Kosta Hronis (pictured above, left) accepted the 2013 award for Most California Purse Money Won from TOC director Mike Wellman at last year’s annual membership meeting at Del Mar.
The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has announced the winners of its 2014 statistical awards for leading California owners. Hronis Racing, LLC was leading owner in purse money won in California for the second consecutive year as well as leading owner by California stakes wins; and Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC led all owners by number of wins. Margi Cellucci, Ari and Scott Herbertson and Justin Nunez were selected as Rookies of the Year.
Hronis Racing runners earned a total of $2,166,226 in California last year, including nine stakes wins. Top earners were Iotapa, winner of the Santa Maria, Vanity and Clement L. Hirsch stakes, Sweet Swap, winner of the San Simeon and Joe Hernandez stakes, San Marcos Stakes winner Vagabond Shoes, Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes winner Daddy D T, Sky High Gal, Brother Pete, Horizontalyspeakin, Kristo, Presiding Justice, Scooter Bird, Sweet Sunshine and Talco.
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds won a remarkable 33 races from 147 starts in California last year for total purse earnings of $1,716.026. Their leading earners were Doinghardtimeagain, winner of the Great Lady M Stakes, Let Faith Arise, winner of the Adoration and Santa Margarita stakes, Top Kisser, winner of the California Governor’s Cup Handicap and the L.A. Woman and Spring Fever stakes, Do the Danse, winner of the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes, Stalk the Wildcat, winner of the Golden Nugget Stakes, Ain’t No Other, Curvy Cat, He’s On His Toes, Missing Groom, Singing Kitty, and Whine for Wine.
Cellucci, who purchased her first racehorse at the age of 79, campaigned Achiever’s Legacy for five starts and 2014 earnings of $74,460. Father and son, Scott and Ari Herbertson made 53 starts last year for earnings of more than $365,000. Nunez, a college student fulfilling his father’s lifelong dream of horse ownership, made seven starts for earnings of $98,205.
All winners will be recognized at TOC’s Annual Meetings at Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday, August 15th, and at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, November 14th.
