The American Quarter Horse Association announced the 2006 AQHA Racing Champions during a ceremony on January 17, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Oklahoma City.
Wave Carver, the leading money-earning older horse in 2006 with $739,036, was unanimously voted world champion racehorse and world champion 3-year-old colt. Bred by retired physician Dan Lucas and owned by Wave Carver Syndicate, the First Down Dash-sired colt out of Runaway Wave, by Runaway Winner, won 9 out of 7 starts in 2006, including the nation’s richest race for older horses, the Champion of Champions. His time of 21.18 seconds in that race was the second fastest at 440 yards ever recorded at Los Alamitos Race Course.
“Wave Carver travels so lightly on his feet that he just seems to glide over the track,” said the horse’s trainer Paul Jones, who was also named 2006 champion trainer. “That helps him because he is not hard on himself when he runs. He’s never had an operation. He’s just an awesome horse.”
A full brother to Ocean Runaway, 2004 champion 2-year-old and 2005 champion 3-year-old colt, Wave Carver sold for $120,000 at the 2004 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He has lifetime earnings of $1,005,946.
This was the fifth consecutive champion trainer title for 42-year-old Paul Jones, who earned $6.4 million last year and 237 wins, including the $1.9 million All American Futurity with No Secrets Here. In addition to Wave Carver, Jones also trained champion distance horse Snowbound Superstar, and champion 3-year-old gelding Strawkins, who broke a 440-yard track record running the Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs in 20.73 seconds.
G.R. Carter Jr., with 131 wins and earnings of $4.5 million in 2006, was named champion jockey for a record fifth time. His mounts in 2006 included champion 2-year-old colt FDD Dynasty, winner of the Ed Burke Million at Los Alamitos and winner of $945,226; champion 3-year-old filly Ima Ramblin Girl, and champion aged stallion Country Chicks Man.
Five of the 12 champions were sired by First Down Dash, while 3-year-old gelding Strawkins, was sired by the First Down Dash son Hawkinson. First Prize Dash, named champion broodmare, is a full sister to First Down Dash, by Dash For Cash out of First Prize Rose. Owned by Weetona Stanley, wife of the late A.F. “Sonny” Stanley, who bred First Down Dash in partnership with L.D. Burbank. First Prize Dash has produced the stakes winners First Prize Robin, $295,147; First Carolina, $293,966; and First Prize Perry, $241,226.
Vessels Stallion Farm, Bonsall, CA, which owns First Down Dash, and bred three of the 2006 champions, was named champion breeder with earnings of $2,489,118. Champion 3-year-old colt FDD Dynasty, champion 3-year-old filly Ima Ramblin Girl, and champion aged mare Apollitical Time were all bred by Vessels Stallion Farm, owned by Frank “Scoop” Vessels, whose family founded Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, CA. Scoop Vessels’ grandfather owned the first world champion racing Quarter Horse, Clabber.
Remaining titles were awarded to champion 2-year-old filly Blues Girl Two, winner of the Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity; champion 2-year-old gelding Jess You And I, winner of the Golden State Million; champion aged gelding Gotta Get; and champion owner Double Bar S Ranch, owner of Jess You And I, as well as 29 other winners.
The champions will also be recognized in March at AQHA’s Annual Convention in Houston. For a complete list of 2006 champions go to www.AQHA.org.