NEWS
New Mexico breeders honor 2011 state champions
Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 4:08 PM
Edited press release
The New Mexico Horse Breeders' Association honored its 2011 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse champions during its Zia Awards Banquet at the Marriott Uptown Hotel in Albuquerque on Thursday.
The banquet, which was emceed by Chris Lincoln, celebrated the association's 50th anniversary and featured a special golden anniversary video presentation produced by Susan Hunter, owner of Hunter Creek Farm in Roswell.
Longtime breeder Sam E. Stevens of Lamesa, Texas, was honored with the 2011 Julep Cup by The Blood-Horse Magazine. Stevens is the owner of Rama Lassie, the 2011 NMHBA Thoroughbred Broodmare of the Year. An 11-year-old daughter of the Clever Trick stallion Hadif, Rama Lassie is the dam of That's Who, a gelding by Quinton's Gold who was honored as the NMHBA champion 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt or gelding.
That's Who races for Stevens and his wife, Latane. The gelding won four of seven starts last year, including two stakes, and earned $220,770.
Other NMHBA Thoroughbred awards went to La Sorpresa (top older mare, owned by Gallegos Del Norte, bred by Miguel L. Gallegos), Chuchuluco (older horse or gelding, owned by West Texas Racing Partners, bred by Johnny L. and Mary Paiz), Rose's Desert (3-year-old filly, owned and bred by Joe R. Peacock Sr.), Desert Hennessy (3-year-old colt or gelding, owned by Cleber J. Massey, bred by Sharon and Thomas J. Monsen), and Our Flying Angel (2-year-old filly, owned by Leslie and Pierre J. Amestoy Jr. and Mike C. Abraham, bred by Leslie and Pierre J. Amestoy Jr.).
Also, Desert God (owned by H. Joseph Allen) was honored as the top Thoroughbred stallion for 2011, and The Way Home (owned by The Way Home Partnership) was the year's top freshman Thoroughbred stallion.
The following Quarter Horses were also honored: Jenuine Joy (top older mare, owned and bred by Fredda Draper), Bullets Brother (older horse or gelding, owned by Martin Orona Sr. and Veronica O. Gonzalez, bred by Joe W. Alexander), Snow Regard (3-year-old filly, owned by K.H. Logax Inc., bred by K. Humberto Lopez Gaxiola), Quatro Menudos (3-year-old colt or gelding, owned and bred by William G. McCarty, Paul Wood, and SW Paving & Grading Inc.), Call Me A Blazn Chic (2-year-old filly, owned by J & M Racing and Farm, bred by Mike C. Abraham), Osbaldo (2-year-old colt or gelding, owned and bred by Hubaldo Solis), Willie Call Me (broodmare of the year, owned by Mike C. Abraham), Genuine Strawfly (stallion of the year, owned by J & L Stables LLC), and Jess Kicken (freshman sire, owned by Jesus J. Carrete and Richard J. Kloeppel Jr.)
