Finalists Announced For 2023 Maryland Renaissance Awards

The winners of the seventh annual Renaissance Awards, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, will be announced starting next week.

Awards will be given for the top Maryland owner, trainer, jockey, dirt horses, turf horses, claimer, Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder, as well as the champion Maryland-breds of 2023. Special awards will be presented to Pimlico and Laurel Backstretch Employees of the Year.

The Renaissance Awards were created to recognize the best of Maryland racing and breeding from the previous year. Champions and industry award winners will be announced Monday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, March 2, each morning at 10 a.m. on Maryland Thoroughbred social media platforms.

The announcement schedule is as follows:

Monday, Feb. 26 - Maryland-bred Champion 2-year-olds (male, female) and 3-year-olds (male, female)

Tuesday, Feb. 27 - Maryland-bred Champion Older Male, Older Female, Turf Runner and Sprinter

Wednesday, Feb. 28 - Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Stallion of the Year, Breeder of the Year

Thursday, Feb. 29 - Maryland Jockey of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Owner of the Year

Friday, March 1 - Maryland Dirt Male, Dirt Female, Turf Male, Turf Female and Claimer

Saturday, March 2 - Special recognition of Pimlico and Laurel Backstretch Employees of the Year

The following are finalists in the award categories.

Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male: Catahoula Moon (bred by Angela Coombs, owned by Super C Racing Inc.), Circle P (bred by Marathon Farms Inc., owned by DeSales 85 LLC), Fulmineo (bred by Country Life Farm and Starr of Quality LLC, owned by Starlight Racing and Mark B. Grier)

Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly: Kissedbyanangel (bred by Super C Racing Inc., owned by Joanne Shankle), Miss Harriett (bred by David Baxter, owned by Narrow Leaf Farm), Sheilahs Warcloud (bred by Dr. Megan Kerford DVM & Justin Nixon, owned by Justin Nixon)

Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male: Coffeewithchris (bred by Thomas J. Rooney, owned by John E. Salzman Jr., Fred Wasserloos, Anthony Geruso), Post Time (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P. Higgins III, owned by Hillwood Stable LLC), Seven's Eleven (bred and owned by The Cottonwood Stable LLC)

Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old filly: Bosserati (bred and owned by Joel Politi), Liquidator (bred by Country Life Farm/Stone LLC, owned Not The 1 Stable Inc.), Talk to the Judge (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, owned by Waldorf Racing Stables LLC)

Maryland-bred champion older male: Alwaysinahurry (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Quin Bowman, & Rebecca Davis, owned by Mopo Racing), Double Crown (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman & Rebecca Davis, owned by Built Wright Stables LLC), Eastern Bay (bred by Nancy Lee Farms, owned by Built Wright Stables LLC)

Maryland-bred champion older female: Award Wanted (bred by Dr. Alexandro Rubim Dias, owned by No Guts No Glory Farm & Erica Upton), Intrepid Daydream (bred and owned by Paul L. Fowler Jr.), Spun Glass (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson)

Maryland-bred champion turf runner: Bosserati (bred and owned by Joel Politi), Wet My Beak (bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC, owned by Thelma & Louise Stable LLC), Wicked Prankster (bred by Country Life Farm & Broken Trust Fund LLC, owned by Samuel G. Davis)

Maryland-bred champion sprinter: Intrepid Daydream (bred and owned by Paul L. Fowler Jr.), Post Time (bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P. Higgins III, owned by Hillwood Stable LLC), Seven's Eleven (bred and owned by The Cottonwood Stable LLC)

Owner of the Year: Mens Grille Racing, Michael Scheffres, The Elkstone Group LLC

Trainer of the Year: Kieron Magee, Brittany Russell, Mike Trombetta

Jockey of the Year: Jaime Rodriguez, Sheldon Russell, Jevian Toledo

Breeder of the Year: Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Country Life Farm, Jagger Inc., Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, The Elkstone Group LLC

Broodmare of the Year: Chrusciki, Otherwise Perfect, Touring Hong Kong

Stallion of the Year: Blofeld, Golden Lad, Great Notion

Maryland Male Dirt Horse of the Year: Double Crown, Factor It In, Seven's Eleven

Maryland Female Dirt Horse of the Year: Fille d'Esprit, Hybrid Eclipse, Intrepid Daydream

Maryland Male Turf Horse of the Year: Nagirroc, Wicked Prankster, Witty

Maryland Female Turf Horse of the Year: Bosserati, Canadian Ginger, Shasta Star

Maryland Claimer of the Year: Brother Conway, Classier, Uncaptured Storm

Pimlico Backstretch Employee of the Year: Damon Gladden

Laurel Park Backstretch Employee of the Year: Jenile Tapscott