Catch Me Ridin Dirty named A.R.A.B. of Michigan’s Horse of the Year

The connections of Arabian Horse of the Year Catch Me Ridin Dirty celebrate the gelding's victory at A.R.A.B. of Michigan's High Point Awards.

Two years after a 5 1/2-length maiden score on a June afternoon in 2009, the Arabian colony at Mount Pleasant Meadows is still playing catch-up with Catch Me Ridin Dirty.

The gap got a little wider after Catch Me Ridin Dirty was honored with his second Horse of the Year title at last Saturday’s Michigan Association of Racing Arabian Breeders High Point Awards at Stanton’s Clifford Lake Inn.

The five-year-old Aransas HF gelding, who goes by the barn name “Louie” when away from the racetrack, made the most of a shortened 2010 meet, with wins in three of his four starts for earnings of $7,509.

Catch Me Ridin Dirty’s showcase win came in the July 11 Independence Open, where he led at every point of call and drew off in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths over a muddy course.

Homebred in Michigan and trained by Nicole Holst, Catch Me Ridin Dirty was also named Horse of the Year as a three-year-old in 2009. Holst, who earned Trainer of the Year honors, said her gelding will return in 2011 to defend his title once again.

Jockey of the Year Nate Alcala has ridden Catch Me Ridin Dirty in all 10 of his career starts, all at Mount Pleasant. The pair won eight of those starts, including two in stakes company, to earn $19,134.

Catch Me Ridin Dirty finished the evening with additional awards for top four-year-old male and Michigan-bred male.

Leading the evening’s award-winners was Tom and Joyce Fritz’s Hickory Lane Farms, Inc. The Sidney, Mich. farm took home four equine awards, along with the prizes for top owner and breeder.

The standout horse to run under Hickory Lane’s neon green colors was three-year-old-male of the year Get R Done.

The Virgule Al Maury gelding finished a perfect two-for-two in 2010 by a combined 29 lengths. A 23-length victory in the Aug. 1 Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes helped Get R Done earn a Darley Award nomination for champion three-year-old colt or gelding.

Michigan-bred Get R Done is trained by Mario Fritz for owner and breeder Tom Fritz. He has amassed career earnings of $5,150.

Get R Done was a runner-up for Horse of the Year honors, along with Stars and Stripes Distaff winner Shestheone and award-winning older male Zanthus Fury.

Behind the jump is the full list of winners from Saturday’s awards and their 2010 statistics.

Get R Done demolishes field in Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes

Get R Done leaves the field in the distance to win the Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes at Mount Pleasant Meadows.

If there was any debate about who should own the title as Michigan’s top three-year-old Arabian, Get R Done silenced it with authority, following a 23 length victory in Sunday’s $7,600 Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes at Mount Pleasant Meadows.

The Virgule Al Maury gelding broke well and watched from second as Triple Play SA shot to the lead on the outside. Triple Play SA stretched out her lead as the field passed the grandstand for the first time and led by about three lengths as she headed into the clubhouse turn. Get R Done and Wicked Breeze were the nearest trailers, about a length apart. The leader’s advantage was quickly narrowed in the turn by Get R Done, who was briefly neck and neck with Triple Play SA before leaving his rival behind.

That confrontation was the last time Get R Done would be near a rival until the gallop-out. He stretched out his lead across the backstretch and entered the turn about eight lengths ahead of Triple Play SA and First Kiss HLF. The margin continued to expand throughout the final turn, and Get R Done entered the stretch 20 lengths better than his nearest foe. He continued to pad his lead throughout the stretch and crossed the wire under an easy hand ride from jockey Juan Delgado. Get R Done checked in 23 lengths ahead of the second place finisher, stablemate First Kiss HLF. The runner-up earned his spot by an impressive margin of his own, 11 1/4 lengths in front of Pipers Prime Time.

Get R Done completed the five furlong race with a time of 1:10.86 over a fast dirt surface. He was part of a three-horse entry, along with runner-up First Kiss HLF and fourth place Hot Lava, that left the gates as the post time favorite at 0.90-to-one.

Get R Done was homebred in Michigan by Tom Fritz and trained by Mario Fritz. His lifetime record is now a perfect two-for-two with earnings of $5,150. the Michigan Arabian Juvenile was also Get R Done’s first stakes victory.

For an Equibase chart of the race, click here.

1A – Get R Done (Juan Delgado) 3.80
1 – First Kiss HLF (Jose Beltran) 3.80
3 – Pipers Prime Time (Oscar Delgado)

Five Furlongs
Time: 1:10.86

Your winner, Get R Done; Juan Delgado, up.

Holst, Fritz send many entries in Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes

Get R Done's convincing score in his maiden race helped make him the co-morning line favorite in the Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes.

Owner Tom Fritz and trainer Nicole Holst will account for a combined seven of the eight entries in Sunday’s $6,000 Michigan Arabian Juvenile Stakes at Mount Pleasant Meadows.

The marquee race in Michigan for three-year-old Arabians was won last year by eventual Michigan Arabian of the Year Catch Me Ridin Dirty. Sunday’s race will be the first start at five furlongs for each horse in the field.

Like Larry The Cable Guy opening the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Get R Done made a strong first impression on the strength of his six-length debut win on July 11. The Virgule Al Maury gelding quickly took a commanding lead in the maiden special weight race and cantered down the stretch unchallenged under jockey Juan Delgado, who retains the mount. Mario Fritz trains Get R Done for owner Tom Fritz.

First Kiss HLF opened her career with an impressive score of her own, notching a 4 1/4 length win on July 18. The daughter of Chndaka took a similar path to the winner’s circle as her stablemate, Get R Done, with a forwardly placed trip followed by an un-pressured lope down the stretch. Julie Post trains First Kiss HLF for owner Tom Fritz. Jose Beltran will be in the irons for Sunday’s race.

The other part of the Tom Fritz-owned entry is Hot Lava, who is trained by Mario Fritz and did not have a rider at the time final entries were published. Of the remaining riders available in Mount Pleasant’s regular jockey colony, Josh Ritschard is the most likely one to fill the opening.

Also entered is the Nicole Holst-trained Three T Peacock. The TTT Freedom gelding won on July 4 with a 3 1/4 victory, and enters the race off a third place finish on July 18. Tricia Schibik owns Three T Peacock, who will be ridden by Gerardo Garrido.

Holst will send three others to the post in Sunday’s race. Oddsmaker is owned by Lapco Arabians and will be ridden by Nate Alcala. Amanda Keller will ride Holst-owned Wicked Breeze, and Lee Gates will ride Triple Play SA for Tricia Schibik.

Pipers Prime Time is also entered in the Michigan Arabian Juvenile. Julie Post trains the Pipers Pinosh gelding for owner Leon Silber. Oscar Delgado will get the leg up.

#. Horse / Jockey / Trainer / Odds

1. First Kiss HLF / J A Beltran / J Post / 3-5
1A. Get R Done / J F Delgado / M Fritz / 3-5
1C. Hot Lava / No Rider / M Fritz / 3-5
2. Oddsmaker / N Alcala / N Holst / 1-1
2B. Wicked Breeze / A Keller / N Holst / 1-1
2D. Triple Play SA / L Gates / N Holst / 1-1
2X. Three T Peacock / G Garrido  / N Holst / 1-1
3. Pipers Prime Time / O Delgado / J Post / 15-1