By Bloodhorse.com
AUBURN, Wash. (Feb. 27, 2024) — Slew’s Crew Racing’s multiple stakes winner Slew’s Tiz Whiz was named Washington’s top racehorse for the second year in a row at the Washington Thoroughbred Annual Awards dinner held Feb. 24 at Emerald Downs.
The now 6-year-old gelding by California stallion Slew’s Tiznow and bred by the late Karl Krieg, also earned titles as champion sprinter and champion handicap horse. He is trained by Tom Wenzel.
Blazingbellablu earned her third state championship title as champion older filly or mare. The 6-year-old daughter of California stallion Grazen and homebred for Petra Lewin of Rainbow Meadows Farm and trainer Charles Essex was named 2021 Washington horse of the year as a 3-year-old in 2021 and was 2022’s champion older filly or mare.
For the third year in a row. Blue Ribbon Farm’s Conveyance was named sire of the year, while Ron and Nina Hagen’s Caliofrnia-bred Moscow Symphony, a first- and second-generation multiple stakes producer, was named broodmare of the year. The Hagens, who own El Dorado Farms, were also named breeders of the year for the seventh time and John Parker, who has led the Emerald Downs’ owner standings for six years by wins, was honored as owner of the year.
Also announced at the event were the 2024 Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductees. They are: Flag de Lune (filly or mare), Basil Frazier (jockey), Jon White (media), and Junior Coffey (lifetime achievement). The induction ceremony will be held in August at Emerald Downs.
The complete list of 2023 champions and award winners:
Horse of the Year, champion older horse or gelding, and champion sprinter
Slew’s Tiz Whiz (5, g., Slew’s Tiznow—Ros’s Girl, by Rosberg)
Owners: Slew’s Crew Racing (Roy and Tammy Brewer, Terry and Mary Lou Griffin, Jodee Snyder, and Tom and Melissa Wenzel)
Breeder: Karl Krieg (K D Thoroughbreds)
Trainer: Tom Wenzel
Champion older filly or mare
Blazingbellablu (5, Grazen—Bellomesa, by Sky Mesa)
Owners and breeders: Rainbow Meadows Farm (Petra Lewin) and Charles Essex
Trainer: Charles Essex
Bodenheimer (5, g., Atta Boy Roy—Beautiful Daniele, by A. P. Indy)
Owners: Kristin Boice and Marylou Holden
Breeder: Larry Romaine
Trainer: Valorie Lund
Champion 3-year-old colt or gelding
Company’s Dream (g., Jersey Town—Double Dip, by French Envoy)
Owner: Lusk Racing (Gary and Deborah Lusk)
Breeder: Joseph DiPietro (DiPietro Thoroughbreds)
Trainer: Vince Gibson
Champion 3-year-old filly
Miss Dynamic (Dynamic Impact—Miss Salome, by Harbor the Gold)
Owner and breeder: Antonio C. Mendoza
Trainer: Rigoberto Velasquez
Overall champion 2-year-old, champion 2-year-old colt or gelding
Freightline (c., Coast Guard—Knight Raider, by Tribunal)
Owners: Gold Coast Racing III (Nina and Ron Hagen, David Israel, Joe Withee,
Steve Bullock, Steve Opacich, Dick Clark, and Ron Bohlman)
Breeders: Nina M. Hagen (El Dorado Farms) and Holly Sturgeon
Trainer: Steve Bullock
Champion 2-year-old filly
Special Diva (Misremembered—Special Holiday, by Private Gold)
Owner: Jeff Cissell
Breeders: Connie Belshay (Only Me Thoroughbreds) and Mel and Lori Mellick
(Sporting Green Thoroughbreds)
Trainer: Vince Gibson
Plater of the Year
Holyjazz (5, g., Abraaj—Holy Mama, by Holy Bull)
Owner and trainer: Angela M. Aquino.
Breeder: Horseplayers Racing Club (Scott and Debra Gruender