Man in the Can named 2020 Arkansas-bred horse of the year

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Man in the Can will have a new title Saturday when he runs in the $150,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn Park – Arkansas-bred horse of the year.

Man in the Can has earned the honor for 2020, according to Deana Echols, executive secretary of the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association. She said Tuesday that the horse led all registered Arkansas-breds in earnings last year in North America.

Man in the Can went 3 for 6 in 2020 for earnings of $196,003. He won the $100,000 Rainbow for 3-year-olds at six furlongs last April at Oaklawn before coming back to defeat older horses around two turns in the track’s $165,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship. Man in the Can also won an allowance at Churchill Downs over eventual Ohio Derby winner Dean Martini.

JRita Young Thoroughbreds bred Man in the Can and races the horse with Robert LaPenta. Man in the Can is trained by Ron Moquett. The horse is by the Into Mischief stallion Can the Man.

Man in the Can’s dam, Smeauxkininthelane, is the ATBHA’s broodmare of the year for JRita Young Thoroughbreds.

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The stallion of the year is Hamazing Destiny for Westrock Stables.

The breeder of the year is McDowell Farm. It is the farm’s 12th consecutive time to earn the award and its 17th title out of the last 20 years, Echols said. Horses bred by McDowell Farm accounted for $968,865 in registered Arkansas-bred earnings in 2020, according to Echols.

The award winners are traditionally recognized during the ATBHA’s annual banquet each meet at Oaklawn, but for the second year in a row the function has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“Next year, barring no complications, we’re going to have a lot of awards to present,” Echols said.

The organization plans to recognize winners from 2019, 2020, and 2021 during the banquet in 2022.