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Darley Awards Event 2007

February 24th, 2007, Darley's 20th Anniversary! The Darley Awards Ceremony and Black-Tie Dinner was held at the Resort Suites, Scottsdale, Arizona, in conjunction with activities of the famous Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. The hotel is located just one mile from the Westworld showgrounds. Resort Suites of Scottsdale boasts a leading golf course, 4 heated swimming pools, 3 Whirlpool spas, and a free shuttle service to Westworld. A great weekend of Arabian horse activities and top racing awards surrounded this historic event. See the 2006 Darley nominees and winners and their stories below. Nominees for 2006 Darley Horse of the Year Cath (Burning Sand x Halianna) Dixies Delight (Sam Tiki x Dixie Darlene) MD Blue Chip (Patriot Missle x Valours Golly G) Rolly Polly (Falina Des Fabries x SS Nellie Bly) Tour De France (Bengali D'Albret x Rein Danse) Darley Award Winner: MD Blue Chip (Patriot Missle x Valours Golly G) MD Blue Chip took a while to make it to the front of the class, but make it he did. The 6-year-old grey stallion wasn’t out of the top 3 in 7 starts at Delaware Park and accumulated over $147,000 in earnings for owners Michael and Sandra Macey. In accepting the awards for both Horse of the Year and Older Horse, the Maceys were quick to point out that it has been a group effort and credit trainer Ron Martino and jockey William Hollick for outstanding work. The son of Patriot Missle started his year back in April with an allowance win and followed that up with a third behind Tour De France and Aim South in the 1 mile Mandolynn Hill Farm Delaware Park S. He started next in a claiming race where he could’ve been picked up for $25,000; a bargain considering what he was about to do. With no takers, the Maceys went forward with him. The distances were getting longer, which is what MD Blue Chip needed, and he was peaking at just the right time. He picked up another victory in a 1 1/8 mile allowance race, which set him up perfectly for the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation S. (G1). Coming from off the pace, MD Blue Chip wore down the competition and drew off to a 5 ½ length victory over Geronimo HF and Maxisumus in the 1 ¼ mile contest. The Arabian Cup Classic (G1) was basically a replay of the UAE S. Once again MD Blue Chip came from off the pace, but this time he won by 6 lengths over the same place and show horses. Bred by Valour Arabians, MD Blue Chip joined Gimme A Break as 2006 grade 1 stakes winners for Patriot Missle. He has also sired champions T C Toms Delight and Murkanas Glory. MD Blue Chip is out of multiple winner Valours Golly G (by By Golly), purchased by the Maceys in 2000. She is also the dam of MD Miss Anniversary (by Dreams Of Valor), who also races for the Maceys.
Nominees for 3-Year-Old Filly Cafe Latte Kittilina Rolly Polly Scoot Surreal CS Darley Award Winner: Rolly Polly Her name has been pronounced several different ways, but no matter what you call her, Rolly Polly put together a classy, championship season. Bred, owned and trained by Loren Nichols of Trackside Farm, Rolly Polly made her debut in a maiden claiming race at Delaware Park. She could’ve been picked up for $12,500, but no one took a chance on her. She won the six furlong event, defeating Scoot and Surreal CS, also both Darley nominees. It was probably one of the most talented fields in a maiden claiming race. There would be no more claiming opportunities for the chestnut filly. Maureen Spellman, who worked alongside Nichols, handled the filly’s training well. Her next start was in the Betsy Ross Distaff, also at 6 furlongs, which she won handily. Her first start at a mile resulted in her only off the board finish of the season. Obviously she learned from that race because her next start at a mile, the Dr. Sam Harrison Juvenile Distaff (G2) was hers for the taking. She won by 5 lengths over Shes A Dandy and Kittilina. Rolly Polly was the heavy favorite going into the Arabian Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She showed the determination of her sire and fought gamely to the wire, but she just missed by a head to Scoot. However, she closed out her season in winning style by shipping to Texas for the Texas Futurity at Sam Houston. The class of the field, the final winning margin for the 6 furlong race was 7 ¼ lengths with a time of 1:20 1/5. Overall, Rolly Polly had 4 wins and 1 second in 6 starts with over $52,000 in earnings. In accepting her award, the first of many for Nichols that evening, he mentioned how this victory was bittersweet. Rolly Polly’s sire, Falina Des Fabries, died on Christmas Eve, 2006. He had just completed one the most impressive starts ever to a racing stallion’s career. It was most unfortunate to lose him at such an early age. Rolly Polly is out of SS Nellie Bly (by *Negor), a multiple stakes winner of over $66,000. Foaled in 1986, she has only 3 registered foals, and Rolly Polly is her first foal to race. She also has a 3-year-old full brother, Johnny B Goode.	