Fleet Indian tops New York-breds

Fleet Indian earned top honors Monday night as the New York Thoroughbred Breeders announced the 2006 New York-bred champions. Fleet Indian, who won an Eclipse Award as North America's top older female, was named the the breeders' group's choice as horse of the year as well as champion mare.

The announcements came at the grooup's annual awards banquet at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, N.Y.

Fleet Indian won her first six starts in 2006 before breaking down during the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She has recovered from the injury and subsequent surgery and is now a broodmare. Other New York-bred champions honored were Lawrence the Roman, juvenile male; Chief Officer, juvenile filly; Sharp Humor, 3-year-old male; No Reason, 3-year-old filly; Friendly Island, older male and male sprinter; Behaving Badly, female sprinter; Certifiably Crazy, turf male; Sabellina, turf female; and I'm Hit Sarge, steeplechaser.

Timeleighness, the dam of Grade 1 winner Behaving Badly, was named New York broodmare of the year.

Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds, which bred seven New York-bred stakes winners in 2006, earned a second consecutive breeder of the year title. Gary Contessa and Eibar Coa received trainer and jockey of the year honors, respectively.

Joe Spadaro, who has retired as deputy executive director of the New York State Breeding and Development Corporation, received a lifetime achievement award.