by Leon Zimmerman, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Trenton, NJ — Competition for the grand champion trophy for yearlings came down to a family affair at the 45th annual horse show sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey.

The final judging was between the winners of the colt and filly yearling classes. The result: a Cam’s Card Shark filly, Southwind Sugar, owned and bred by Allen and Connie Skolnick’s Southwind Farm of Pennington, bested an Artsplace colt, DaVinci’s Dream, owned and bred by their son Mitchel Skolnick’s Bluestone Farm of Hopewell.

The pacing-bred filly, out of the mare Sing Fat Lady, took the top prize of $1,500 as grand champion at the SBOANJ show for New Jersey-sired Standardbreds at the Horse Park of New Jersey on August 12 in Upper Freehold Township. She also earned a $600 prize as winner of the yearling filly class. Norberto Lopez was the handler.

DaVinci’s Dream, the yearling colt class winner of a $600 prize, is out of the mare Dream Western. He was shown by Dominica Nawrot.

In the category of mares with younger foals born on or after April 15 this year, the first-place winner of a $600 prize was One Hot Beach with her Cam’s Card Shark-sired colt, Palm’s Beach, owned by Fred Hofsaess of Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa. Martha Piotrow and Sara Bartillo were the handlers.

Social’s Image and her yet-to-be named Yankee Glide-sired colt, won the $600 first-place award in the category of mares with older foals born on or before April 14. The mare and foal are owned by William Mulligan of New Hope, Pa., and were shown by Lynda Barnhart and Jeri Lightner.

Following the show, there was a drawing from among participants for free breedings to the trotting stallion Nikki Cole Cole, donated by Two Gaits Farms of Columbus, where the stallion stands at stud, and to the pacing stallion Red River Hanover, donated by Perretti Farms of Cream Ridge, where the stallion stands.

Other prizes drawn were donated by Bohoni Corp./New Egypt Agway, Moyer & Son, McCauley Bros., Inc., Rick’s Saddle Shop in Cream Ridge and Englishtown, Reynolds Hay and Straw, in conjunction with Buckeye Feed, and Merial.

Judging was done by Dr. Stephen P. Dey II, a prominent New Jersey veterinarian, horseman and owner of Heritage Hill Farm in Allentown. Yearlings were judged on condition, control, handling, movement and conformation. Mares and foals were judged on appearance only.

The show was co-ordinated by the SBOANJ Breeders Committee, chaired by Martin O’Hare. It was part of the Festival of Horses sponsored by the N. J. Department of Agriculture.