The princess of the route is now the queen of the hill.
Absolutely wonderful, Gigantic Hug was appointed Alberta horse on Saturday at the annual Night of Champions Awards Dinner in Century Mile.
Gigantic Hughut was also appointed Alberta's 2024 champion of older mare and champion Alberta-Brich and won six of their eight starts in Alberta last year and catch the founders Distaffe, Cths Sales Stake, The Herbst Classic Distaffe and RK 'Smith Handicap for owners/trainers Rick Hedge and Lori and Lori and Lori and the Martin Neyka's Empire Equestrian firm.
Stable sold by Hedge for only $ 3,500 in the Alberta Yearling Sale of breeder Paul Luft, owner of Chalet Stable, was won in her career last year $ 175,500 and $ 354,000.
Great hug was Conquered by Mr. Gigantic and is out of the mare TemeekuThrough unusual heat that her girl has not broken for a day in del Mar, California.
Temeeku bought air from the California California Thoroughred Sale for $ 1,000.
“The best horse I have ever trained,” said Hedge, 76, who has trained many excellent thoroughbreds and jockey in his career.
“She is everything muscle,” said Hedge of the mare, who was also a finalist for the age of the year in Canada.
“She has a large heart and she is very sporty. It is something special. You never expect to have a horse like her.”
Gigantic hug not only won races; She dominated.
She won the Red Smith by almost six lengths. She won the autumn classic and an approval race with four loaded lengths and won the founders and the sales share almost as easily apparently apparently apparently from a gallop.
Gigantic hug was also well called with hedge, its owners and his barn crew, they knew very well how much she loves to have a great hug.
“She is a spuer,” said Hedge.
“It is so good to do something with something. It was a pleasure to be nearby, and she was so since she was a baby.”
Hedge always thought that great hug could be something very special, but he knew with a hot July 4th in 2022 when she roared three Furlongs in 35 seconds as a two -year Furlongs.
“I knew she went quickly, but she did so easily that I couldn't believe the time.
“From that day on she was a runner.”
Secondly, in a operational race in Phoenix, only in the Shirley Vargo and a good third in the Northlands Distafe up to several BC champion, who have gained mare infinite patience, which were won 22 out of 32 starts before he was retired as a brood brother, and majestic Hoppla, which is currently the black type in Oaklawn -Park in Oaklawn park won.
This year Hedge and the Neykas had bigger plans: they went into the “large time” and started five graded operations in Santa Anita, California last winter and spring.
Gigantic Hug has never won one of these demanding races, but if she had a gambling instead of an excuse after another, she could have it.
“Her first race in Santa Anita was January 19 La Canada,” said Hedge. “It was wide all the way, but the biggest factor was that she arrived in California just two days before the race. People say that they need at least one work over this route before they run. We wanted to go earlier, but the smoke from all fires in Los Angeles prevented this.”
The large hug was still going well.
Next was February 1st Megahertz. Gigantic Hug stumbled badly and left the goal to lose any chance.
“It was 16 lengths back, but closed to lose just six lengths,” said Hedge.
On March 1st, Gigantic Hug started her third Santa Anita in the 2 Buena Vista.
“Although she was withdrawn, she was three and four wide. It wasn't a good race,” said Hedge, after taking fifth place.
Gigantic hug ran what could have been a winning race in March 15 and a quarter of Santa Ana. But happiness was definitely not in her corner again.
“It was second place and seemed slightly behind the leader, but then the leader rushed to the quarter rod and we were also stopped. We all had to leave behind. It was most unfortunate.”
Gigantic Hug's last excursion in Santa Anita came in the Wilshire on March 29. Gigantic Hug was stopped again. “She tried to walk through a hole, but the hole lock.
“She has proven that she was one of these mares and she was top mares. We will run her back in Alberta this year and then hopefully return to California. She really was not lucky in one of her California races and I would like to give her another shot.
In other awards No more lies Was an automatic choice as a two -year champion that lasted four of her five races last year. She easily won her Maiden debut and then, after running in the princess Margaret in second, she rolled three missions in the disturbance, the sales share and a devastating victory in the city of the city with four lengths.
No more than 115,000 US dollars were obtained when selling 30,000 US dollars.
In a rarity, even though he was two -year -old, no lies also took champion sprinter.
Reserve Also in its own league for champion older horse. In his last six starts, he crossed the finish line. He won the Don Getty in romp, won the prestigious speed that N'rico Prescod was able to save on a great journey and three admission races. He also took the finish line over the finish line in the century in the century, but was excluded in the route very tardy because of the expansion.
Varatti was bought by Adrian Munro in Kentucky for only 17,000 US dollars by Adrian Munros Highfield Investments and Champion Trainer Craig Smith, Craig Smith, and was sold again in Alberta after the racing season.
Surprisingly, he was sold for $ 100,000 in the Philippines interests.
“Varatti has just blossomed since Craig had it,” said Munro. “He grew up and filled out.”
The two -year -old colt of the year, in a close decision, saw Putonthefoil Take the highest awards home. Putonthefoil, who was bought as a yearling by Curtis Landry for 34,000 US dollars, also won the Canadian youngsters before winning second place in BC Jack Diamond Futurity.
Silkstone was elected three -year -old Stutmeister; Noble city With the three -year champion.
Silkstone was trained by Tim Rycroft, who had also no longer trained lies, and won three races in a row in a row, including the Sonoma stakes with three and three quarters.
The classic city, trained – like Varatti – by Craig Smith and in the possession of Munro, Smith and Smoking Guns – just like PARARTTI – last year 16 times after 16 times and won four with two seconds and three thirds.
Casy City bought privately in California for $ 50,000 and won the Westkanada with 16: 1 and the Count Lathum-with 10: 1. The two missions are Canadian derby preparation races.
Casy City won the Count Lathum, even though he lost his left front shoe when he left the starting gate when he got on his knees. “Credit Jockey Rashed Hughes for composing Smith.”
Condy City was fourth in the derby.
The champion investor was Wedge pondIn the possession of Mitch Sutherland and Jim Brown. Wedge Pond won five times last year and had three seconds and two thirds.
Smith was a leading coach for the second time in a row in a row; Kemar Chase was the top apprentice; Jose Ascio was the champion jockey; Pierre Esquirol was the leading breeder; And Kirk Sutherland was the leading owner.
