(first published in the August 2020 Equiery)
The Maryland Horse Breeders Association’s 86th Annual Yearling Show had 67 yearlings competing for the title of Grand Champion on July 20 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The show was broadcast live on MHBA’s Facebook page, allowing viewers from around the world to watch judge Michael Matz narrow down the entries to the overall champion. Hall of Fame Show Jumper Matz trains racehorses out of Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton.
At the end of the four classes, GreenMount Farm’s filly by Bernardini out of Mystic Love (by Not For Love) was named Grand Champion. “I thought the last [class], that the [champion] filly won, was the strongest group,” Matz stated, adding, “She was a nice mover. She just had an overall look. I thought she was well-made and pretty well-balanced.”
Class IV was for fillies foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in states other than Maryland. The GreenMount Farm (Reisterstown) filly beat out 16 other fillies in that class.
This year’s Reserve Championship honors went to Whenigettoheaven, owned and bred by R. Larry Johnson of Bluemont, VA. The colt, who is by Street Magician out of Heaven Knows What, by Holy Bull, won Class I (for colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in Maryland). Johnson also won Class III (for fillies foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in Maryland) with a chestnut Street Magician filly out of A Lover’s Question, by Spring At Last.
Street Magician was awarded the Northview Stallion Station Challenge Trophy as the leading sire of the show.
A bay colt by Maclean’s Music out of Dream, by Malibu Moon, won Class II (for colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in states other than Maryland). The colt is owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Dorsey Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Davidov, and Mr. and Mrs. David Schwaber (Upperco).
