FEBRUARY 11, 2020 GUINNESS OPEN GATE BREWERY Evening Schedule 5:00 – 6:00 COCKTAILS 6:00 – 9:00 AWARDS / DINNER

About the Trophies When the best of racing and breeding is celebrated this evening at the third annual Renaissance Awards, the recipients will be handed a trophy – a striking bronze of an exquisite head – specifically created by artist Peggy Kauffman. Kauffman (left), an accomplished horsewoman, has been a portrait artist of more than 30 years who works in bronze sculpture and pastel painting. In addition to her portraiture, she has created trophies that are presented at Fair Hill Races, and for horse show events in New York. MHBA Executive Director Cricket Goodall had seen the work of Kauffman on display at a benefit and reached out to her about creating a Renaissance Awards trophy. 1 The bronze is approximately 11 inches long, 3 ⁄2 inches wide and 1 8 ⁄2 inches high, though a 2-inch base adds to its height. Kauffman has her bronzes cast at New Arts Foundry in , which uses the lost wax casing process. It can take months from the time a piece of art in its clay form arrives at the foundry until the bronze is finished. Design and size are among the factors. Kauffman, who made the six-hour trip to Baltimore from her home in Millerton, N.Y., to oversee much of the process, launched her career as an artist by first going to art school in New York before taking courses at the Maryland Institute College of Art, but noted her main education was “when I worked and rode for a (show) horse dealer in New York state for years.” She had competed professionally with show and event horses. While she no longer rides, Kauffman has owned off-the-track , one a son of . “I’ve always been partial to them – that’s what I grew up with and always had,” she said. “When you work for a horse dealer for that length of time and see all the horses coming in, you know exactly how a horse is put together to make it most suitable for a certain discipline–who would be a dressage horse, an event horse. . . that is the mainstay of my education.”

A Celebration of Maryland Racing THE RENAISSANCE AWARDS CHARITIES

Proceeds from Renaissance Awards ticket sales go to support the work of Beyond The Wire, the Maryland Racing Media Association and the Maryland Horse Industry Foundation. Beyond The Wire, Maryland’s Thoroughbred aftercare program, was launched in May 2017 and since then almost 250 horses have gone through the program. Beyond The Wire receives dedicated funding from the Maryland MARYLAND THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Club, racehorse owners and jockeys. The program works with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited farms to re-home and train horses for second careers. MRMA was organized in 1937 under the name “Maryland Racing Writers’ Association” and today includes professionals involved in disseminating information about in various forms of media—print, digital, photography, radio and television. The organization presents awards each year to recognize excellence in the racing and breeding industry in Maryland and is one of several industry groups that combine to provide educational scholarships each year. The MHIF was chartered in 1988 by the MHBA to serve the various educational and charitable needs of Maryland’s horse industry, along with maintaining and expanding the Maryland Horse reference library. Since 2016, the MHIF has launched three educational programs: the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program, Work Experience Program, and the Career Exploration Series. The programs give equine-inclined youth insights and inroads to the variety of job opportunities within Maryland’s horse industry. Ultimately, the MHIF partners with individuals and organizations to provide experiences that attract and retain high quality individuals who will lead the Maryland horse industry into the future. The MHIF is nonprofit and tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; contributions and gifts are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Your Hosts For The Evening

This year’s Renaissance Awards program will be co-hosted by Dave Rodman and Ashley Mailloux. Rodman, the “Voice of Maryland Racing,” has been the full-time announcer at Laurel Park and since 1991. He has called the ’s marquee events: the Stakes, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Pimlico Special, Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash and the Maryland Million program held each fall. Rodman also served as announcer at Colonial Downs from 1997-2014, when the MJC and Virginia track had an operating agreement. With 39 years of announcing experience, the native of New Orleans served as announcer at Jefferson Downs (1981-1984), Louisiana Downs (1985- 1991), and has called races at Fair Grounds Race Course and Evangeline Downs. Beyond the announcer’s booth, his duties have included on-air racing analyst, hosting race replay shows, emcee of live telecasts of the Preakness post-position draw, and he assisted the media relations department in various Preakness-related diplomatic duties. Mailloux first fell in love with horse racing as a toddler while attending the races with her parents at Fort Erie Race Track in Canada. She soon found herself traveling to different tracks across North America and so far, has visited more than 40. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Mailloux attended Transylvania University in Kentucky and completed her B.A. in Mathematics in 2016. Two years later she graduated with a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Dayton. During that time, she assisted several trainers who shipped in to Churchill Downs and Keeneland and was featured as a guest handicapper. In the summer of 2018, she started as the racing analyst for Fort Erie while working a full-time job outside of racing. Mailloux has worked for the MJC for several stakes weekends, including the 2019 Preakness, and for HRRN for the Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Cup. Mailloux has been part of the coverage team on TVG for the Maryland Million and has provided analysis and post-race interviews for major Standardbred racing events.

