Danjer named 2021 World Champion Quarter Horse

In 2021, Danjer won stakes at five venues in a seven-race tour throughout the Midwest and New Mexico, a consistent campaign that gave the gelding the title of World Champion Quarter Horse.

Racing for the partnership of Billy Smith, Pat Guthrie, and trainer Dean Frey, Danjer was honored in a ceremony at the Heritage Place Sales company in Oklahoma City on Wednesday evening.

Now a 6-year-old, Danjer also earned titles for champion aged gelding and overall aged horse for 2021, titles he also won in 2020.

In 2021, Danjer’s biggest wins were the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship in May, the All American Gold Cup at Ruidoso Downs in September, and the AQHA Challenge Championship at the Downs at Albuquerque in October. He finished the season with a win in the Refrigerator Stakes on Nov. 27 at Lone Star Park.

Danjer, bred by Frey, has won 15 of 26 starts and earned $1,503,885 in his career.

:: Join DRF Bets and play the races with a $250 First Deposit Bonus. Click to learn more.

Danjer won the World Champion title over the champion 2-year-old Jess Savin Candy and champion 3-year-old Empressum.

Jess Savin Candy, who nearly swept the Ruidoso Triple Crown, also was named champion 2-year-old gelding. Owned by the Dutch Masters III partnership and trained by John Stinebaugh, Jess Savin Candy won the Ruidoso and Rainbow futurities and was fourth in the All American Futurity in September, emerging from the race with a leg injury that required surgery.

Jess Savin Candy is expected to race later this year.

Empressum, a winner of four derbies in three states, was honored as champion 3-year-old gelding.

Owned by Steve Holt and Jeff Jones and trained by Heath Taylor, Empressum won 9 of 10 starts and earned $969,755. The lone loss was a fifth in the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs in September, which was preceded by wins in the Oklahoma-bred Remington Park, Ruidoso, and Rainbow derbies in the spring and early summer.

Empressum later won the Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park in November.

Whistle Stop Cafe, the 2020 World Champion, was honored as champion 3-year-old filly of 2021 for a season highlighted by a win in the Rainbow Oaks and a second in the All American Oaks at Ruidoso Downs.

Dulce Sin Tacha, who was second in the Rainbow Derby in July and won the All American Invitational in September, was named champion 3-year-old colt.

In other awards for 2-year-olds, Golden Boi was recognized as champion colt, while Revenant Moon gained the title of champion filly. Kiss Thru Fire was honored as champion aged mare, while Eagles Fly Higher won the title of champion aged stallion for the second consecutive season.

Wascallywittlewabbit was named champion distance horse for success in 870-yard races.

The Dutch Masters partnership of Bill Dale and Jim Streelman was recognized as champion owners for the third time, having been honored in 2001 and 2005.

In other awards for people, Bobby Cox of Fort Worth was named champion breeder for the fourth time, Jason Olmstead was honored as top trainer, and Francisco Calderon, who rode Jess Savin Candy, was named outstanding jockey.