by Tim Bojarski, for Harness Horse Breeders of New York State

Latham, NY — The most notable personalities of Empire State racing gathered in the grand ballroom at the Vernon Downs Hotel on Oct. 28 for the 2012 New York Sire Stakes awards banquet and USTA District 8 meetings. And once again this year, some of the best performers on the Grand Circuit were bred in New York State.

The 3-year-old trotter Archangel (1:53.1, $906,579, Credit Winner-Michelle’s Angel) was named the USTA District 8 3-year-old Trotter of the Year and overall Horse of the Year. Owned by Alan Hainsworth, Clare Semer and his trainer, Peter Arrigenna, Archangel was victorious in the Empire Breeders Classic, Yonkers Trot, Tompkins-Geers and eliminations of the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity. He was undefeated in New York Sire Stake action all year until making an untimely break in the final at Yonkers. After getting away second at the half in the Hambletonian, Archangel got locked in and shuffled back. When he did get out, he rallied back for fourth after the whole field had passed him. His $771,386 in earnings this year ranks him fifth nationally among his age and gait and his 11 wins were far the best in NYSS action.

On the lateral gait, Heston Blue Chip (1:48.4, $1,157,466, American Ideal-Shot To Go Blue Chip) was named the USTA District 8 3-year-old Pacer of the Year. Longtime New York owner Ken Jacobs stables the classy colt that won the Empire Breeders Classic and eliminations of the Meadowlands Pace and the Cane Pace. After winning every leg of the NYSS during the year, Heston Blue Chip came up short in the final. So rather than race in stakes in Kentucky he was eligible to, it was decided to rest the colt and point him towards the Breeders Crown. That decision paid off as he went on to win his elimination and the final of the Crown. Heston Blue Chip is seventh in earnings in North America among 3-year-old pacing colts with $781,816 bankrolled and his mark of 1.48.4 was the tenth fastest mile by a 3-year-old in 2012.

This year’s list of category winners in New York Sire Stake action was as impressive a group as any stakes program could assemble. Here are some of the highlights for both equine and human performances.

The NYSS Breeder of the Year award in all three tiers of NYSS racing went to Winbak Farm with NYSS purse earnings in excess of $2 million for 2012.

The NYSS 3-year-old filly pacer of the year was Romantic Moment (1:50.1f, $996,955, American Ideal-Time N Again). Owned by Brittany Farms and trained by Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter, Romantic Moment amassed $314,347 in Sire Stake action and was undefeated in that series. But she also won an elimination of the Fan Hanover, the Valley Forge and an elimination of the Breeders Crown before finishing fourth in the final behind New York bred American Jewel and Shelliscape.

Coraggioso (1:54.3, $506,478, Conway Hall-Electra Hanover) was named the NYSS 3-year-old trotting colt of the year. In a year that saw him win 50 percent of his starts, he began and ended it the same way — by beating Archangel. Owned by Tom Durkin and Joseph Spadaro and trained by Gates Brunet, Coraggioso won the Historic, the Tompkins-Geers and the NYSS final which brought his earnings from that series to $299,452.

Outstanding freshman pacer Doctor Butch (1:52, $344,411, Art Major–Classical Yankee) was tabbed the NYSS 2-year-old colt pacer of the year. Owned by Ken Jacobs, Doctor Butch won $273,825 in the Sire Stakes and posted an impressive mark of 1:52 at Vernon Downs. His seasonal earnings rank him eighth among all 2-year-old pacers nationally.

Being as close to perfect as she could be, the 2-year-old filly pacer Summertime Lea (1:52.2, $294,853, Lislea-Donna Summer) won eight races out of nine starts while racing exclusively in New York State for trainer Ron Burke. Owned by the Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Earl Smith, Summertime Lea finished the year as the tenth richest 2-year-old in North America.

Adding to her long list of accomplishments this year, Linda Toscano was named the top trainer among all conditioners competing in the New York Sire Stakes as well as USTA District 8 Trainer of the Year. The 27 horses she started earned $1,411,618 in purse money while posting 32 wins, 14 seconds and 17 thirds in 115 starts. Overall this year Toscano is ranked fourth in North America among trainers with $6.1 million in earnings and a UTR of .380.

Truman Gale won NYSS County Fair Trainer of the Year. His 12 horses had 79 starts with an impressive 25 wins, 25 seconds and 12 thirds for purse earnings totaling $47,369 in NYSS action.

Jim Morrill, Jr. was once again on top of the driver colony and was presented the award for being NYSS and USTA District 8 Driver of the Year. Morrill teamed 84 horses to 52 wins, 36 seconds and 25 thirds in 175 starts and deposited $2,633,647 into their connections’ bank accounts. Currently Morrill is the number one percentage driver in the country with a UDR of .413. He also ranks tenth in North America in purse earnings with $7,448,149.

Here is a complete list of divisional winners for 2012.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
You Want Me (Credit Winner-Annette Hall)
Owners: Kelley Racing Stable LLC, William Weaver III
Breeder: Valley High Stable
Trainer: Paul Kelley
NYSS Earnings: $214,532

2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTER
Fashion Blizzard (Credit Winner-Fun And Strokes)
Owner: Fashion Farms LLC
Breeders: Arlene & Jules Siegel
Trainer: Jim Campbell
NYSS Earnings: $197,975

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
Summertime Lea (Lislea-Donna Summer)
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino, Earl Smith
Breeder: Timothy Rooney
Trainer: Ron Burke
NYSS Earnings: $294,855

2-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER
Doctor Butch (Art Major-Classical Yankee)
Owner: Kenneth Jacobs
Breeder: Frederick Hertrich III
Trainer: Linda Toscano
NYSS Earnings: $273,825

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Cowgirl Hall (Cash Hall-Centerfold Hall)
Owners: Theodore Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal, Jean Brunet, Deborah Brunet
Breeders: Walnut Hall Limited & Lucky Shamrock Stable
Trainer: Gates Brunet
NYSS Earnings: $263,075

3-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTER
Coraggioso (Conway Hall-Electra Hanover)
Owners: Joseph Spadaro & Tom Durkin
Breeders: Tom Durkin & Joseph Spadaro
Trainer: Gates Brunet
NYSS Earnings: $299,452

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
Romantic Moment (American Ideal-Time N Again)
Owner: Brittany Farms
Breeders: Birch Hollow Farms & Steve Stewart
Trainer: Jimmy Takter
NYSS Earnings: $314,347

3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER
Major Bombay (Art Major-Armbro Bombay)
Owners: Aaron Waxman, Louis Willinger, John Fodera, Major Bombay Partners
Breeder: White Birch Farm
Trainer: Tony Alagna
NYSS Earnings: $249,171