Nominees for 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Gimme A Break NC Casey Jones Sey Spottsproof The Last Danse Three Above Darley Award Winner: The Last Danse The Last Danse and Gimme A Break were the top two 3-year-old colts of 2006. While not the most consistent runner, The Last Danse ran well when he needed to and notched 3 stakes wins out of 7 starts. With over $42,000 in earnings, it was enough to give him the nod and the championship. Another Falina Des Fabries bred, owned and trained by Loren Nichols, The Last Danse finished second to Makazin in his first start in June at Delaware Park. Next up came the Liberty Bell S., and The Last Danse promptly broke his maiden in a stakes turning the tables on Makazin with Bush Hog finishing third. The youngster took on older, much more experienced horses in his next two starts with his best finish being third behind stakes winner Sand Tiki Fire. However, on August 12 he was back in his own age group and ran away with the Alec Courtelis Juvenile by 6 ¾ lengths over Fryvolous and Ordination. He went into the Arabian Cup Juvenile (G1) as the big favorite, but he didn’t fire and finished ninth behind Gimme A Break. Now with something to prove and a championship on the line, The Last Danse made one more start in the Texas Futurity. He won going away by 6 lengths in a quick 1:19.2. While Falina Des Fabries seemed to pass along his chestnut color, The Last Dance got his bay coloring from his broodmare sire Wiking. Another bittersweet acceptance speech came from Nichols for this horse. The Last Danse was named such because it was the final foal out of Rein Danse, a stakes winner herself and a full sister to Horse of the Year Sideways. She is also the dam of classic winner Tour De France (by Bengali D’Albret), who would soon get his moment in the spotlight.	Nominees for 4-Year-Old Colt/Gelding By Golly Sand Frynge Benefit LZP Heluvazell Maxisumus Tour De France Darley Award Winner: Tour De France Tour De France was not about to be upstaged by his younger brother, The Last Danse. After the 3-year-old won his Darley, it was Tour De France’s turn to pick up a statue for 4-Year-Old Colt. Bred by Trackside Farm and racing for the partnership of Southern Arabian Racing, Tour De France was a busy horse in 2006. He raced 14 times at 4 different tracks, finishing in the top 3 in nine of those starts. He started the year in California with the Drinkers of the Wind Derby (G1) as his goal, but he did not qualify for the final. That didn’t stop him from shipping to Sam Houston for the Triple Crown’s second leg the Texas Six Shooter (G3). An easy allowance victory over the track set him up well for the race, which he won by nearly 7 lengths over Thoroughbred and Drinkers winner Frynge Benefit. The Loren Nichol’s charge was then rested until the Delaware Park meet. He finished a respectable third behind 2005 Horse of the Year TH Richie in the Bay View Farms Delaware Season Opener S. and followed that up with a win over Aim South and MD Blue Chip in the Mandolynn Hill Farm Delaware Park S. In July came the Bob Magness Derby (G2) where he was able to avoid trouble from a scary fall involving Maxisumus and Vol De Vaillance. Stretching out to a mile and a quarter for the first time, he wore down front-runners Frynge Benefit and Ordained in the stretch to claim the victory. After that race, it was back against the tough older horses in the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation S. (G1). He didn’t fire in that race, but he bounced right back. Shipped to Retama Park he simply demolished the Texas Derby (G3) field by 11 ½ lengths. A little more than two weeks later, Tour De France was back at Delaware Park for the Arabian Cup Classic (G1). He finished a tiring fourth behind MD Blue Chip, but closed out the year with a second-best effort in the Arabian Cup Sprint (G1). After all those frequent flyer miles, Tour De France added over $100,000 to his bank account. Tour De France’s sire, Bengali D’Albret, stands in England at Shadwell Stud. His U.S. progeny include California standouts Gabret and Highlandar. He is out of the Wiking daughter, Rein Danse, a stakes winning full sister to Horse of the Year Sideways, whom Nichols also owned and trained.	