Intrepid Daydream Named Maryland-Bred Horse of the Year

Winners of the seventh annual Renaissance Champion Awards, a collaborative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association which recognizes excellence in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Maryland in the past year, were announced the week of Feb. 26 on the MHBA's social media accounts.

Those receiving awards are the breeders and owners of the champion Maryland-breds, owners of the Maryland-based runners, as well as top Maryland owner, trainer, jockey, breeder, broodmare and stallion, and the MTHA Backstretch Workers of the Year—one for Pimlico Race Course and one for Laurel Park.

Awards for the 2023 season will be presented April 17 at the Marriott Owings Mills.

Intrepid Daydream: Maryland-bred Horse of the Year

Though she didn't pick up her first stakes win until Sept. 16, Intrepid Daydream  more than made up for lost time in 2023. She won three stakes races in a 70-day stretch, plus the Tax Free Shopping Distaff allowance at Delaware Park (previously run under stakes conditions), and concluded her 4-year-old season with a second in graded company en route to being named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, champion older female and champion sprinter.

After starting her season with three second- or third-place efforts, including a third the July 15 Caesar's Wish Stakes at Laurel, Intrepid Daydream began to turn it on. She swept her way through the Shine Again, Tax Free Shopping, Maryland Million Distaff and Politely Stakes, winning by an average margin of more than three lengths. Not long after her Politely score in late November, she was purchased privately by Miller Racing, who sent her to Florida and the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The daughter of Jess's Dream wrapped up her year with a second, missing by a half-length, in Gulfstream Park's Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3) Dec. 23. Her record for 2023 was 4-3-1 in eight starts, for earnings of $272,350.

She's the 17th different filly or mare to win the Maryland-bred Horse of the Year title, joining Miss Spin (1965), Politely (1967-68), Alma North (1971), Twixt (1973-74), What a Summer (1977), Jameela (1981-82), Squan Song (1985), Safely Kept (1989-1990), Wide Country (1991), Brilliant Brass (1992), Tenski (1998), Gin Talking (2000), Shine Again (2003), Cathryn Sophia  (2016), Sharing  (2019), and Fille d'Esprit  (2022). Much like Fille d'Esprit, she won the Maryland Million Distaff and Politely Stakes decisively to help secure the honors.

Other 2023 Maryland-Bred Champions

• Champion 2-year-old male: Catahoula Moon . Bred by Angela Coombs; owned by Super C Racing; trained by John Robb.
• Champion 2-year-old filly: Kissedbyanangel . Bred by Super C Racing; owned and trained by Joanne Shankle.
• Champion 3-year-old male: Seven's Eleven . Bred and owned by Cottonwood Stable; trained by Carlos Mancilla.
• Champion 3-year-old filly: Bosserati . Bred and owned by Joel Politi; trained by Brittany Russell.
• Champion older male: Double Crown . Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Rebecca Davis; owned by Built Wright Stables; trained by Raymond Ginter Jr.
• Champion turf runner: Wet My Beak . Bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds; owned by Thelma & Louise Stable; trained by Vladimir Cerin.
• Maryland Breeders of the Year: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman (their 11th award).
• Maryland Broodmare of the Year: Otherwise Perfect , dam of stakes winner Alwaysinahurry  and stakes-placed six-time winner Clubman  in 2023.
• Maryland Stallion of the Year: Great Notion  , his eighth consecutive award.

Other Awards

• Maryland Owner of the Year: The Elkstone Group
• Maryland Trainer of the Year: Brittany Russell
• Maryland Jockey of the Year: Jaime Rodriguez
• Maryland Male Dirt Horse of the Year: Seven's Eleven
• Maryland Female Dirt Horse of the Year: Intrepid Daydream
• Maryland Male Turf Horse of the Year: Witty 
• Maryland Female Turf Horse of the Year: Bosserati
• Maryland Claimer of the Year: Brother Conway 
• Pimlico Backstretch Employee of the Year: Damon Gladden
• Laurel Backstretch Employee of the Year: Jenile Tapscott

To watch the video announcements for each champion and award winner, visit Maryland Thoroughbred's YouTube page.