TELL CARTEL IS 2020 PCQHRA HORSE OF THE YEAR
RELIANCE RANCHES IS PRESENTED WITH FRANK N. VESSELS MEMORIAL AWARD
On the strength of a trio of graded derby victories, Martha Wells’ AQHA champion 3-year-old Tell Cartel was named the 2020 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Horse of the Year. The announcement was made during a special awards video show that premiered on Thursday evening and is available on demand here. The awards show can also be accessed via LosAlamitos.com.
Hosted by Michael Wrona, the PCQHRA Awards celebrate the achievements of California’s Quarter Horse breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and champion horses of the 2019 season.
Bred by Wells, trained by Matt Fales and ridden by Ruben Lozano and Eduardo Nicasio, Tell Cartel won five of 10 starts in 2020 on the way to earning $717,751. His derby wins came in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby, Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, and Grade 3 El Primero Del Año Derby.
“After 49 years in this business to have Horse of the Year at Los Alamitos Race (Course) is the biggest honor I could ever imagine,” Wells said.
Tell Cartel, who finished second in the Champion of Champions, was also named the PCQHRA champion 3-year-old colt. The son of Favorite Cartel has been retired and will begin his career as stallion at Fales Ranch this year.
The McKinney family’s Reliance Ranches LLC., one of the nation’s leading Quarter Horse owners and breeders, was presented with the 2020 Frank Vessels, Sr. Memorial Award in recognition for the racing operation’s outstanding contributions to the sport of Quarter Horse racing. Reliance Ranches had its first ever starter at Los Alamitos Race Course, a Quarter Horse colt bred by Vessels Stallion Farm named We Have A Secret.
We Have A Secret did not win on that night, but his local debut was just the start of Reliance Ranches’ unequivocal positive impact on racing at Los Alamitos. Led by Gary McKinney, his son Micah and Micah’s wife, Leslie, this first-class, family-run horse racing operation would soon become an integral part of the Southern California racing scene. Its top runners over the years have included stakes winners Rock You Flash N Bling, Big Lew, SC Vapor Trail, Conquering Marie and Dreams Divine, who won the 2020 Los Alamitos Oaks. Dreams Divine was named the PCQHRA champion 3-year-old filly. The McKinneys are also strong supporters of the Los Alamitos Equine Sale with its Lazy E Ranch offering some of the
strongest consignments of yearlings showcased at the annual Los Alamitos Equine Sale.
The complete list of award winners follows below with the special awards video featuring each nominee and honorees.
2020 PCQHRA AWARDS
CHAMPION
TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT
constituent
Owner: M and G Farms, Inc.
Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM
TWO-YEAR-OLD GELDING
apollitical gold
Owner/Breeder: Grant R. Cox Revocable Trust
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Apollitical Patty
Owner: Walker Family Trust
Breeder: Jim Walker
THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT
tell cartel
Owner/Breeder: Martha F. Wells
THREE-YEAR-OLD GELDING
nomadic
Owner/Breeder: Edward C. Allred
THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY
dreams divine
Owner: Reliance Ranches. LLC.
Breeder: J. G. Kelly, J. L. Yother and N. Yearsley
AGED STALLION
corona jumpim mrl
Owner: Haras Portofino
Breeder: Anapurus Comerclo E Part Ltda
AGED GELDING
chocolatito
Owner: Edward C. Allred
AGED MARE
Curls happy wagon
Owner/Breeder: Michael A. Pohl and Martin Stacy
MOONIST AWARD
john carter cash
Owner: Juan M. Ramos Dorantes
Breeder: Ronald E. Raley
MOST IMPROVED HORSE AWARD
Alamode
Owner: Genaro Martinez
Breeder: Edward C. Allred
INTERMOUNTAIN HORSE OF THE YEAR
Zoom on Jess
Owner/Breeder: Gary and Jeralyn Messenger
DISTANCE HORSE AWARD
ballast point
Owner: Paul C. Jones and Thompson Racing, Inc.
HORSE OF THE YEAR
JAMES V.A. CARTER AWARD
Outstanding Broodmare
chicks tell
Owner: Martha F. Wells
Breeder: Blane Schvaneveldt
THREE BARS AWARD
Outstanding Stallion
favorite cartel
Owner: Steve D. Burns, DVM and Bobby Cox
Breeder: Paul C. Jones and Thompson Racing, Inc.
OWNER OF THE YEAR
Edward C. Allred
Presented by P.C.Q.H.R.A.
BREEDER OF THE YEAR
Steve d. burns, dvm
TRAINER OF THE YEAR
scott willoughby
owner - SPECIAL recognition
martha f. wells
Breeder - SPECIAL recognition
Martha f. wells
trainer - SPECIAL Recognition
Matthew m. fales
JOCKEY OF THE YEAR
JESUS RIOS AYALA
JOckey - SPECIAL Recognition
oSCar andrade, jr.
VAL TONKS MEMORIAL AWARD
armando cervantes
SPECIAL P.c.q.h.r.a.
rECOGNITION aWARD
PRESENTED TO
tvg
For its Contribution to Quarter Horse Racing
sam thompson memorial award
Presented by P.C.Q.H.R.A. to
VINNIE BEDNAR
For an Individual who displays leadership within the Los Alamitos racing community
FRANK VESSELS, SR.
MEMORIAL AWARD
reliance ranches, llc.
In Recognition of an Outstanding Contribution to the Sport of Quarter Horse Racing
THOROUGHBRED OWNER OF THE YEAR
cunningham stables
THOROUGHBRED JOCKEY OF THE YEAR
francisco orduna-rojas
THOROUGHBRED TRAINER OF THE YEAR
sergio morfin
LEADING OWNER
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FAIRS
Jimmie Easter
LEADING TRAINER
juan arriaga
LEADING JOCKEY
martin arriaga
LEADING MONEY-EARNING
TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED COLT
Cal-Bred Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM
TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED GELDING
chance to excel
Cal-Bred Breeder: Edward C. Allred
TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED FILLY
la jaconde
Cal-Bred Breeder: Balgo Racing Team, Inc.
THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED COLT
TELL CARTEL
Cal-Bred Breeder: Martha F. Wells
THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED GELDING
NOMADIC
THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED FILLY
Victorioso Dinastia
Cal-Bred Breeder: Ronald J. Hartley
AGED CAL-BRED STALLION
red hawk cartel
AGED CAL-BRED GELDING
AGED CAL-BRED MARE
tequila Sangria
CAL-BRED HORSE OF THE YEAR
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