PENNSYLVANIA’S BEST HONORED AT ANNUAL BANQUET

Barbara Hopkins’ Trouble Kid was honored as the top thoroughbred in Pennsylvania for 2015 at a banquet held Wednesday night at Parx.  The three year-old gelded son of Harlan’s Holiday proved to be an astute and bargain claim for trainer Ramon Preciado, who claimed the horse for just $15,000 in early July and then turned him into a multiple stakes winner.  He won four straight races after the claim, including wins in the $150,000 Valley Forge Stakes and the $300,000 Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes both here at Parx.  His earnings for the year would fall just shy of $400,000.

 

Other highlights from the evening included jockey Frankie Pennington winning his second consecutive riding title and now third of his career.  Trainer Ramon Preciado won the second straight training title racking up a near record 148 wins, 30 more than he had in 2014, and a win percentage of nearly 32%. Jockey Michael Ritvo won the award as top apprentice jockey leading a tremendous group of young riders now competing at Parx.

 

Following is a list of all other divisional and individual award winners:

 

2YO Colt or Gelding – JRita Young Thoroughbreds’ Bird of Trey (Trained by John Servis)

2YO Filly – Cash is King’s Cathryn Sophia (John Servis)

3YO Colt or Gelding – Barbara Hopkins’ Trouble Kid (Ramon Preciado)

3YO Filly – Dun Roamin Farms Inc. & Rosemore Farms, Inc’s Discreet Senorita (Ed Lehman)

Older Male – M-Z Racing Partnership’s Uncle Dave (Marcos Zulueta)

Older Female – Barlar’s Bound (Bernard Houghton)

Claiming Horse of the Year – Miguel Vera’s Ticfaw (Miguel Vera)

Outstanding Claim of the Year – Trouble Kid (Ramon Preciado)

Winningest Horse – After the Bell

Apprentice Jockey – Michael Ritvo

Leading Jockey – Frankie Pennington

Leading Owner – Barbara Hopkins

Leading Trainer – Ramon Preciado

“B” Division Trainer (top percentage with less than 150 starts and less than 10 stalls) – Miguel Vera

“B” Division Owner – JAG Racing and Jettany Thoroughbred Corp.