Catch Me Ridin Dirty, jockey Nate Alcala and trainer Nicole Holst were each well-represented in A.R.A.B. of Michigan's year-end awards.
Trainer Nicole Holst wrapped up a successful 2009 campaign by securing an armload of awards for herself and her charges at the Association of Racing Arabian Breeders of Michigan’s year-end awards dinner.
The awards were presented Jan. 9 in Mt. Pleasant.
Holst led all trainers with six awards for horses in her stable, including Horse of the Year Catch Me Ridin Dirty. She also took home two individual awards as Michigan’s champion trainer and breeder.
Catch Me Ridin Dirty earned three awards on the evening, the most of any horse. In addition to Horse of the Year, the Aransas HF gelding also picked up honors for champion three-year-old male and Michigan-Bred of the Year. His dominant meet at Mt. Pleasant also earned Catch Me Ridin Dirty national attention when he was named a finalist for the Darley Award as champion three-year-old male.
Owner Tom Fritz was also well-represented with three awards, including Owner of the Year. Fritz’s award-winning stable included the champions in both four year-old divisions – Zanthus Fury (male) and ARC Midewst Maturity Distaff Stakes winner Pachet (female).
To view the preview for the awards, including the full list of nominees in each category, click here.
A full list of winners (with pictures!) can be found behind the jump.
Note: Awards are likely based on performance at Mount Pleasant Meadows, but for the sake of continuity, I have included figures from starts at other tracks.
Horse of the Year
Michigan-Bred of the Year
Three-Year-Old Male
Catch Me Ridin Dirty
by Aransas HF out of HF Geneva, by Origan
Owner: Diana Jackson
Trainer: Nicole Holst
Breeder: Nicole Holst (MI)
Regular Jockey: Nate Alcala
2009 Record: 6-5-1-0
Earnings: $11,625
Winner, Michigan Juvenile Stakes
Reserve Three-Year-Old Male
Breezin Bye
Three-Year-Old Female
Damasing
By Chndaka out of Amaysing, by *Sambor
Owner: Lapco Arabians
Trainer: Nicole Holst
Breeder: Darley Stud Management, LLC (KY)
Regular Jockey: Nate Alcala (not pictured)/Oscar Delgado
2009 Racord: 6-2-0-2
Earnings: $5,277
3rd, Michigan Juvenile Stakes
Reserve Three-Year-Old Female
Schakka Khan
Four-Year-Old Male
Zanthus Fury
By Haffir El Rimal out of Myaakko, by Brusally Orzaborr
Owner: Tom Fritz
Trainer: Mario Fritz
Breeder: Hickory Lane Farms, Inc. (MI)
Regular Jockey: Tasha Fritz
2009 Record: 7-3-1-1
Earnings: $7,083
Reserve Four-Year-Old Male
Vagas
Four-Year-Old Female
Pachet
By Haffir El Rimal out of Milady Coleen, by Virgule Al Maury
Owner: Tom Fritz
Trainer: Mario Fritz
Breeder: Tom Fritz (MI)
Regular Jockey: Tasha Fritz
2009 Record: 6-2-1-2
Earnings: $8,690
Winner, ARC Midwest Maturity Distaff Stakes
Reserve Four-Year-Old Female
Shestheone
Older Male
Bush Hog
By Line Dancer out of Faancy Face, by Monarch AH
Owner: Lapco Arabians
Trainer: Nicole Holst
Breeder: Danny or Miriam Garrett (KY)
Regular Jockey: Nate Alcala
2009 Record: 11-6-1-1
Earnings: $22,597
Winner, Tiki Diablo Stakes (at Retama Park); 3rd ARC Midwest Maturity Open Stakes
Reserve Older Male
Need For Speed
Older Female
Whos My Daddy
by Haffir El Rimal out of Mellonah, by *Mellon
Owner: Julie Post
Trainer: Julie Post
Breeder: Trackside Farm (FL)
Regular Jockey: Julie Veltman (not pictured)
2009 Record: 12-4-3-2
Earnings: $11,898
2nd, ARC Midwest Maturity Distaff Stakes
Reserve Older Female
Fly Without Wings
Claiming Horse of the Year
Need For Speed
By Aransas HF out of Bristol Breeze, by Wiking
Owner: Diana Jackson
Trainer: Nicole Holst
Breeder: Nicole Holst (MI)
Regular Jockey: Julie Veltman (not pictured)
2009 Record: 7-2-2-2
Earnings: $9,250
Winner, ARC Midwest Maturity Open Stakes
Owner of the Year
Tom Fritz
Owner of stakes winner Pachet, stakes placed Vagas, Helfire, champion four-year-old male Zanthus Fury.
Trainer & Breeder of the Year
Nicole Holst
Trainer of stakes winners Need For Speed and Catch Me Ridin Dirty, stakes placed Bush Hog & Damasing.
Breeder of stakes winners Catch Me Ridin Dirty & Need For Speed.
Jockey of the Year
Nate Alcala
Winner, Michigan Juvenile Stakes, 3rd ARC Michigan Maturity Open Stakes.
First call rider for leading trainer Nicole Holst.
Judith Cooper Award
Awarded to the person(s) who show outstanding commitment to Arabian Racing in Michigan
Bruce & Tricia Schibik
The Michigan-Bred Claimer 