Manalapan, NJ — The SBOANJ is proud to announce Special Way has been named the NJ Horse of the Year and Heritage Hill Farm has been selected as the NJ Breeder of the Year.

Special Way has been named the NJ Horse of the Year. Amanda Stephens photo.

The 2-year-old trotting filly Special Way has a lifetime mark of 1:52 and winnings of $697,475. She was the winner of her last seven starts this season, including the elimination and the final of the Breeders Crown, three legs and the final of the Kentucky Championship Series, as well as a Bluegrass division, where she took her record.

Trained and driven by Ake Svanstadt for owners and breeders Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, Special Way is a true product of the New Jersey breeding program, being a daughter of New Jersey sire Walner and from a daughter of New Jersey sire Muscle Hill.

Dr. Steven Dey III’s Heritage Hill Farm has been selected as New Jersey Breeder of the Year. From a relatively small group of mares the farm has bred the winners of more than $3.4 million in 2022, ranking 11th overall in North America.

Top performers include Bythemissal, Niki Hill, Earthwindfire and Gotthegreenlight.

Bythemissal, a 3-year-old pacing gelding with earnings of $1.1 million in 2022, won the Little Brown Jug. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

Bythemissal, a 3-year-old pacing gelding with earnings of $1.1 million in 2022, won the Little Brown Jug, Adios and the Millstein Memorial in a world record equaling 1:48.4.

The Dan Patch Award winning 2-year-old last year, Niki Hill came back despite an abbreviated campaign and was a major stakes winner in 2022. She has a lifetime mark of 1:48.4 and earnings of $1.3 million.

Earthwindfire, a 2-year-old pacer, earned a lifetime mark of 1:51.3 and $321,484 in purse money. The 3-year-old pacer Gotthegreenlight shined with a mark of 1:51 and lifetime earnings of $513,997. Both were top performers on the NYSS circuit as well as the Grand Circuit.

Heritage Hill Farm is located in Monmouth County, spans 500 acres and has been a stalwart in New Jersey for approximately 60 years.

Congratulations to the connections of Special Way and to Dr. Steven Dey III and his team at Heritage Hill Farm.