Nominees for 4-Year-Old Filly Bessemer Cath Cou De Ta Dancers First Luv Sandytiki Darley Award Winner: Cath Bill and Cathy Waldron’s Cath picked up in 2006 just like she did in 2005 – winning. Not nominated to the Daughters of the Desert Oaks (G1), the Burning Sand daughter made her seasonal debut in the second leg of the Arabian Triple Crown, the Yellow Rose (G3) at Sam Houston. She won the 7 furlong race by 1 ½ lengths over Cou De Ta and stablemate Bonnett. She then sat and waited for the final leg, the Cre Run Oaks (G2) at Delaware Park in July. Over 3 months off couldn’t stop Cath and she rolled to a 5 ¼ length victory again over Cou De Ta with Dancers First Luv third. After that race, she was out of opportunities exclusively for 4-year-olds so it was time to take on the older mares and her powerful stablemate Dixies Delight. She gave way in the stretch of the Buzz Brauninger (G1) and finished fourth only 1 ½ lengths behind winner Dixies Delight. The two locked horns again in the Gladys Brown Edwards Arabian Cup (G1). Cath was much stronger in this race, but still not quite good enough to beat Dixies Delight. However, she improved her position over her previous start and finished a stubborn second to another great mare. One month later, the rivalry renewed in the Arabian Cup Distaff Sprint (G1). This time, Cath’s front running speed dominated the race. Dixies Delight was no match for her younger counterpart, and Cath defeated her by over 7 lengths in a speedy 1:19. Cath bankrolled over $80,000 in just 5 starts. Also bred by the Waldrons, she is a daughter of 2006 leading sire Burning Sand. He has sired a number of outstanding runners including 5-time Darley Champion Line Dancer, Aim South and Big Easy. Cath’s dam is Halianna (by ZT Ali Baba), who has also produced AKA Alluring (by Dreams Of Valor), a solid runner last year at Delaware Park.
Nominees for Older Mare Dixies Delight Edee Rose Kinzi Kong Rustic Whos Your Daddy Darley Award Winner: Dixies Delight Dixies Delight continued her championship ways in 2006. Four wins and a second in five starts (all stakes) brought her over $100,000 and the Darley trophy for Older Mare. Racing exclusively at Delaware Park, Bill and Cathy Waldron’s filly started the year off in style with a victory over AF Guenivere and Cou De Ta in the Delaware Season Opener Distaff. She merely got better for her second start – an 11 ¼ length romp in the Betty Wright Delaware Park Arabian Distaff S. in June. Rested until the big fall races, Dixies Delight did not run again until the Buzz Brauninger Distaff (G1). For the first time that year, she had to work for her victory. She defeated a determined Frynch by 1 ½ lengths in the 1 1/8 mile contest. Still, she faced her sternest test in the Gladys Brown Edwards Arabian Cup (G1) when stablemate Cath battled with her. It was a race to the finish between the two rivals, and in the end Dixies Delight held a 1 ½ length advantage. However, it was Cath who had the last laugh. She turned the tables on Dixies Delight in the Arabian Cup Distaff Sprint (G1) handing her the only defeat of the year. Dixies Delight is by the venerable sire Sam Tiki, a member of Racing’s Hall of Fame. He has also sired Darley Champions Mr Full Service, Dreams Of Valor and Cash Onthe Spot. She is out of one of the great race mares, Dixie Darlene. Being her first foal, Dixies Delight has already proven that the mare can re-produce herself. Her only other foal to race is the winner Dixies Chick (by Burning Sand), but she has a 3-year-old filly by Line Dancer named Dixie Dance that will race this year.	Nominees for Older Horse Aim South Buddy Of Mine Geronimo HF Mags Mad Max MD Blue Chip Darley Award Winner: MD Blue Chip (See above, also named Darley Horse of the Year.)	