Purchased by Mark Glatt

Highest Priced WTBOA-sold Yearling Colt in 2014

TRIBAL RULE - ZENOVIT, by Private Gold

Sold for $51,000

Consigned by El Dorado Farms LLC (Nina & Ron Hagen);
Purchased by Gary Hughes

Best WTBOA-sold Two-year-old Performer in 2014

TRACKATTACKER (G., Harbor the Gold-Eclatante, by In Excess [Ire])

Owner: R. E. V. Racing (Roy & Ellie Schaefer);
Breeders: Dr. & Mrs. Duane Hopp (Castlegate Farm);

Trainer: Frank Lucarelli

2014 Record      5      4      0      0      $86,343

Stakes: WTBOA Lads S. (EmD), Emerald Express S. (EmD),
Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge S. (R) (EmD).

Best WTBOA-sold Three-year-old Performer in 2014

NOOSITO (C., Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave)

Owner: Last Rose Stable (Jeff Harwood, Pat & Mullan Chinn, Delores Christianson, Duane Weber, Terry Tonasket, Michael Pollowitz & Jeff Wilson); Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson); Trainer: Doris Harwood

2014 Record      5      3      1      1      $105,525

Stakes: Auburn H. (EmD), Seattle Slew H. (EmD), Chinook Pass H. (R) (EmD),
2nd Coca-Cola H. (EmD), 3rd Emerald Downs Derby (EmD).