Riversrunrylee named New Endland's best

Riversrunrylee was named the 2009 James B. Moseley New England Horse of the Year Award by the region’s turf writers at their annual awards dinner Thursday night.

Owned and bred by L and D Farm and trained by Juan Camilo, Riversrunrylee also earned champion older male honors for 2009 on a night when the New England Turf Writers Association passed out awards for nine other divisional stars from last year.

Riversrunrylee split a two-race rivalry with the highly regarded Bridled Quest and won the Rudy Baez Classic in three appearances at Suffolk Downs last year while shipping to Tampa and Saratoga for parts of the season.

The turf writers honored Suffolk Downs track superintendent Steve Pini with the Sam McCracken Memorial Award for lifetime achievement and credited the employees of Suffolk Downs with the Lou Smith Memorial Award for yearly achievement. Orlando Bocachica won the Eli Chiat Memorial Award as outstanding jockey and Rafael Ramos took the Gerry Sullivan Memorial Award as top trainer.

Oceans of Honey was the top 2-year-old filly, with Lovethatdirtywater the top 2-year-old male. Sassy City was the best 3-year-old filly and Western Tease got the Bob O’Malley Memorial Award as top 3-year-old male. Bill’s Jewel was top older female, and PJ’s Lil Toni the top grass mare. Dadsfourwheeldrive took top turf male honors. Camacthmagnificent was the leading sprinter, and Ask Queenie was once again the Cliff Sundberg Memorial winner as top New England-bred.

– Rowland Hoyt