A Celebration of Maryland Racing Pimlico Backstretch Employee of the Year URIZAR VELAZQUEZ Urizar “Uri” Velazquez, who assists trainer Brandon McFarlane with his shedrow, was selected the MTHA Backstretch Employee of the Year at Pimlico Race Course for 2019. Velazquez, a 27-year-old native of Mexico, began working with Thoroughbreds for Mark Casse in Florida as a teenager and landed his first exercise- riding job with top consignor Eddie Woods. He later worked as an exercise rider for and then trainer Dane Kobiskie in Maryland. Velazquez won his first race as a jockey at Laurel Park in August 2018 and a few more races at the at Timonium before suffering an injury that has kept him from riding. Velazquez, who hopes to eventually ride again, has a passion not only for horses but in assisting those on the backstretch in times of need and, being bilingual, makes himself available as a translator.

Laurel Backstretch Employee of the Year TROY SINGH Troy Singh, who has served as assistant trainer in the Claudio Gonzalez barn for the past four years, was selected the MTHA Backstretch Employee of the Year at Laurel Park. Singh, a 38-year-old native of Guyana, took an interesting path to his job – he was a racehorse owner who became so interested in being around the horses that he went to work for Gonzalez, whom he met at Monmouth Park when Gonzalez claimed a horse for him. Singh owned 12 horses trained by Gonzalez at the Bowie Training Center before it closed. One of his horses, Never Stop Looking, won the Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel in 2015. Singh, who is proud of the fact the Gonzalez barn topped the Maryland trainer standings by wins again in 2019, ensures the operation runs smoothly by overseeing grooms and other employees, and handling the paperwork.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland-Bred 2YO Male Finalists LADDIE LIAM Golden Lad—Buffgirl, by Quiet American Foaled at Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco Breeder: Hillwood Stables Owner: Joseph E. Besecker Trainer: Hugh I. McMahon Laddie Liam broke his maiden in his second start in September, which set the stage for a strong fall at Laurel Park. He followed up with a third in the Maryland Million Nursery Stakes and then completed his season with an allowance victory and an impressive win in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity. He earned $128,556 in five starts in 2019. MONDAY MORNING QB Imagining—How My Heart Works, by Not For Love Foaled at Dance Forth at Roland Farm, Warwick Breeder: Bowman and Higgins Stable and Cary Frommer Owner: Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC Trainer: Robert E. Reid Jr. Monday Morning Qb left an impression in only three starts in 2019. After finishing second in his debut at Parx Racing in October, he easily won his second start at Parx and then shipped to Laurel Park for the Heft Stakes in December. The Maryland-bred won the open stakes by three- quarters of a length to end the year with $105,000 in earnings.

OURNATIONONPARADE Cal Nation—Parade of Colors, by Leading the Parade Foaled at Country Life Farm, Bel Air Breeder: John E. Williamson III Owner: Reeves Trainer: T. Bernard Houghton Ournationonparade just missed winning his debut in September at Laurel Park, but his effort was so impressive an offer was made and breeder Jay Williamson opted to sell the gelding. He returned in October as the heavy favorite in the Maryland Million Nursery and delivered with 3¾-length victory. It was his final start in 2019, in which he earned $65,920.

