From a Maryland Horse Breeders Association release

David and JoAnn Hayden’s Dark Hollow Farm was the big winner at the 80th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association’s Maryland-bred yearling show held on Sunday, June 29 at the Timonium Fairgrounds horse show ring in Timonium. The Haydens’ homebred Pure Prize filly, one of two class winners on the day for Dark Hollow, was selected by trainer Tony Dutrow as grand champion over 75 other entrants.

The elegant bay, out of graded stakes winner and Maryland-bred champion He Loves Me (by Not For Love), was the winner of Class IV, for fillies conceived in states other than Maryland. The filly fit the picture of an athlete and was a beautiful mover, noted Dutrow, a regular auction buyer whose purchases have included Grace Hall, Smart and Fancy, In Trouble and Gracer. Dutrow made his selections based on what strikes him when looking for a future runner.

The Haydens also took the blue ribbon in Class II, for colts and geldings conceived in states other than Maryland. Their winning colt by Fairbanks is the first foal out of the Red Bullet mare Silver Ashlee.

The Haydens had previously exhibited the MHBA Yearling Show’s champion and reserve champion in 2009. A regular showgoer since the mid 1980s, Dark Hollow Farm has solely, or in partnership, won a total of 10 classes. Among the yearlings they have taken into the show ring over the years were Hall of Famer and Eclipse Award winner Safely Kept, graded stakes winners Ready’s Image, New York Hero and Not for Silver (a half-brother to Silver Ashlee) and recent stakes winners Eighttofasttocatch, Plum, Joy and Mystic Love.

All yearlings who entered the show ring are now eligible for the $40,000 premium award, which will be split and distributed twice, with $20,000 going to the exhibitors of the four show contestants who earn the most money as 2-year-olds during 2015, and another $20,000 divided among the exhibitors of the four highest-earning 3-year-old runners the next year. Youngsters shown by Dark Hollow Farm have rewarded the farm significantly over the years, taking home $122,000 in premium awards since 1986.

The reserve champion was the winner of Class I, for colts and geldings foaled in Maryland by Maryland sires. Owned and bred by Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Harrison, the dark bay Great Notion colt is out of Mark Me Special, by Haymaker. Struck by the colt’s balance and athleticism, Dutrow said the colt has room to grow and mature.

The leading Maryland sire of the show was Friesan Fire, whose first foals are yearlings. The son of A.P. Indy stands at Country Life Farm in Bel Air, and took title to the Northview Stallion Station Challenge Trophy by having three ribbon winners-a first, second and fifth-in Class III for fillies.

COMPLETE RESULTS

  • Class I. For colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in Maryland. (26 exhibited):
    1. JUST JACK, dk.b./br.c., 4/25/2013, Great Notion-Mark Me Special, by Haymaker. Owned by Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Harrison, Butler, Md. Bred by Michael J. Harrison DVM;
    2. KING OF VERSAILLES, b.c., 3/24/2013, Scipion-Bigdaddysgirl, by Louis Quatorze. Owned by Gina Rosenthal, Clarksburg, Md. Bred by Gina Rosenthal and Robin Coblyn;
    3. ch.c., 2/22/2013, Not For Love-Stellar Slew, by Seattle Slew. Owned and bred by Marilyn Doetsch, Clarksville, Md.;
    4. NEW KID IN TOWN, ch.c., 6/03/2013, Etched-Emerald Song, by Eurosilver. Owned and bred by Mike Dalton LLC, Ashburn, Va.; 5. dk.b./br.c., 4/28/2013, Rock Slide-My Sweet Nenana, by Jazz Club. Owned and bred by James B. Steele Jr., Woodbine, Md.
  • Class II. For colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in states other than Maryland (18 exhibited):
    1.  dk.b./br.c., 1/18/2013, Fairbanks-Silver Ashlee, by Red Bullet. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md.;
    2. dk.b./br.c., 4/15/2013, Ready’s Image-Happy Sylvia, by King of Kings (Ire). Owned and bred by Carol Ann Kaye, Jeanne Baker and Jim Boyce, Woodbine, Md.;
    3. ch.c., 2/21/2013, Trappe Shot-High Moment, by High Yield. Owned and bred by Dorsey Brown and Richard Palmer, Upperco, Md.;
    4. STEPHEN’S ANSWER, b.c., 3/09/2013, Stephen Got Even-Answer by Daylight, by Seeking Daylight. Owned and bred by Wayne and Juanita Morris, Quantico, Md.; 5. b.c., 5/14/2013, Quiet American-Living Trust, by Gentlemen (Arg). Owned and bred by Robert T. Manfuso, West Friendship, Md.
  • Class III. For fillies foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in Maryland (14 exhibited):
    1. b.f., 4/14/2013, Friesan Fire-Easy Mover, by Outflanker. Owned by Country Life Farm and Fire Away LLC, Bel Air, Md. Bred by Country Life Farm and Thomas Winebarger Sr.;
    2. NO TIME FOR THIS, b.f., 3/11/2013, Friesan Fire-Perfect Slam, by Grand Slam. Owned by Spring Meadow Farm, Cooksville, Md. Bred by Brice Ridgely;
    3. dk.b./br.f., 3/31/2013, Etched-Cross Over Please, by Valley Crossing. Owned and bred by Bonita Farm, Darlington, Md.;
    4. MONG’S MILLION, b.f., 5/01/2013, Etched-Please Mong, by Deputed Testamony. Owned by James Fontelieu, Sean McManus and Bonita Farm, Darlington, Md. Bred by Bonita Farm; 5. dk.b./br.f., 4/22/2013, Friesan Fire-Wellingtons Arch, by Arch. Owned and bred by Dennis Cardoza, Bethesda, Md.
  • Class IV. For fillies foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in states other than Maryland (18 exhibited):
    1. b.f., 4/02/2013, Pure Prize-He Loves Me, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md.;
    2. b.f., 4/02/2013, Street Boss-Sheave, by Mineshaft. Owned and bred by Robert T. Manfuso, West Friendship, Md.;
    3. b.f., 2/22/2013, Smarty Jones-Happy Hailey, by Rock Slide. Owned and bred by Marilyn Doetsch, Clarksville, Md.;
    4. GOOD ROLL, dk.b./br.f., 3/23/2013, Artie Schiller-Flight Numbers, by Polish Numbers. Owned and bred by Richard C. Granville, Easton, Md.;
    5. MOON VIRGINIA, b.f., 3/14/2013, Jump Start-Heavenly Moon, by Mojave Moon. Owned and bred by Fred A. Greene Jr., Deborah Greene and Hamilton Smith, Laurel, Md.

(Featured image, of the grand champion, by Laurie Asseo.)