My Mane Squeeze earned New York-bred Horse of the Year honors and led a haul for her owner and breeder, William "Buck" Butler, during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Awards Ceremony May 19 at Sacred Saratoga at GMP Farm in Schuylerville.
Bred by Butler and campaigned in partnership for most of 2024 by Butler and WinStar Farm, My Mane Squeeze went 4-2-1 in nine starts and earned $860,750. Her victories included the grade 2 Eight Belles and grade 3 Dogwood stakes, both at Churchill Downs. In addition to Horse of the Year honors, My Mane Squeeze took home Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Champion Female Sprinter honors.
The 2024 New York-bred Horse of the Year and divisional champions were chosen by a vote of New York turf writers, handicappers, photographers, and television and radio hosts and analysts conducted by the NYTB.
Butler also was selected by the NYTB board as New York Breeder of the Year and his Speightstown mare In Spite of Mama was named Broodmare of the Year. Butler's homebred multiple stakes winner Rotknee also took home honors as Champion Male Sprinter.
New York's 2024 honorees
New York-Bred Horse of the Year, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Champion Female Sprinter
My Mane Squeeze (Audible —In Spite Of Mama, Speightstown)
Owners: William "Buck" Butler and WinStar Farm
Breeder: William "Buck" Butler
Trainer: Mike Maker
Foaling farm: Keane Stud, Amenia
Champion 2-Year-Old Male
Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief —Vibrato, Unbridled's Song)
Owners: Lady Sheila Stable, Net Birdie, and Schwing Thoroughbreds
Breeders: Burleston Farms, Mckenzie Bloodstock, and Sequel Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Brad Cox
Foaling farm: Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson
Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
With the Angels (Omaha Beach —Sister Margaret, Pulpit)
Owners: Winning Move Stable, John Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford Robbins
Breeder: Joseph DeRico
Trainer: Linda Rice
Foaling farm: River Valley Farm in Gansevoort
Champion 3-Year-Old Male
Pandagate (Arrogate—Kitty Panda, Sky Mesa )
Owners: Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable, On The Rise Again Stable
Breeder: Fred Hertrich III
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Foaling farm: Waldorf Farm in North Chatham
Champion Older Dirt Male
Bank Frenzy (Central Banker —Storm Now, Tiznow)
Owners: LSU Stables, Phil's Racing Stable
Breeders: Chester and Mary Broman
Trainers: Rudy Rodriguez, Lisa Lewis
Foaling farm: Chestertown Farm in Chestertown
Champion Older Dirt Female
Venti Valentine (Firing Line—Glory Gold, Medaglia d'Oro)
Owners: N Y Final Furlong Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds
Breeders: Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable
Trainer: Jorge Abreu
Foaling farm: Schuylerville Thoroughbred Farm in Schuylerville
Champion Turf Male
Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro —Khancord Kid, Lemon Drop Kid)
Owners: Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn
Breeders: Chester and Mary Broman
Trainer: Chad Brown
Foaling farm: Chestertown Farm in Chestertown
Champion Turf Female
Moonage Daydream (Candy Ride —Elatha, Malibu Moon)
Owner: Chris Larsen
Breeder: 3C Stable
Trainer: Jorge Abreu
Foaling farm: Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater
Champion Male Sprinter
Rotknee (Runhappy —In Spite Of Mama, Speightstown)
Owner/Breeder: William "Buck" Butler
Trainer: Mike Maker
Foaling farm: Keane Stud in Amenia
Broodmare of the Year: In Spite of Mama (Speightstown - Mama Theresa, Carson City), dam of My Mane Squeeze, Rotknee, Mama's Gold
New York Sire of the Year: Central Banker (McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds)
New York-Bred Trainer of the Year: Mike Maker
New York-Bred Jockey of the Year: Manny Franco
New York Breeder of the Year: William "Buck" Butler
New York-bred Program Lifetime Achievement Award: Barry K. Schwartz
New York Farm Manager of the Year: John McMahon (McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds)