A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland-Bred 2YO Filly Finalists HELLO BEAUTIFUL Golden Lad—Hello Now, by Foaled at Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco Breeder: Hillwood Stables Owner: Madaket Stables LLC, Mark Frasetto, Mark Parkinson,­ K-mac Stables and Magic City Stables Trainer: Brittany Russell Six starts, six on-the-board finishes were highlighted by dominating gate-to-wire wins in the Maryland Million Lassie and Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, the latter which Hello Beautiful captured by 11¾ lengths in fast time for 7 furlongs. She recorded her first 1 1 win in July at Laurel by 5 ⁄2 lengths at 5 ⁄2 furlongs, just missed on the turf, and for the year earned $166,558. SELFLESSLY More Than Ready—Uniformly Yours, by Grand Slam Foaled at Marama Farm, Clarksville Breeder: George Louis Doetsch Jr. Owner: Klaravich Stables Inc. Trainer: Chad C. Brown Selflessly made all three of her 2019 starts on the turf out of town. After a second in her debut at Saratoga, she was a game winner of the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at in September. Her final start resulted in a fifth-place finish, beaten 4 lengths, in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita, which pushed her earnings to $158,000. SHARING Speightstown—Shared Account, by Pleasantly Perfect Foaled at Sagamore Farm, Glyndon Breeder: Sagamore Farm Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) Trainer: H. Graham Motion Sharing was a neck shy of going 4-for-4 in 2019, which for her ended with a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Sandwiched between her maiden score at Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders’ Cup was a win in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park. The filly finished her season with $730,300 in the bank.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland-Bred 3YO Male Finalists ALWAYSMINING Stay Thirsty—What Will Be, by Anees Foaled at Hitchcock Plains, Fallston Breeder: Avla Pitts Owner: Runnymede Racing LLC Trainer: Kelly Rubley Alwaysmining was the 3-year-old star in Maryland in the winter and spring with consecutive blowout scores in the Miracle Wood, Private Terms and Stakes at Laurel. That earned him a start in the -G1. After a late summer break, he returned to end the year with a second against older horses in Laurel’s Stakes and finished the year with $240,250. STRANGER DANGER Buffum—Casual Kiss, by Dehere Foaled at Thornmar Farm, Chestertown Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes and Tim Keefe Owner: Elizabeth A. Dacosta and Ian K. Kong Trainer: Wayne A. Dacosta Stranger Danger had six wins and two seconds in eight starts—all of them at Caymanas Park in Jamaica. Two of his victories came in the Governor General’s S. Handicap and the Invitational Mile, which are among the top-class events in the country, and he added a second-place finish in The Diamond Mile-G1.

TOP LINE GROWTH Tapizar—Orinoquia, by Whywhywhy Foaled at C-Dog Farm, Chesapeake City Breeder: The Elkstone Group LLC Owner: The Elkstone Group LLC Trainer: Kelly Rubley Top Line Growth signaled talent when he won his debut by almost 10 lengths at Laurel Park in April and proceeded to win three more races in 2019 including the $250,000 Iowa Derby via disqualification. His final start in September produced an easy Laurel allowance victory versus older horses. His earnings on the year totaled $284,498.

A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland-Bred 3YO Filly Finalists INTRODUCED El Padrino—Stuttgart, by Cherokee Run Foaled at Northview Stallion Station, Chesapeake City Breeder: Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC Owner: Colts Neck Stables LLC Trainer: Jorge Duarte Jr. Introduced competed on the grass in five of her six starts last year including the Stormy Blues Stakes, in which she finished third at Laurel Park. In her only start on the dirt, the filly earned a hard-fought win in the Stakes at Laurel. She banked $88,936 in 2019 and was worse than fourth only once.

LAS SETAS Seville (Ger)—Tanca, by Polish Numbers Foaled at Chanceland Farm, West Friendship Breeder: Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss Owner: Wayne A. Harrison, Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss Trainer: Katharine M. Voss Las Setas was the top 3-year-old filly at Laurel Park during the winter/spring meet. She parlayed a win in her debut into a procession of stakes victories in the Wide Country, Beyond The Wire and Weber City Miss, all in open company, before a seventh in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico. With four wins in six starts, she earned $228,490.

