Cold Cash 123 named champion Quarter Horse of 2011

Cold Cash 123, the winner of major stakes at Ruidoso Downs, Lone Star Park, and Sunland Park in 2011, was named World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse for 2011 at a ceremony in Oklahoma City on Wednesday evening.

Racing for Carolyn and Walter Bay of Clare, Mich., Cold Cash 123 won six of eight starts and $818,447 in 2011 to secure the top title as well as divisional honors as champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old gelding.

Cold Cash 123’s major stakes wins of 2011 were the Rainbow Derby, Texas Classic Derby, and Championship at Sunland Park.

Cold Cash 123 is trained by Sleepy Gilbreath, who also guided the campaign of overall champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old gelding Ochoa, winner of the All American Futurity.

After the Championship at Sunland Park in December, Cold Cash 123 returned to Gilbreath’s base in Brock, Texas, west of Fort Worth. The trainer said at the time that Cold Cash 123 is likely to start his 2012 campaign at the Remington Park spring meeting, with the Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in December as a year-end goal.

Other divisional winners announced on Wednesday were Separate Fire, 2-year-old filly; Feature Mr Bojangles, 2-year-old colt; Miss Racy Jess, champion 3-year-old filly; Prospect to the Top, 3-year-old colt; Good Reason SA, champion aged horse and champion aged stallion; Spit Curl Diva, champion aged mare; Rylees Boy, champion aged gelding; and De Passem Okey, champion distance horse.

Good Reason SA, who has been sent to stud in Oklahoma this year, won the $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in December.

Ed Allred, who owns Los Alamitos, was honored as leading breeder, his 10th title in that category. Allred-bred runners earned $3,067,621.

The List family’s Double Bar S Ranch in Moreno Valley, Calif., was recognized as champion owners. They raced such major stakes winners as Jess You and I (Los Alamitos Championship) and Igotyourtac (Golden State Million Futurity) in 2011.

Paul Jones won his 10th consecutive training title, leading the nation with stable earnings of $4,705,577.

G.R. Carter Jr. was honored as outstanding rider for the eighth time. He led the nation’s jockey with earnings of $4,311,455.