Nominees for Sprinter Cath Frynge Benefit Ibn Okba Mags Mad Max Tour De France  Darley Award Winner: Frynge Benefit Toughness, always competitive, and winning one of the biggest races of the year equaled the winning Sprinter formula for Frynge Benefit. An obviously surprised but delighted owner Dianne Waldron accepted his trophy. Frynge Benefit didn’t only race at sprint distances, but winning the prestigious grade 1 Drinkers of the Wind Derby carries a lot of weight. Before that victory, however, he finished third behind Maxisumus in the trial. The Drinkers of the Wind Derby (G1) was a thrilling race with Frynge Benefit just hanging on by a nose to defeat Maxisumus giving Waldron an unprecedented fifth straight victory in this race. His final time was 1:19 4/5. With the first leg of the Triple Crown under his belt, he shipped to Sam Houston to try and duplicate TH Richie’s feat of 2005. It was not to be, however, and he finished third behind Tour De France and Thoroughbred in the 7 furlong sprint. Frynge Benefit then shipped to Delaware Park where he started running in longer races, including a second in the Bob Magness Derby (G2) in July. However, he didn’t make his way back to the winner’s circle until September in an optional claiming race and a 6 furlong allowance victory over Geronimo HF and Aim South in October. His last start of the year came in the Arabian Cup Sprint (G1) where he finished third behind Aim South and Tour De France. Overall for 2006, Frynge Benefit’s record was 15(3-1-5), $76,829. He was bred in France by Waldron and is by the leading French stallion Dormane. He has sired many outstanding stakes winners in countries all over the world and is also proving to be a sire of sires with the likes of Falina Des Fabries and Chndaka. Frynge Benefit is out of the iron mare Fryga, a durable Darley Champion and outstanding producer. She is also the dam of Darley Champion Frynch, and stakes-placed winner Fryvolous, both full siblings to Frynge Benefit.	Nominees for Jockey Alex Beitia Luis Castillo William Hollick Joy Marie Scott Juan Umana Darley Award Winner: Juan Umana For the second year in a row, Juan Umana was named Outstanding Jockey. Based at Delaware Park, he led the way in earnings with over $331,000 and was a main rider for Bill Waldron. Obviously then, he got the mount on some outstanding horses. He rode the likes of champions Cath and Dixies Delight as well as Arabian Cup Championship winners Aim South and Scoot. His got a leg up on an Arabian 102 times and won 25 of them. His in-the-money percentage was an impressive 59%, almost exactly the same as his 60% of 2005.
Nominees for Trainer Billy Lewis Ron Martino Loren Nichols Helen Shelley Bill Waldron Darley Award Winner: Bill Waldron Nominees for Owner Darley Stud Management., Inc. Mandolynn Hill Farm Southern Arabian Racing Trackside Farm Bill and Cathy Waldron Darley Award Winner: Bill and Cathy Waldron Bill and Cathy Waldron repeated their wins as outstanding owner and Bill Waldron himself as trainer. Owning (and breeding) such standouts as Cath, Dixies Delight and Aim South makes winning easy. Cath and Dixies Delight completely dominated the filly and mare ranks, and Aim South closed out the year with his second win in the Arabian Cup Sprint (G1). The Waldron’s were far and away the leading owner by earnings with $332,168. Racing mostly at Delaware Park, their horses started a total of 68 times and they won an impressive 29% of the time. Even more outstanding was that they finished in the top 3 59% of the time. As a trainer, Waldron edged fellow nominee Billy Lewis in earnings by about $19,000. His horses bankrolled $339,696. Waldron trained mostly his own horses, but in all his win percentage and in the money percentage was 28% and 56% respectively. A man of few words, after accepting the trophy for Outstanding Trainer, Waldron simply said, “I’m speechless”.
Nominees for Breeder of the Year Darley Stud Management, Inc. D. Stephen Hollis Trackside Farm Valour Arabians Bill and Cathy Waldron Darley Award Winner: Trackside Farm Capitalizing on the fantastic year freshman sire Falina Des Fabries had, Loren Nichols of Trackside Farm won the coveted Breeder of the Year award. Second behind Darley Stable in earnings, Trackside-bred horses still accumulated almost $400,000. But it was the quality of the horses that stood out. Horses bred by Trackside Farm won black-type stakes after black-type stakes in Texas and Delaware. Their best horses included champions The Last Danse, Rolly Polly and Tour De France. Overall, the horses finished in the top three 54% of the time. Many of these horses will be back in 2007 and with another crop of Falina Des Fabries 3-year-olds, the year is looking very good. While Nichols certainly appreciated receiving championships for his horses, accepting his first Breeder of the Year trophy along with his wife Anita seemed particularly sweet. It was something he had spent many years pursuing and it was the perfect end to an outstanding year.