ZONDA Scat Daddy—Winning Season, by Lemon Drop Kid Foaled at Willow Oaks Farm, Monkton Breeder: Willow Oaks Stable LLC Owner: Matthew Schera Trainer: James L. Lawrence II Zonda spent most of the time on the turf in 2019 after breaking her maiden in her first start, which came at Laurel Park. She won an allowance event on the grass at Colonial Downs in August and wrapped up her season with a comfortable tally in the Maryland Million Ladies against older runners on the turf at Laurel while amassing $159,407.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland-Bred Older Male Finalists CLUBMAN 2014, Not For Love—Otherwise Perfect, by Lemon Drop Kid Foaled at Dance Forth Farm, Chestertown Breeder: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Quin Bowman and Rebecca Davis Owner: Caonabo Stable LLC Trainer: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon Clubman raced 13 times in 2019 from February through late December and had $242,207 in earnings to show for it. His stakes victories came in the Russell Road at Charles Town and the Maryland Coalition at Timonium. He also won three allowance races, all at Laurel Park, was second in the Stakes and third in the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Stakes. CORDMAKER 2015, —Tanca, by Polish Numbers Foaled at Chanceland Farm, West Friendship Breeder: Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss Owner: Hillwood Stable LLC Trainer: Rodney Jenkins Cordmaker came away with three stakes wins in the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial and Polynesian at Laurel Park and the DTHA Governors Day Handicap at Delaware Park. He showed versatility, having won at 1 7 furlongs and 1 ⁄8 miles, and was beaten only by a half-length in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, in which he was third. The gelding earned $284,427 on the year. JUST HOWARD 2014, English Channel—Aruban Sandwich, by Foaled at Glade Valley Farms, Frederick Breeder: Howard M. Bender Owner: Skeedattle Stable Trainer: H. Graham Motion Just Howard won only once in seven starts, but it came on a big stage in the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park on Haskell Day. He also finished a length or less from winning the Grade 2 at Pimlico and the Baltimore/ Washington International Turf Cup-G3, Henry Clark and Prince George’s County at Laurel Park. He amassed $150,500 in 2019. A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland-Bred Older Female Finalists ANOTHER BROAD 2015, Include—Dynamic Deputy, by Deputy Minister Foaled at Roland Farm, Chesapeake City Breeder: Fitzhugh LLC Owner: Madaket Stables LLC, Elayne Stables and Brian Martin Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher Another Broad made all eight of her 2019 starts in stakes, six of them graded, and generated $212,350 in earnings. The mare won the Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct in April, was third in the Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park and second—beaten only three-quarters of a length—in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct.

BLAMED 2015, —Salsa Star, by Giant’s Causeway Foaled at Sagamore Farm, Glyndon Breeder: Sagamore Farm Owner: Cleber J. Massey Trainer: William I. Mott Blamed, the 2018 champion Maryland-bred 3-year- old filly, raced only twice in 2019, both times at in the winter to begin her shortened season. Off the board after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes, she followed up with a win in the Grade 3 Stakes to earn $95,505.

MAJESTIC REASON 2015, Majestic Warrior—Love’s Reason, by Not For Love Foaled at Sycamore Hall, Chesapeake City Breeder: Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC and Ellen Charles Owner: Hillwood Stable LLC and Richard L. Golden Trainer: H. Graham Motion Majestic Reason was a tough customer in her five Maryland outings last year with three victories—Laurel’s Willa On the Move Stakes in December and two allowances, one at Laurel Park and the other at Pimlico. The earner of $201,892 in 2019 also finished second in Laurel’s Politely Stakes and third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland-Bred Sprinter Finalists LAKI 2013, Cuba—Truthful Dutch, by Swear by Dixie Foaled at Michaels & Baker Farm, Denton Breeder: Tom Michaels and Lorna Baker Owner: Hillside Equestrian Meadows Trainer: Damon R. Dilodovico The well-traveled Laki, who in 2019 won his MATCH Series division for the second consecutive year, banked $113,090 last year on the strength of his victory in the Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes at Laurel Park in April. Laki began the year with a third in the Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel and was second in the Not For Love Stakes at Laurel and Bensalem Stakes at Parx Racing. LEWISFIELD 2014, Great Notion—Smart Crowd, by Crowd Pleaser Foaled at Willowdale Farm, Butler Breeder: Linda L. Zang Owner: Linda L. Zang Trainer: Jeff C. Runco Lewisfield had a bookend season in 2019. He began with a victory in the Not For Love Stakes at Laurel and completed it with a win in the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Stakes, also at Laurel. A winner of $160,320 on the year, Lewisfield competed only in stakes in his eight starts and also had two seconds and two thirds, one in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes.

