2023 Texas Bred Champions Announced

Texas champion Sunlit Song’s 2023 campaign earned him Horse of the Year honors and Champion Older Horse among Texas-breds. Owned by Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding, Sunlit Song continued his high-level performance on track in 2023 with five wins and a second in 6 starts in 2023, including four stakes victories.

Sunlit Song opened his 2023 campaign with three straight wins, including wins in the Houston Turf Stakes and the Richard King Turf Stakes for Texas-breds, at Sam Houston Race Park. He moved to Lone Star Park and earned his fourth consecutive victory in 2023 with a going-away score in the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.

The now nine-year-old My Golden Song gelding closed his eight-year-old season with a driving finish in the Remington Green Stakes against open company at Remington Park. His 2023 concluded with five wins and $227,192 in earnings marking his best year to date as an eight-year-old. In his six racing seasons, Sunlit Song has amassed more than $730,000 in earnings with 18 wins in 43 lifetime starts.

Sunlit Song’s dam, Fly So True, has been named the 2023 Texas Broodmare of the Year.

The leading Accredited Texas-Bred money earner for 2023 was Douglas Scharbauer/Valor Horse Farm LLC.

The winner of the 2023 Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA Member of the Year is Danny Pish. Mary Ruyle will receive the T. I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Following is the complete list of the 2023 champion horses:

2-Year-Old Filly: CLOSING ACT (by Munnings) • Owner: Douglas Scharbauer • Breeder: Douglas Scharbauer

2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: MARFA SKY (by Bradester) • Owner: Macassar Corporation • Breeder: Macassar Corporation

3-Year-Old Filly: IZATIZ (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Billy Clevenger • Breeder: Billy Clevenger

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: WILD ON ICE (by Tapizar) • Owner: Frank Sumpter • Breeder: Frank Sumpter

Older Filly/Mare: IMALUCKYCHARM (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Carl R. Moore Management LLC • Breeder: Ronald & Margaret Ellerbee

Champion Older Horse: SUNLIT SONG (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Carolyn Barnett & Becky Harding • Breeder: Carolyn Barnett

Champion Broodmare: FLY SO TRUE (by Early Flyer)

Horse of the Year: SUNLIT SONG (by My Golden Song)