California-bred champions for 2012 announced

The California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association unveiled its 2012 champions on Monday, and announced that its annual meeting and awards dinner will be held on Feb. 11 at the Westin Pasadena in Pasadena, Calif.

The California-bred Horse of the Year for 2012 will be announced at the dinner, which begins at 7 p.m. Pacific following a business session at 4 p.m. and a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. Oaklawn Park track announcer Frank Mirahmadi will serve as master of ceremonies.

Unusual Heat was named champion sire of California-conceived foals by earnings and by turf earnings. Tribal Rule was champion sire of California-conceived 2-year-olds by earnings and champion California-conceived foals by number of winners. Council Member was named champion freshman sire of California-conceived foals by earnings, and Tommy Town Thoroughbreds was awarded champion breeder of California-foaled runners by earnings.

Acclamation, a multiple Grade 1-winning son of Unusual Heat, was named champion California-bred older male and turf horse. Halo Dolly, who won five stakes races in California in 2012, including the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, was named champion California-bred older female.

Also at the dinner, Santa Anita and Del Mar track announcer Trevor Denman and stallion Windy Sands both will be inducted into the CTBA Hall of Fame.

The complete CTBA awards list:

Champion California-bred Horse of the Year: To be announced Feb. 11
Trainer of the Year: Walther Solis
Champion California-bred 2-year-old female: Tilde (breeder, Revocable Trust of Dr. Mikel Harrington)
Champion California-bred 2-year-old male: Monument (breeder, Lee Searing and Susan Searing)
Champion California-bred 3-year-old female: Willa B Awesome (breeder, Terry Lovingier)
Champion California-bred 3-year-old male: Unusual Heatwave (breeder, Montecito Stables)
Champion California-bred older male: Acclamation (breeder, Old English Rancho)
Champion California-bred older female: Halo Dolly (breeder, Rod Rodriguez and Lorraine Rodriguez)
Champion California-bred turf horse: Acclamation
Champion California-bred sprinter: Amazombie (breeder, Gregg Anderson)
Champion sire of California-conceived foals by earnings: Unusual Heat
Champion sire of California-conceived foals by number of winners: Tribal Rule
Champion sire of California-conceived foals by turf earnings: Unusual Heat
Champion sire of California-conceived 2-year-olds by earnings: Tribal Rule
Champion freshman sire of California-conceived foals by earnings: Council Member
Champion breeders of California-foaled Thoroughbreds by earnings: Tommy Town Thoroughbreds