From Barretts
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2017) — Stormy Hull of Sequim, Washington is the recipient of the inaugural McMahon Award given to the breeder of the leading money-winning California-bred two-year-old stakes winner sold at public auction. Hull, who operates Critter Creek Farm along with Ginger Samples, bred California Diamond, recently named the California-bred Champion Two-Year-Old colt of 2016. With earnings of $417,780 last year, he easily outdistanced all rivals.
California Diamond was purchased from the Critter Creek Farm consignment at the 2015 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale by John Brocklebank, agent for Dickman Legacy Ranch. After receiving his early preparation in Utah, he won his 2-year-old debut, a 5-furlong Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita on June 17 for Brocklebank, and returned 22 days later to set a new stakes record while winning the listed Santa Anita Juvenile.
The sale topper at the Barretts’ Paddock Sale at Del Mar two weeks later, he continued a juvenile campaign for leading California owner Rockingham Ranch and trainer Peter Miller not seen in Southern California in the last 25 years closing out the year with 4 stakes wins and 4 stakes seconds. He kicked off his 3-year-old season with a strong second place in the $250,000 California Cup Derby in January, improving his overall record to 5 wins and 5 seconds in 10 starts in a little over seven months. True to his name, California Diamond is a modern-day iron horse and a most deserving winner of the inaugural McMahon Award.
The McMahon Award, which will be presented annually by Barretts Equine Limited, is named for Barretts co-founder and former President, Gerald McMahon, who was a strong believer in the need for a commercial marketplace, as well as the promotion of those sellers who produce top runners.