Racing secretaries of Harness Tracks of America's 38 members have selected their season's champions of 2008, including three Ontario-sired standouts.
Owners of the 12 divisional champions will receive HTA's prized Nova Awards at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Wednesday night, February 4, 2009 during the Harness Racing Congress.
The winners are:
2-year-old trotting filly: Paolo Rosanelli and John C. Siena of Middletown, NY, owners of Honorable Daughter, winner of 9 of 11 races and $835,555 in 2008.
2-year-old trotting colt: Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY, and Thomas and Louis Pontone's TLP Stable of Kearny, NJ , owners of Muscle Hill, winner of 8 of 9 races and $817,301 in 2008.
3-year-old trotting filly: Goram C. Falk's Falkbolagen Ab Stable of Malmo, Sweden, owner of Lantern Kronos, winner of 12 of 18 races and $920,616 in 2008.
3-year-old trotting colt: Ray Schnittker of Middletown, NY, Ted Gewertz of New York, NY, Charles Iannazzo of Tappan, NY and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable, Frank Baldassare of Monroe, NY, Alan and Meg Leavitt of Lexington, KY, and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY, owners of Deweycheatumnhowe, winner of 12 of 15 races and $2,254,587 in 2008.
Older male trotter: Peter Kleinhans of Flemington, NJ, and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY, owners of Enough Talk, winner of 9 of 21 races and $867,501 in 2008.
Trotting mare: Howard Taylor of Penn Valley, PA, Edwin Gold of Wayne, PA, Abraham Basen of Las Vegas, NV, and R.R. Fuller of Newark, OH, owners of Buck I St Pat, winner of 10 of 14 races and $412,407 in 2008.
2-year-old pacing filly: Jack Darling of Cambridge, Ontario, owner of St Lads Popcorn, winner of 12 of 15 races and $602,669 in 2008.
2-year-old pacing colt: Chester Lebo, Jr. of Carlisle, PA, Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY, and Tina Martinez of Dillsburg, PA, owners of Major In Art, winner of 6 of 10 races and $896,060 in 2008.
3-year-old pacing filly: Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY, Eric Cherry's Let It Ride Stables of Delray Beach, FL, and Robert Cooper of Boca Raton, FL, owners of Tug River Princess, winner of 12 of 19 races and $872,559 in 2008.
3-year-old pacing colt: Schooner Stables, Brent MacGrath of Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Garry Pye, Stuart Rath and James Bagnell of Truro, Nova Scotia, Pamela Dean of Londonderry, Nova Scotia, and Reginald Petitpas of Shediac Bridge, New Brunswick, owners of Somebeachsomewhere, winner of 14 of 15 races and $2,516,163 in 2008.
Older male pacer: Joseph V. Muscara of Huntington Valley, PA, owner of Mister Big, winner of 11 of 14 races and $1,570,067 in 2008.
Pacing mare: Adam Victor's Adam Victor & Son Stable of New York, NY, owner of My Little Dragon, winner of 10 of 22 races and $831,445 in 2008.
(HTA)
I'm not at all surprised
I'm not at all surprised with the winners announced by the HTA. I was very surprised to see that Jerry Silva had a stake in 5 of the 12 horses honored! Mr. Silva certainly has had a great year owning part of Tug River Princess, Major in Art, Enough Talk, Dewycheatumnhowe and Muscle Hill and it is conceivable he could be as decorated next year. Congratulations Mr. Silva... care to share your secret?