TACO SUPREAM 2015, El Padrino—Barouchka, by Not For Love Foaled at Foxharbor, White Hall Breeder: Ann Biggs Jackson Owner: Big Bertha Stable Trainer: Damon R. Dilodovico Taco Supream, a former claimer, began 2019 with a win in starter handicap company and made his way to the stakes ranks at Laurel Park. He finished second in the Challedon, won the Maryland Million Sprint Handicap and finished a close fourth in the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial. The gelding earned $201,127 in his best season to date.

A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland-Bred Turf Runner Finalists BEACH VIEW 2013, Giant’s Causeway—Love’s Blush, by Not For Love Foaled at Sycamore Hall Farm, Chesapeake City Breeder: Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC Owner: Levy Racing Trainer: Leonard Powell California-based Beach View made only three starts last year, all of them in graded stakes at Santa Anita Park, at 1¼ miles on turf and 1½ miles on turf and dirt. The gelding was second in both the Grade 2 San Luis Rey and Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup and third in the Grade 2 San Marcos and banked $84,000.

JUST HOWARD 2014, English Channel—Aruban Sandwich, by Alphabet Soup Foaled at Glade Valley Farms, Frederick Breeder: Howard M. Bender Owner: Skeedattle Stable Trainer: H. Graham Motion Just Howard won only once in seven starts, but it came on a big stage in the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park on Haskell Day. He also finished a length or less from winning the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico and the Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup-G3, Henry Clark and Prince George’s County at Laurel Park. He amassed $150,500 in 2019. SHARING 2017, Speightstown—Shared Account, by Pleasantly Perfect Foaled at Sagamore Farm, Glyndon Breeder: Sagamore Farm Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) Trainer: H. Graham Motion Sharing was a neck shy of going 4-for-4 in 2019, which for her ended with a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Sandwiched between her maiden score at Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders’ Cup was a win in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park. The filly finished her season with $730,300 in the bank.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland-Bred Horse Of The Year Finalists ALWAYSMINING 2016, Stay Thirsty—What Will Be, by Anees Foaled at Hitchcock Plains, Fallston Breeder: Avla Pitts Owner: Runnymede Racing LLC Trainer: Kelly Rubley Alwaysmining was the 3-year-old star in Maryland in the winter and spring with consecutive blowout scores in the Miracle Wood, Private Terms and Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel. That earned him a start in the Preakness Stakes-G1. After a late summer break, he returned to end the year with a second against older horses in Laurel’s and finished the year with $240,250. CORDMAKER 2015, Curlin—Tanca, by Polish Numbers Foaled at Chanceland Farm, West Friendship Breeder: Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss Owner: Hillwood Stable LLC Trainer: Rodney Jenkins Cordmaker came away with three stakes wins in the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial and Polynesian at Laurel Park and the DTHA Governors Day Handicap at Delaware Park. He showed versatility, having won at 7 furlongs and 1 1 ⁄8 miles, and was beaten only by a half-length in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, in which he was third. The gelding earned $284,427 on the year. SHARING 2017, Speightstown—Shared Account, by Pleasantly Perfect Foaled at Sagamore Farm, Glyndon Breeder: Sagamore Farm Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) Trainer: H. Graham Motion Sharing was a neck shy of going 4-for-4 in 2019, which for her ended with a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Sandwiched between her maiden score at Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders’ Cup was a win in the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park. The filly finished her season with $730,300 in the bank. A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland Broodmare of the Year Finalists CASUAL KISS 2008, Dehere—Bushel and a Peck, by Numerous Owned and bred by Charles and Cynthia McGinnes The dam of two stakes horses in 2019 – Still Having Fun, who pushed his earnings to $537,367, and Stranger Danger, a multiple Grade 1 winner in Jamaica. TAFT LIL QUEEN 1995, Irish Open—Eston, by Ancestral (Ire) Owned by Charles and Cynthia McGinnes The dam of nine winners from nine foals lifetime, four stakes winners, one stakes- placed, she was represented by 2019 stakes winner Pete’s Play Call, her final foal. TANCA 2002, Polish Numbers—Waltz, by Pleasant Tap Owned and bred by Robert T. Manfuso and Katharine M. Voss The dam of seven winners from seven starters had two stakes winners in 2019 – Maryland-Bred Older Male finalist Cordmaker and Maryland-Bred 3-Year-Old Filly finalist Las Setas, who combined to win five stakes during the year.

