Skwhirl wins stakes, statebred award on same day

Skwhirl, trained by Bob Rising, was named the top older Nebraska-bred last Saturday when the Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders' Association honored the best statebreds of 2009.

Earlier in the day, Skwhirl had scored an impressive 3 1/2-length win in the $25,800 Ogataul Stakes at Fonner Park, capturing the race for the second straight year. Skwhirl, bred by James Barney and David Anderson, earned $42,798 while posting a mark of 2-3-5 from 15 starts last year.

Senorita Conchita, bred by trainer Herb Riecken, was named the top older filly or mare with 4 wins from 8 starts last year. She won the Falls Amiss Handicap at Horsemen's Park in July and closed out her season with a victory in the Columbus Maturity-Matron Stakes in August.

The 3-year-old gelding Reach One More earned more than $111,000 and won six consecutive stakes to dominate his division. Although his disqualification from first in the Iowa Stallion Stakes at Prairie Meadows is under appeal, Reach One More's wins include the Fonner Park Special, the Journal-Star Stakes at Lincoln, and the Skunktail at Horsemen's Park.

Apple Crumble was named the top 3-year-old filly, posting a 5-4-1 mark from 11 starts before suffering a catastrophic injury in the Columbus Breeders' Special.

Lou Lou Larue was named the top 2-year-old filly with both of her starts resulting in stakes victories over males at Lincoln.

Five O'Clock Shadow, winner of the Columbus Futurity, was the top 2-year-old colt or gelding with 2 wins from 4 starts.