A homebred by Fed Biz out of the Elusive Quality mare Proficient for Robert Manfuso took home the Chanceland Farm Challenge Trophy for grand champion at the 84t h annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association's Maryland-bred yearling show Sunday at the Timonium Fairgrounds.
“I love the horse,” said Manfuso. “When I watch horses mature, they go a certain way and he's just happened to put the pieces together to go that way. He's got a great stride, he's got the balance, he's not too big or too small, great shoulders on him.”
A total of 96 yearlings in four classes were judged by Grade I-winning trainer Rick Violette.
“There were a bunch of nice horses here,” said Violette. “I kept going back and forth, especially between the top two. You're really [splitting] hairs at the end, and I could have switched them around and not lost any sleep. I'd take any one of those four home. They're nice horses.”
All yearlings who entered the show ring are now eligible for the $40,000 premium award, which will be split evenly between the exhibitors of the contestants who earn the most money as 2-year-olds in 2019 and the exhibitors of the highest-earning ones as 3-year-olds in 2020.
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