A total of $5,000 in bonus monies will be distributed to breeders of the 3-year-old horses that have accumulated the most earnings through 2019 and that competed in the VTA’s annual Yearling Futurity at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds. Foals of 2016 that participated in the 2017 Futurity were eligible for the awards which were announced by Executive Debbie Easter this week.
K P Slickem, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, took top spot for the $3,000 bonus based on total earnings of $142,300. The Include filly, out of Queens Plaza by Forestry, had a win, a trio of thirds along with a third place finish from nine starts. She won an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar August 10 and most recently competed in the Grade I American Oaks at Santa Anita. K P Slickem finished 4th in the ’17 Futurity’s filly division.
Mucho Mas, who was overall Grand Champion and winner of the filly division that year, provided her breeders — Jim and Katie FitzGerald— a $1,000 bonus. In her 2019 starts which all came prior to March 31. She collected a first, second and third in maiden special weight company at Oaklawn where purses for that condition ranged from $83,000 to $93,000. Mucho Mas, by Mucho Macho Man out of Delicate Affair by Langfuhr, has earned $87,136 in total purses.
Ready To Run, bred by Susan Cooney, earned a $700 bonus based on total purse earnings of $68,324, third best among competitors. The Run Away and Hide colt started 9 times in 2019 and recorded a win and a pair of seconds and thirds. His victory came in a maiden claiming race at Laurel June 9. He was third in the Meadow Stable Stakes at Colonial Downs in August and in 2018, was runner-up in the Jamestown Stakes. He is out of the Kokand mare, Kokand Cousin.
Fionnbharr completes the list of bonus earners. The Exchange Rate filly was bred by Susan S. Cooney and is out Susan’s multiple stakes winning mare, Embarr. She accumulated $55,840 in purse monies from eight starts which included a third place finish in the Brookmeade Stakes at Colonial Downs this past September. Susan will receive a additional $300 bonus for Fionnbaharr’s efforts.
The date of the 2020 Yearling Futurity will be announced in the coming weeks. The VTA’s annual Stallion Auction, which is a major fundraiser, is scheduled for February 11 & 12.