Maryland Stallion of the Year Finalists FRIESAN FIRE 2006, A.P. Indy—Bollinger (Aus), by Dehere Stands at Country Life Farm, Bel Air The sire of 51 winners and the earners of $2.7 million in 2019, Friesan Fire was represented last year by graded stakes-win- ning 3-year-old Call Paul, two-time New York stakes winner Fire Key and Maryland Million Classic winner Forest Fire. GREAT NOTION 2000, Elusive Quality—Evening Primrose, by Dayjur Stands at Northview Stallion Station, Chesapeake City The sire of 55 winners and the earners of $3.1 million in 2019, Great Notion sired three stakes winners in 2019, including Maryland-bred Champion Sprinter finalist Lewisfield, as well as Anna’s Bandit, tied for the winningest horse in the U.S. and winner of seven stakes last year.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland Breeder of the Year Finalists

ROBERT T. MANFUSO & KATHARINE M. VOSS Horses bred by Robert T. Manfuso, solely or in partnership with Katharine M. Voss, earned more than $1.2 million in 2019. Leading the charge were half-siblings and 2019 Maryland- Bred Champion finalists Cordmaker and Las Setas, who combined to win five stakes during the year. The pair were produced by Manfuso and Voss homebred mare Tanca, a daughter of Polish Numbers. In all, horses bred in the name of Manfuso and Voss won or placed in nearly half their 175 starts, and won 30 times.

SAGAMORE FARM The leading breeder of Maryland-breds by earnings in 2019, Sagamore-bred runners were topped by three- time Maryland-Bred Champion finalist Sharing, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1 and earner of $730,300 with three wins in four starts at 2. Another Sagamore Farm-bred was graded stakes-winning Blamed, also a Maryland-Bred Champion finalist although not having raced since February. Sagamore campaigned homebred 3-year-old Where Paradise Lay, winner of his stakes debut in August at Laurel. Sagamore-bred runners made 219 starts last year, with 34 firsts, 36 seconds and 36 thirds, and earned more than $2 million.

A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland Jockey of the Year Finalists

TREVOR MCCARTHY Trevor McCarthy had 835 starts—69 percent of his total for the year—in Maryland and was the leading jockey by wins in the state with 170. Overall, the rider won 253 races, which placed him seventh on the national list. His Maryland earnings totaled $6.18 million, with another $3 million earned from mounts in other states. McCarthy won 14 stakes in Maryland with 14 different horses, including the Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel Park with Uncontested. His top victory nationally came in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Belmont Park with Secret Message.

SHELDON RUSSELL Sheldon Russell capped a big year in December when he won the Maryland Juvenile Futurity with Laddie Liam and the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship with Hello Beautiful, who is trained by his wife, Brittany. Hello Beautiful also won the Maryland Million Lassie in October and gave him a two-win afternoon as he was aboard Taco Supream, who captured the Maryland Million Sprint. Russell won 93 races in Maryland from 580 mounts in 2019 and 107 overall for total earnings of $3.98 million. He also won two other stakes at Laurel, the with Lexitonian and Weather Vane with Meadow Dance.

JORGE A. VARGAS JR. Jorge Vargas Jr., the Maryland riding champion of 2018, branched out to other tracks in 2019 but still collected 72 victories from 390 mounts in the state for earnings of $2.74 million. Overall, he won 102 races for earnings of $5.35 mil- lion. On April 20 at Laurel, Vargas won three stakes—the Henry S. Clark with Irish Strait, King T. Leatherbury with Dirty, and Primonetta with Ms Locust Point—and won another three, all at Laurel, during the year. Vargas opted to leave Maryland in late fall for the winter meet at Aqueduct and won the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap with Happy Farm in December. He returned to Maryland at the end of the year to guide Monday Morning Qb to victory in Laurel’s Heft Stakes for 2-year-olds.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929 Maryland Trainer of the Year Finalists

