Minnesota Thoroughbred Association announces 2010 champs; Win Willy repeats

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association announced its 2010 champions at its annual awards banquet Saturday night in the Sheraton Hotel ballroom.

There were several repeat winners from 2009, including Win Willy as the top Minnesota-owned horse. Winner of the Brandywine Stakes at Delaware Park and the Grade 3 Razorback Stakes at Oaklawn Park last year, Win Willy earned $255,817 in 2010. Win Willy, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Monarchos, is owned by the Jer-Mar Stables LLC of Jerry and Marlene Meyers.

Win Willy is off to a good start in 2011 with victories in the Fifth Season Stakes and the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. He is currently enjoying a break in Delaware, according to the Meyers, but should return to racing later this summer.

Two other repeat winners were Bet Your Boots, following up his championship 2-year old campaign as champion 3-year-old colt, and the speedy Bella Notte, who repeated as champion older filly or mare.

Other divisional winners included Esprit de Bleu, 2-year old filly; Black Tie Benny, 2-year old colt; Hunter’s Tiger Paw, 3-year old filly; and Nomorewineforeddie, older colt or gelding.

Breeder awards included Masquerade Star, broodmare of the year; Demidoff, stallion of the year; and Gold Fever, Thoroughbred Times stallion award.

Jeff and Deb Hilger swept the individual breeder awards taking home the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and Charles Bellingham Awards as the top Minnesota breeders of 2010.

The Canterbury Park racing season begins with an evening card on May 20.