Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
April 3, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Voters Select King Of The Roxy 2007 Ohio Horse Of The Year
King of the Roxy, foaled in humble surroundings on a farm in Stark County, has been voted Ohio Horse of the Year for 2007. The dark brown colt, and nearly a dozen other Buckeye champions, both horse and human, were honored last Friday night at the annual Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners dinner at Darby Dan Farm in Galloway, Ohio.
Foaled by Debbie Kopatz on her 11-acre Fox Chapel Farm in North Canton after paying a $3,500 fee to bred the mare Marrakesh to Littleexpectations, King of the Roxy won the Grade II Hutcheson, finished second in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and added another second in the Grade III Barbaro at Delaware Park.
On the year, the Team Valor International runner won once in five starts and banked $300,834. As a freshman in 2006, King of the Roxy won the $250,000 Futurity at Belmont Park. The Ohio champion is expected to run next in Saturday's Grade I Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.
"What are the odds I'd breed a horse like (King of the Roxy) on a $3,500 stud fee?" Kopatz told The Blood-Horse magazine.
Kopatz, representing Team Valor, accepted the Horse of the Year trophy as well another for King of the Roxy being named Special Recognition Colt Champion, then picked up two for herself as the breeder of the Buckeye champion and owner of Marrakesh, voted Broodmare of the Year.
Other Ohio champions honored last weekend:
O'RIAIN --Two-Year-Old Colt --- Ended his first season with a rush, winning the Ohio Juvenile and Freshman Stakes.
SARASPONDA -- Two-Year FIlly --- She won three straight stakes, including the John Galbreath and Glacial Princess at Beulah Park.
PYRITE PERSONAL -- Three-Year-Old Colt --- He won the turf, capturing River Downs' Green Carpet, and on the dirt, winning Thistledown's prestigious Cleveland Gold Cup.
PAY THE MAN -- Three-Year-Old Filly -- She won three added-money races, including the Queen City Oaks, and was game enough to finish second to the boys in the Cleveland Gold Cup.
CATLAUNCH --- Male Handicap Horse --- Versatile-sort, winning a stake sprinting (Rowland Memorial) and two long (Ruff-Kirchberg and Governor's Buckeye). He was also voted accredited male champion.
CRYPTOQUIP -- Female Handicap Horse --- A traveling gal, if there was one. Her seven starts in '07 came at seven different tracks. She was a smashing winner (by 7 1/2 lengths) of the Best of Ohio Distaff.
MINI MOM --- Accredited Female Horse --- Princess of Ohio because of her love of Queen City. She won three stakes races, all at Cincinnati's River Downs, including two on the turf.
DOOZE --- Dash Specialist --- He ran his foes off their hooves, winning both the Honey Jay and the Best of Ohio Sprint.
MERCER MILL -- Leading Stallion --- His son, O'Riain, and his daughter, Magg's Choice, did him proud, winning two stakes races.
ELISABETH ALEXANDER -- Owner of the Year -- The Hunting Valley resident won graded stakes with her Magna Graduate and Bridge Game, and scored at home with Cryptoquip.
Thistledown Track Talk Returns to KNR2 On Thursday Nights
Thistledown Track Talk, Thistledown’s thoroughbred radio show, returns for the second season on Thursday evenings live from 6-7 p.m. on KNR2 1540 a.m. The first show will air next Thursday, April 10th.
The show is hosted by Thistledown TV Analyst Rich Ruda. Ruda will talk about Thistledown racing as well as the nation’s top horses and premier Thoroughbred events and will also feature special guests, horseracing trivia, contests and giveaways and some hot handicapping tips.
MR. PRESIDENT -- Tim Hamm, who races 2007 champions Magg's Choice, Mini Mom, Cold Trail, and Smarmy, is the new president of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners. His election was announced in Columbus last weekend. Afterwards, Hamm told The Blood-Horse, "I think we really need to develop a racing circuit in Ohio to accommodate what we need. We need to focus short term on a circuit to accommodate Ohio horsemen year-round."
FEED BAG -- Scioto Farm's Ohio champion Catlaunch launched his 2008 campaign on a winning note, scoring in an allowance race at Beulah Park last Saturday. He ran six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 . . . Horses have been stretching their legs over the Thistledown surface in anticipation of the May 1 opener. However, no official workouts will be logged until Saturday . . . Starting Sunday, Thistledown will be open for nighttime full-card simulcasting four consecutive days. The North Randall oval is open each and every day for afternoon satellite wagering . . . Gulfstream Park, one of Thistledown's sister tracks, gave customers a difficult choice last weekend. A promotion labeled "Cash, Cars or College," offered visitors to the Gulfstream casino, if their names where chosen, either $25,000, a new Ford Mustang, or four years of college tuition at a Florida state university.