MD-Bred Champions Announced; Awards Dinner Set for April 11

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association announced its Maryland-bred equine champions for 2024 as well as Breeder of the Year during the final week of February.

The Renaissance Awards dinner will take place on Friday, April 11, at 6 p.m. in the Laurel Park clubhouse, where this year’s champions will be honored. The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) previously announced the finalists for its eight awards, including Owner, Jockey, and Trainer of the Year, along with five equine categories. The winners will be revealed during the event. Additionally, the Backstretch Workers of the Year—Cesar Cruz Salazar (Laurel Park) and Roberto Ronald Jiminez (Pimlico Race Course)—were recognized earlier in February.

Post Time, owned by Hillwood Stable (Ellen Charles) and trained by Brittany Russell, was voted champion Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, Sprinter of the Year, and Older Male. The son of Frosted won two graded stakes including the Grade II Carter and placed in six others. The colt finished second in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, and third in the Grade I Whitney. He earned $975,000 last year.

Post Time’s dam, Vielsalm, was voted Broodmare of the Year. Post Time was bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Dr. Brooke Bowman.

Breeder of the Year for 2024 is the late R. Larry Johnson, who passed way in January. Johnson bred and owned Future Is Now, who won a pair of Grade II turf sprint stakes and was voted Maryland-bred champion Older Female as well as Turf Runner. The Great Notion filly banked more than $500,000 in nine starts last season. Johnson bred two other Maryland-bred champions of 2024.

The venerable Great Notion, who stands at Northview Stallion Station, once again was chosen as Maryland-bred Stallion of the Year. He has been granted that title every year since 2016.

The following are the other Maryland-bred racing champions as announced.

2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Studlydoright, owned by Donald Hughes, trained by John Robb and bred by Glenangus Farm. The Nyquist colt won two stakes and finished second in the Grade III Stanford Stakes, all in New York.

2-Year-Old Filly: Shkhara Fire, bred and owned by Barak Farms and Dino’s Thoroughbreds and trained by Jose Corrales. The daughter of Friesan Fire won the Maryland Million Lassie.

3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Mindframe, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, trained by Todd Pletcher and bred by Larry Johnson. The Constitution colt raced only four times but finished second in the Grade I Belmont Stakes and Grade I Haskell Invitational for earnings of more than $640,000.

3-Year-Old Filly: Call Another Play, bred and owned by Larry Johnson and trained by Mike Trombetta. The Audible filly won the Weber City Miss Stakes and finished third in the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

Steeplechaser: Who’s Counting, bred and owned by South Branch Equine and trained by Sean McDermott, who rode the Vancouver gelding to victory in the Good Night Shirt hurdle stakes to begin his season. Who’s Counting also won a turf allowance race on the flat at Laurel in the summer.

The Renaissance Awards were established to showcase the best of Maryland’s Thoroughbred industry, highlighting the achievements of the individuals and horses that have made a significant impact on the state’s racing and breeding programs. It is a joint project of the MTHA, MHBA and The Maryland Jockey Club.

Tickets for the Renaissance Awards are $100 per person and can be purchased online at the website: http://marylandthoroughbred.com/store/tickets. Availability is limited, so attendees are encouraged to secure their seats early.

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