Heza Dasha Fire named top Quarter Horse of 2015

Heza Dasha Fire, the winner of the $600,000 Champion of Champions in December and two derbies earlier in the year, was honored as the 2015 World Champion American Racing Quarter Horse in a ceremony in Oklahoma City on Wednesday evening.

Heza Dasha Fire, who races for Don and Kathy Meneely of Kennewick, Wash., also was honored as the champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old gelding. Don and Kathy Meneely were recognized as outstanding breeders.

The ceremony was held at the Heritage Place sales company.

Trained by Jose Antonio Flores, Heza Dasha Fire was unbeaten in five starts at Los Alamitos in 2015 – the Golden State Derby and Los Alamitos Super Derby as well as time trials for those races. On Dec. 12, he won the Champion of Champions, a race that annually brings together a top-class field.

In his career, Heza Dasha Fire has won 11 of 12 starts and earned $1,689,388. Heza Dasha Fire will stay in training in 2016 and is scheduled to start in time trials for the Los Alamitos Winter Championship on Sunday. The final for the race is Feb. 14.

In other categories, Jess Good Candy, the winner of the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in September, was named champion 2-year-old and 2-year-old colt. Walk Thru Crystal was recognized as champion 2-year-old filly, while Ima Fearless Hero, a half-brother to Heza Dasha Fire, was champion 2-year-old gelding.

In other 3-year-old divisions, Apollitical Blood, the winner of the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs in September, was the champion colt. Astica, a three-time stakes winner in New Mexico in 2015, was named champion filly.

The Louisiana star Open Me a Corona was honored as champion aged stallion. The California-based stakes winners Quirky and Moonist were named the champion aged mare and aged gelding. Executive Trust, who won three consecutive 870-yard stakes to end the year, was the recognized as champion distance horse.

The estate of Carl Pevehouse, which raced Jess Good Candy, was honored as outstanding owner. Paul Jones received the award as top trainer for the 14th time. Ricky Ramirez was honored as champion jockey for the first time.