from the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund

Albany, NY — The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund’s Executive Director, Peter Goold, today announced the Fund held its annual New York Sire Stakes awards banquet on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Saratoga Raceway in Saratoga Springs. A total of 29 awards were given to horse owners, drivers, and trainers who performed exceptionally well during the 2010 NYSS racing season.

“We are very pleased to have such an outstanding state-bred racing program. Our program would not be possible without the many distinguished men and women in the harness racing and Standardbred breeding industries who take part in the New York Sire Stake program each year,” Goold said. “On behalf of the Fund Trustees, congratulations to all of the award winners for their exceptional performances during the 2010 New York Sire Stakes racing season.”

The NYSS awards honor the top performers in each level of New York Sire Stakes racing: the NYSS Series, the County Fair Series, and the Late Closers Series. The Fund also honors the leading NYSS drivers, trainers, and breeders of the racing season.

The award recipients are as follows:

The 2010 NYSS Breeder of the Year awards went to Winbak Farm (Wallkill, N.Y.) for all three Series: NYSS, County Fair, & Late Closers.

The 2010 NYSS Trainer of the Year awards went to Linda Toscano for the NYSS Series; Edward Hart for the Late Closers Series; and to Douglas Ackley for the County Fair Series.

The 2010 NYSS Driver of the Year awards went to Jim Morrill, Jr. for the NYSS Series; Jason Bartlett for the Late Closers Series; and to Douglas Ackley for the County Fair Series.

2010 New York Sire Stakes Series Award Winners:

NYSS 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Anndrovette–Breeder: Golden Touch Stable; Owners: Joseph Davino, Mark Kesmodel, Jeffrey Bamond; Trainer: Mark Kesmodel; NYSS Earnings: $303,747

NYSS 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt: He’s Gorgeous–Breeder: Yankeeland Farms Inc.; Owner: Kenneth Jacobs; Trainer: Linda Toscano; NYSS Earnings: $310,405

NYSS 3-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Tuesdays With Mom–Breeder: Peter Arrigenna; Owner: Peter Arrigenna; Trainer: Peter Arrigenna; NYSS Earnings: $246,188

NYSS 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Blacktuxwhitesocks–Breeder: Valley High Stable; Owner: Purple Haze Stables LLC; Trainer: Jessica Okusko; NYSS Earnings: $278,118

NYSS 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly: See You At Peelers–Breeder: Christina Takter; Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding; Trainer: Jimmy Takter; NYSS Earnings: $253,871

NYSS 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Townslight Hanover–Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.; Owner: Kenneth Tucci; Trainer: Aaron Lambert; NYSS Earnings: $173,554

NYSS 2-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Some Girls–Breeder: London Farms, Wayne Jacobus; Owners: Theodore Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal, Y. Jean Brunet, Gaetan Brunet; Trainer: Gaetan Brunet; NYSS Earnings: $243,103

NYSS 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Dejarmbro–Breeder: Fair Winds Farms Inc.; Owner: Purple Haze Stables; Trainer: Jessica Okusko; NYSS Earnings: $211,965

2010 NYSS Late Closers Series Award Winners:

3-Year-Old Pacing Filly: V’La Faire–Breeder: Oakhurst Farms; Owner: Oakhurst Farms; Trainer: Richard Tomaszewski

3-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Real Gentleman–Breeder: Brittany Farms; Owners: Jeffrey Pocaro, Paul Strombick, Allister Stables, LLC; Trainer: Eric Abbatiello

3-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Dream State–Breeder: Kindergarten Stud, Inc.; Owner: Regina Dewhurst; Trainer: David Dewhurst

3-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Off The Grid–Breeder: Robert Rosenheim Stables Ltd.; Owner: Jody Weidman; Trainer: Jody Weidman

2-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Forty Three–Breeder: Indigo Racing LLC; Owner: Indigo Racing LLC; Trainer: Adam Capizzano

2-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Mosee Terror–Breeder: Jeffrey Brooks; Owner: Baron Racing Stable; Trainer: Paul Reid

2-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Dreamy Dawn–Breeder: Lohmeyer Racing LLC; Owner: Lohmeyer Racing LLC; Trainer: Ed Lohmeyer

2-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Winona–Breeder: Perry Racing Stable LLC; Owner: Perry Racing Stable LLC; Trainer: Howard Okusko

2010 NYSS County Fair Series Award Winners:

County Fair 3-Year-Old Pace: Emmas Lily–Breeder: White Birch Farm; Owner: Stephanie and Brian Cassell; Trainer: Truman Gale

County Fair 3-Year-Old Trot: Vagra–Breeders: Douglas and Tyra Ackley; Owners: Douglas and Tyra Ackley; Trainer: Douglas Ackley

County Fair 2-Year-Old Pace: Surf Cast Michelle–Breeder: John Prescott; Owner: John Prescott; Trainer: John Prescott

County Fair 2-Year-Old Trot: Lofty Dreams–Breeder: Kindergarten Stud Inc.; Owner: Steven Pratt; Trainer: Steven Pratt

The United States Trotting Association District 8 and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State also presented awards at the NYSS Awards Banquet. The USTA District 8 awarded a total of 12 awards representing outstanding performing horses in its district. The Harness Horse Breeders awarded its second annual Bruce Hamilton Memorial Medal to Raymond Schnittker for his outstanding contributions to harness horse racing and improvements of the breeding of Standardbred horses within New York State.