Slew's Tiz Whiz is Washington Horse of the Year, Again

Slew's Crew Racing's multiple stakes winner Slew's Tiz Whiz  was named Washington's top racehorse for the second year in a row at the Washington Thoroughbred Annual Awards dinner held Feb. 24 at Emerald Downs.

The now 6-year-old gelding by Slew's Tiznow  and bred by the late Karl Krieg, also earned titles as champion sprinter and champion handicap horse. He is trained by Tom Wenzel.

Blazingbellablu  earned her third state championship title as champion older filly or mare. The 6-year-old daughter of Grazen  and homebred for Petra Lewin of Rainbow Meadows Farm and trainer Charles Essex was named 2021 Washington horse of the year as a 3-year-old in 2021 and was 2022's champion older filly or mare.

For the third year in a row. Blue Ribbon Farm's Conveyance  was named sire of the year, while Ron and Nina Hagen's Moscow Symphony, a first- and second-generation multiple stakes producer, was named broodmare of the year. The Hagens, who own El Dorado Farms, were also named breeders of the year for the seventh time and John Parker, who has led the Emerald Downs' owner standings for six years by wins, was honored as owner of the year.

Also announced at the event were the 2024 Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductees. They are: Flag de Lune (filly or mare), Basil Frazier (jockey), Jon White (media), and Junior Coffey (lifetime achievement). The induction ceremony will be held in August at Emerald Downs.

The complete list of 2023 champions and award winners:

Horse of the Year, champion older horse or gelding, and champion sprinter

Slew's Tiz Whiz (5, g., Slew's Tiznow—Ros's Girl, by Rosberg)

Owners: Slew's Crew Racing (Roy and Tammy Brewer, Terry and Mary Lou Griffin, Jodee Snyder, and Tom and Melissa Wenzel)

Breeder: Karl Krieg (K D Thoroughbreds)

Trainer: Tom Wenzel

Champion older filly or mare

Blazingbellablu (5, Grazen—Bellomesa, by Sky Mesa)

Owners and breeders: Rainbow Meadows Farm (Petra Lewin) and Charles Essex

Trainer: Charles Essex

Champion turf horse

Bodenheimer (5, g., Atta Boy Roy—Beautiful Daniele, by A. P. Indy)

Owners: Kristin Boice and Marylou Holden

Breeder: Larry Romaine

Trainer: Valorie Lund

Champion 3-year-old colt or gelding

Company's Dream (g., Jersey Town—Double Dip, by French Envoy)

Owner: Lusk Racing (Gary and Deborah Lusk)

Breeder: Joseph DiPietro (DiPietro Thoroughbreds)

Trainer: Vince Gibson

Champion 3-year-old filly

Miss Dynamic (Dynamic Impact—Miss Salome, by Harbor the Gold)

Owner and breeder: Antonio C. Mendoza 

Trainer: Rigoberto Velasquez

Overall champion 2-year-old, champion 2-year-old colt or gelding

Freightline (c., Coast Guard—Knight Raider, by Tribunal)

Owners: Gold Coast Racing III (Nina and Ron Hagen, David Israel, Joe Withee, 

Steve Bullock, Steve Opacich, Dick Clark, and Ron Bohlman)

Breeders: Nina M. Hagen (El Dorado Farms) and Holly Sturgeon

Trainer: Steve Bullock

Champion 2-year-old filly

Special Diva (Misremembered—Special Holiday, by Private Gold)

Owner: Jeff Cissell

Breeders: Connie Belshay (Only Me Thoroughbreds) and Mel and Lori Mellick

(Sporting Green Thoroughbreds)

Trainer: Vince Gibson

Plater of the Year

Holyjazz (5, g., Abraaj—Holy Mama, by Holy Bull)

Owner and trainer: Angela M. Aquino.

Breeder: Horseplayers Racing Club (Scott and Debra Gruender) 

Leading Sire

Conveyance (2007, Indian Charlie—Emptythetill, by Holy Bull). Deceased 2023. Stood property of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst at Blue Ribbon Farm. Progeny earnings in 2023 of $968,654.

Broodmare of the Year

Moscow Symphony (1998, Moscow Ballet—Margaret Booth, by Well Decorated). Owned by El Dorado Farms, the mare has produced 13 Washington-bred foals, 11 starters and 10 winners, including stakes winners Irene's Bonus Baby  and Grace Bay  and stakes-placed performers Russian  and Moscow Lady .

Top Washington-bred off-the-track Thoroughbred

Nowlookatme (show name Skyloh). Owner and rider: Emily Bingham. Breeders: Jerry D. and Peggy F. Woods. Recognized for points recorded through The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program Performance Awards.

Special Training Achievement Award

Justin R. Evans, though a trainer since 1999, raced his first season at Emerald Downs in 2023. He led by wins with 49 (28%) and money won ($558,850) and was also the meet's leading owner by wins and earnings.

Special Riding Achievement Award

Jose Zunino was the co-leading jockey by number of stakes wins at Emerald Downs and the regular rider of Slew's Tiz Whiz.

Leading Breeder

Nina and Ronald Hagen, El Dorado Farms, awarded for Washington-bred earnings of $401,295.

Leading Owner

John Parker, awarded for Washington-bred earnings of $217,514.