Three-time stakes winner Ky’s Quest was named New Mexico-bred champion two-year-old male at the 2006 New Mexico Horse Breeders Association’s annual awards banquet at the Marriott Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 31.

Ky’s Quest closed his juvenile campaign with consecutive stakes wins for owner Clifford Lambert Sr., who also bred and trains the chestnut Night Fright gelding. Ky’s Quest streaked to a 9 1/2-length romp in the New Mexico Cup Juvenile Stakes on November 12 at Zia Park and followed with a six-length score in the Red Hedeman Mile Handicap at Sunland Park on December 30.

Champions were announced for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses at the banquet. Other Thoroughbred champions were two-year-old filly, Silver Expression (Silver Season); three-year-old colt/gelding, Matchstick Man (Con Artist); three-year-old filly, Peppers Pride (Desert God); older horse, Gulchrunssweet (Dry Gulch); and older mare, Skirt Alert (Prospector Jones).

Skirt Alert won six of nine starts and four stakes races during her 2006 campaign.

Broodmare of the year was awarded to Founder’s First (Bold Ruckus), dam of Skirt Alert. In 2006, her offspring earned $337,469.

Prospector Jones (Mr. Prospector) was awarded stallion of the year, with progeny earnings of $1,097,985 in 2006. Silver Season (Silver Ghost) was awarded freshman sire of the year, with progeny earnings of $184,243 in 2006.

The Silver Julep Cup for outstanding Thoroughbred breeders was awarded to Richard A. Brunacini and Kay M. Thurman of Belen, New Mexico.