Lovesick Blues among Cal-bred Horse of the Year finalists

Lovesick Blues, winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last summer, and the multiple stakes winners Man O Rose and Om N Joy are finalists for the 2025 California-bred Horse of the Year award.

The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association announced the finalists on Wednesday, as well as divisional champions. The Horse of the Year will be announced at the organization’s annual dinner at the Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia on March 2.

Lovesick Blues, an 8-year-old gelding who finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November and fifth in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia last Saturday, was named statebred champion older male and sprinter for 2025.

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Man O Rose won three stakes for statebreds in late summer and fall last year. He is unbeaten in two starts this year, including the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Om N Joy won four consecutive stakes last spring and summer, including the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar. Om N Joy was fourth in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland in October in her final start of the year. Om N Joy was named statebred champion 3-year-old filly of 2025.

Other divisional winners are Ocean Bear, 2-year-old male; Mohaven, 2-year-old filly; Speedy Wilson, 3-year-old male; Majestic Oops, older female; and Kings River Knight, turf horse.

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