Costa Rica, who dominated two-year-old trotting filly competition winning both New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Division Championship Finals, was honoured yesterday as overall NJSS Horse of the Year for 2009

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Catherine Stearns Medich, chairman of the NJ Sire Stakes Board of Trustees, made the presentation to co-owner Christina Takter at the annual New Jersey Equine Breeders Awards dinner at Charley’s Other Brother in Easthampton. She was accompanied by her daughter Elizabeth. Also pictured are Tracy Fielding, trainer Jimmy Takter and co-owner Jim Fielding.

The award, which is voted annually by the Sire Stakes Board of Trustees, is based only on performances in races for New Jersey-sired horses, including NJ Sire Stakes events and other major stakes and futurities for New Jersey-sired horses. In addition to the top honor, Costa Rica, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, was honoured as NJSS two-year-old trotting filly of the year.

Also honoured at the event were these other 2009 divisional NJSS horses of the year: Gota Go Bullville (Matts Scooter), two-year-old colt pacer; Dancin Barefoot (Rocknroll Hanover), two-year-old filly pacer; IL Villaggio (Yankee Glide), two-year-old colt trotter; Muscle Hill (Muscles Yankee), three-year-old colt trotter; Table And Chair (Cams Card Shark), three-year-old colt pacer; Scarlet McZara (McArdle), three-year-old filly pacer, and Margarita Momma (Yankee Glide), three-year-old filly trotter.

Costa Rica, a $23,000 yearling purchase bred by Perretti Farms in Cream Ridge, NJ, won all four of her NJSS starts, including the $200,000 Championship at the Meadowlands and the $100,000 Championship at Freehold Raceway.

(NJSS)