From a Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey release
Daniel J. Lopez’s Geeky Gorgeous, a winner of three stakes races last year, has been named New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for 2013. Geeky Gorgeous also garnered honors as champion handicap mare and champion sprinter.
Bred in New Jersey by Joe-Dan Farm, Geeky Gorgeous started 2013 with a second place finish in the $60,000 Open Mind Handicap at Monmouth Park before finishing out of the money for the first time in her 15 race career in the Blue Sparkler Stakes. The daughter of Devil His Due rebounded with a 2 ½ length victory against open company in the $100,000 Regret Stakes on Haskell Day to start her three race win streak. The now 5-year-old out of the Pure Prize mare Thatholeinmypocket won her next start against the boys in the $60,000 New Jersey Breeder’s Handicap winning by 2 lengths. Geeky Gorgeous may have saved her best performance for last winning the $75,000 Cornucopia Stakes at Parx on October 12 closing from mid-pack in a 10 horse field to finish in 1:08.4. Geeky Gorgeous is trained by her owner and had seasonal earnings of $169,200.
Laurie Plesa’s homebred, Flay Mignon, was named champion two-year-old filly after winning three of her four starts, including the $60,000 Colleen Stakes against open company and the $60,000 Jersey Juvenile defeating New Jersey-bred colts and geldings. Flay Mignon is by Yesbyjimminy out of Forest Retreat, by Forest Camp. Trained by Ed Plesa, Flay Mignon earned $112,400.
Mark DeDomenico and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Exit Stage Left was named champion two-year-old colt or gelding after winning both of his starts in stakes races at Golden Gate Fields. Exit Stage Left started his career with a win in the six furlong Golden Nugget Stakes followed by an impressive win in the one mile Gold Rush Stakes. Bred by Bright View Farm, Inc., Exit Stage Left is by Noonmark out of Hana J, by Peaks and Valleys. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Exit Stage Left earned $75,350.
New Farm homebred, Rainbow Heir, is the champion three-year-old after winning four of his seven starts including the Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. Rainbow Heir entered the Jersey Shore Stakes on a three race win streak and ran to his post time favorite status in a front running score by five lengths. Trained by Ben Perkins, Jr. the son of Wildcat Heir out of the Prospectors Gamble mare, Rainbow Pride, has career earnings of $173,460.
Smith Farm and Stable’s Javerre, the 2012 New Jersey-bred horse of the year, had another successful campaign in 2013 and has been named champion handicap horse. Javerre won the General George Handicap (G3) at Laurel Park for his second career stakes victory after previously winning the New Jersey Breeder’s Handicap in 2012. The Cal Lynch trainee also finished second in the Native Dancer Stakes and Teddy Drone Stakes in 2013. Bred by Gunsmith Stables, Javerre is by Outflanker out of Our Fantene, by Touch Gold. He has career earnings of $366,604.
Joel Kligman’s Richiefromshoprite was named champion turf runner after winning the $60,000 Dan Horn Handicap at Monmouth Park. Bred by Joel Kligman and Karen Jennings, Richiefromshoprite is by Iron Deputy out of the Indian Charlie mare, Indian Boot’s. Richiefromshoprite was a five time winner with three seconds and five thirds before passing away last summer. Trained by Stacy Machiz, Richiefromshoprite had career earnings of $208,038.
Rainbow Pride is the broodmare of the year for 2013. New Farm owns the now 17 year-old mare by Prospectors Gamble-Our Lady Tingle, by Pursuit who has produced 5 winners from 5 foals to race. She is the dam of winners Colorful Delight, Nite Rainbow, Wild Rainbow, Wild Rain Cat and the 2013 New Jersey-bred champion three-year-old, Rainbow Heir. Rainbow Pride has a 2014 New Jersey-bred colt by Henny Hughes at her side.
Defrere is the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey’s Stallion of the Year for the sixth consecutive year. A full brother to Eclipse Award winner and leading sire Dehere, Defrere (Deputy Minister-Sister Dot, by Secretariat) has sired 41 stakes horses in his career, with lifetime progeny earnings in excess of $27.3 million. In 2013, Defrere had total progeny earnings of $1,403,445. The 22-year-old stallion is owned by a syndicate and stands at Walnford Stud in Allentown.
(Featured image, of handicap champion Javerre, by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.)