DALE CAPUANO Dale Capuano, who is approaching the 3,500 win mark after almost 40 years as a Maryland-based trainer, won 48 races in the state in 2019 from 224 starts. He also had 35 seconds and 31 thirds for in-state earnings of $1.39 million, and overall his horses earned $1.57 million. Of his total number of starts, 88.5 percent were in Maryland. His top earner was Tricky Lion, who made 13 starts from January to November in 2019 and banked $91,944. Though predominantly a claiming trainer, Capuano developed the filly Timeless Curls, who in 2019 won the Nellie Morse Stakes and finished third in the Maryland Racing Media Stakes.

CLAUDIO GONZALEZ Claudio Gonzalez by far had the most starts of any trainer in Maryland in 2019, and it resulted in 129 wins at all meets in the state and earnings of $3.55 million. Gonzalez, who is based at Laurel Park but last year had strings at Delaware Park and Parx Racing, collected 174 victories, which placed him 11th in the national standings. Overall, his horses earned almost $5 million. Gonzalez, who specializes in claiming, won the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico with Completed Pass, his top 2019 earner, and overall was associated with seven horses with more than $100,000 in earnings last year.

MIKE TROMBETTA Mike Trombetta, who is based at Laurel Park and the Fair Hill Training Center, won 62 races in Maryland in 2019 and another 40 at tracks in the U.S. and Canada. A highlight for Trombetta was when Wet Your Whistle, a Laurel allowance winner in April, two starts later won the Highlander Stakes, a Canadian Grade 1 turf sprint, at Woodbine. He also saddled Global Access to win the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga and won the Grade 3 Stakes at Aqueduct with Independence Hall, who this January won the Jerome Stakes and is on the Triple Crown trail. Laurel stakes winners in 2019 included turf runners Oldies But Goodies, English Minister and My Sistersledge, and juveniles Newstome and Bella Aurora. Trombetta’s horses earned $4.61 million in 2019. A Celebration of Maryland Racing Maryland Owner of the Year Finalists HILLWOOD STABLE LLC Ellen Charles’ Hillwood Stable had a productive 2019 from its 75 starts, 92 percent of which came at Maryland racetracks. The stable star was Maryland-bred Cordmaker, winner of the Harrison Johnson Memorial and Polynesian Stakes at Laurel Park and a finalist in the Horse of the Year and Older Male categories. Hillwood also owns, in partnership with Richard Golden, Older Female finalist Majestic Reason, who captured the Willa On the Move Stakes at Laurel; and Shimmering Aspen, winner of the Tax Free Shopping Distaff at Delaware Park and second in the Twixt Stakes at Laurel. Her stable had 14 wins overall and $765,528 in earnings.

NO GUTS NO GLORY FARM The No Guts No Glory Farm operation of Gina and John Robb had an eventful 2019 thanks to the Maryland-sired and West Virginia-bred mare Anna’s Bandit, who was a dominant force all year at Maryland racetracks and Charles Town Races. From Jan. 10 through Dec. 7, Anna’s Bandit won nine races from 11 starts; she tied with six other horses for most wins nationally but easily had the most earnings at $401,830. The mare won four stakes in Maryland—the Conniver, Maryland Million Distaff and Politely at Laurel Park and the Timonium Distaff—and the West Virginia “Cavada” Breeders Classic, Sadie Hawkins and Original Gold Stakes at Charles Town.

SMART ANGLE Dan Ryan’s Smart Angle LLP accounted for 161 starts in Maryland last year with 31 wins, 27 seconds and 28 thirds, good for an in-the-money strike rate of 53 percent. Smart Angle captured the Laurel Park summer meet owner title with 11 victories. In Maryland, the stable banked $815,060 in 2019, and overall earned $1.43 million with 54 wins. Smart Angle, which has a Mid-Atlantic focus, won the Mary- land Million Distaff Starter Handicap with Yesterdaysplan, who was claimed for $5,000 three months prior. The operation’s top money-winner, Aaron’s Tap, won two stakes—the Confucius Say and It’s Only Money—at Charles Town.

MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Since 1929