HorseRacing Central November 21, 2008

THE NIGHT BELONGED TO KRAZY KOFFEE

British Columbia Horse of the Year; B.C.-bred Horse of the Year; Champion 3-year-old Male in both the B.C.-bred and Open Divisions: Krazy Koffee was the star of the show at the annual 2008 Thoroughbred Industry Awards Dinner at Boulevard Casino’s Red Robinson Theatre on Nov. 15.

Trained by Cindy Krasner for Chilliwack owner Butch Goertzen, Krazy Koffee won four straight stakes at Hastings Racecourse in 2008, including the $250,000 Grade 3 BC Derby. The dramatic Derby victory came on the heels of the Richmond Derby Trial, the Stellar’s Jay and the Chris Loseth.

Krasner herself was in the limelight after being named recipient of the prestigious Diamond Award of Excellence for over and above her outstanding achievements during the 2008 season. Krasner won seven stakes races and finished second with $820,626 in earnings behind Troy Taylor’s $975,256.

Spaghetti Mouse, trained by Lenore Daponte, was named top older horse in the province in both the B.C.-bred and Open Divisions. Owners Nick and Pauline Felicella were inducted into the B.C. Horse Racing Hall of Fame, as was long-time HBPA executive Bryant McAfee.

Other winners for 2008:

Sprinter: B R Remark owned by David Hughes, Frank Iaci, Mart Witts, Taylor & Lui Family Stables; Trainer: Brian Giesbrecht.
Older Filly or Mare: Against the Sky (Both Divisions) owned by Bob Leffler; Trainer: Craig MacPherson

3-year-old Filly: Remarkable Miss (B.C.-bred) owned by Leif Nordahl; Trainer: Barb Heads; Blue Sky Holiday (Open) owned by Thomas & Tracy Bell, Lindsay McLeod and Dale Michaud; Trainer: John Snow.

2-year-old Filly: P.S. Good N Ready (B.C.-bred) owned by Telford Farms; Trainer: Cindy Krasner. What R the Odds (Open) owned by Fran Snow; Trainer: Mel Snow.

2-year-old Male: El Sinaloense (Both Divisions) owned by Lara Racing Stables; Trainer: Juan Olmos.

Breeders of the Year: Lois and R.J. Bennett; Champion Sire: Vying Victor; Champion Broodmare: Sky West; Champion Juvenile Sire: Vying Victor; Thoroughbred Times Freshman Sire: Recreation; Breeder of Sadie Diamond Futurity: Telford Farms; Breeder of Jack Diamond Futurity: S. Anderson & D. Deyagher.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Mario Gutierrez was the Leading Jockey for a second year in a row; Stephanie Fedora (pictured with her mother Tish at the Awards Dinner) was Leading Apprentice Jockey; Troy Taylor was the Leading Trainer and Leading Owners were Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella.

Cindy Krasner won the Diamond Award of Excellence while David Milburn was honoured with the HBPA Backstretch Award for a special individual who made an outstanding contribution to the betterment of racing and the backstretch environment.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

Golden Gate features the $75,000 Sausalito Stakes on Saturday (Nov. 22) as the 3-year-old filly Indyanne takes on the boys at six furlongs. Former Hastings stakes winner Bound to Be MVP is also in the lineup. With American Thanksgiving next Thursday (Nov. 27), check your simulcast schedules for start times as the majority of tracks get underway extremely early local time.

THE FUN HAS JUST BEGUN FOR LINDA DALE

A very happy Linda Dale met Colin Briggs of Regency Infiniti after claiming her prize in the popular Pick Your Horsepower contest that drew more than 4,000 entries. Ten finalists had their names drawn on the final day of racing at Hastings and the lucky winner was Linda, the seventh contestant to try the keys to the gorgeous 2008 Infiniti EX Sedan that had been on display at Hastings.

“SPORT OF KINGS” UP FOR A SOVEREIGN

Great news! The Jockey Club of Canada has announced the finalists in the 2008 Sovereign Award Media competition and Tommy Wolski’s “Sport of Kings” has been nominated in the Outstanding Film/Video Broadcast category for the show on Citytv featuring horseman Jim Morgan’s amazing comeback. It was originally broadcast on Aug. 8.

“Sport of Kings’ has won the Sovereign Award on two previous occasions and has been nominated six times. Everyone at HorseRacing Central is pulling for Wolski and his hard-working crew to bring home a third award.

The ‘Sport of Kings’ returns to Citytv on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. with an up-close & personal look at rising young Fraser Downs trainer Amber Lancaster. Amber’s father – trainer/driver Tim Brown – explains the roller coaster ride it takes raising a youngster involved in the business. It’ll be a fun piece and one you won’t want to miss.

HPI HARNESS POOL

There’s a $7,500 prize pool for HPI members who enter the competition that starts on Friday, Nov. 28 and concludes on Saturday, Jan. 3 with entry forms available at Fraser Downs, Hastings Racecourse, Sandown Park and all TBC outlets. Becoming an HPI member at no charge can easily be arranged through guest services at all locations. The HPI Harness Pool offers six categories with points being accumulated for win (5), place (3) and show (1). At the end of the six-week period the person with the highest point total will win or share in $3,000.

SURREY CUP AT FRASER DOWNS

The $25,000 Final of the Surrey Cup goes tomorrow (Sat. Nov. 22) and a full field of 4-year-old mares will line up with seven wagering interests because of entries. The early favourite is Adorable Killean, driven by Dave Hudon, in the 8th race on an 11-race card. On the same card Saturday is Robert Murphy Breeders Classic winner Royal Morn. After 26 days of racing it is no surprise to see perennial leading driver/trainer Bill Davis on top in both categories. Davis has 52 wins as a driver and 41 as a trainer.

The drivers are now set for the Western Regional Driving Championships on Dec. 13 at Fraser. Representing British Columbia will be Bill Davis, Jim Marino and Scott Knight. Alberta checks in with Keith Clark, Kelly Hoerdt and Gerry Hudon; Saskatchewan is represented by Glenn Ledrew and Manitoba by Darryl Mason.