The late gelding Danjer, the winner of two leading stakes at Remington Park in the spring, was named 2023 Quarter Horse World Champion at a ceremony at the Heritage Place sales pavilion in Oklahoma City on Wednesday evening. The award comes seven months after Danjer died of an aneurysm while based at Ruidoso Downs. Danjer was also named 2023 champion aged gelding and champion aged horse. A winner of 22 of 35 starts and $2,499,432 in a career that began in 2018, Danjer was named 2023 World Champion in a three-horse ballot over champion 2-year-old Cowboys Gun Z and champion 3-year-old Cyber Attack. Awards were determined by the vote of a 21-person committee selected by the American Quarter Horse Association. Cowboys Gun Z was named outstanding 2-year-old gelding on the basis of his win in the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in September, the breed’s richest race. Cowboys Guns Z earned the overall 2-year-old title at the expense of Trane Station V, the champion 2-year-old colt, and Dark NME, the champion 2-year-old filly. Trane Station V was second in the All American and later won the Golden State Million and Los Alamitos Two Million futurities in California. Dark NME won three major futurities at Lone Star Park, Remington Park, and Ruidoso Downs through the year. She was considered the favorite for the champion 2-year-old award. Cyber Attack, winner of the Ruidoso Derby in June, was honored as champion 3-year-old colt and won the overall title for that age group over the champion filly Fearless Moon and champion gelding Chasing AJ. Cyber Attack has been retired to stud in Texas. Fearless Moon was a surprise selection for 3-year-old filly after going winless in stakes in 2023. She was selected over Ezee Monee, who won the Rainbow and All American Oaks at Ruidoso Downs, but was deemed ineligible for a championship because of a medication positive, according to the AQHA’s website. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Danjer was selected champion aged horse over Just a Kool Boy, the champion aged stallion, and Famous Shining Star, the champion aged mare. Danjer gained the champion aged gelding title in balloting that included Empressum, the 2022 World Champion who won two major stakes at Los Alamitos in 2023. Danjer, was also honored as 2021 World Champion. He was bred and trained by Dean Frey, and was co-owned by Frey, Pat Guthrie, and Billy Smith. The Grand Legend, who won four consecutive stakes at 870 yards at Lone Star Park and Zia Park, was recognized as champion distance horse. Steve Burns of Menifee, Calif., was honored as outstanding breeder for the third time. West Texas Partners, who raced Cowboys Gun Z, was recognized as champion owner. Wes Giles, who trains KJ Desparado, the richest Quarter Horse in history with earnings of $3,061,849, was named champion trainer. Francisco Calderon was recognized as champion jockey after a 2023 season in which his mounts earned a record $7.21 million. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.