Lovesick Blues: California’s 2025 Horse of the Year
Lovesick Blues has been crowned California-bred Horse of the Year for 2025, an honor celebrated at the recent California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner held at the Le Meridien Hotel. This remarkable 8-year-old gelding, who notably triumphed over some of the West’s top sprinters in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar last July, continues to impress with his stellar performance on the track.
Horse Profile
Lovesick Blues is sired by Grazen and is out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare, Queenofhercastle. Originally bred by Nick Alexander, he was privately sold to Mia Familia Racing Stable and trained by Librado Barocio. In 2025, Lovesick Blues had an impressive racing season, achieving victory in two of his seven starts and accumulating substantial earnings totaling $398,000.
Finalists for Horse of the Year
Lovesick Blues stood out from other strong contenders for the Horse of the Year title, which included Man O Rose and Om N Joy. His exceptional performances and achievements throughout the year solidified his reputation as a champion on the California racing scene.
Other Notable Cal-bred Champions
The awards ceremony also recognized a range of additional Cal-bred champions, highlighting the breadth of talent within California’s thoroughbred community:
- Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Ocean Bear, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, owned by Richard Barton, trained by George Papaprodromou.
- Champion 2-Year-Old Female: Mohaven, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, owned by Legacy Ranch, trained by John Sadler.
- Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Speedy Wilson, bred and owned by Nick Alexander, trained by Phil D’Amato.
- Champion 3-Year-Old Female: Om N Joy, bred and owned by Jerry & Connie Baker, Michael Golovko, and Terrence Scanlan, trained by Aggie Ordonez.
- Champion Older Male: Lovesick Blues, bred by Nick Alexander, owned by Mia Familia Racing Stables, and trained by Librado Barocio.
- Champion Older Female: Majestic Oops, bred by William Dory, Sandy Dory, Gary Kropp, and Janet Kropp, owned by Sublime Stables and Janet Kropp, trained by Dan Ward.
- Champion Sprinter: Lovesick Blues, bred by Nick Alexander, owned by Mia Familia Racing Stables, and trained by Librado Barocio.
- Champion Turf Horse: Kings River Knight, bred by Old English Rancho, owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, The Ellwood Johnston Trust, and Kenneth Tevelde, trained by John Sadler.
Champion Sires and Breeders
The evening also showcased some remarkable achievements in breeding:
- Champion Sire by Earnings: Grazen, owned by Nick Alexander.
- Champion Sire by Number of Winners: Stay Thirsty, owned by Terry Lovingier.
- Champion Sire of Turf Earnings: Grazen, owned by Nick Alexander.
- Champion Sire of 2-Year-Olds by Earnings: Stay Thirsty, owned by Terry Lovingier.
- Broodmare of the Year: Queenofhercastle, property of Nick Alexander.
- Top Breeder by Earnings: Richard Barton Enterprises.
Awards and Recognition
The awards ceremony concluded with a special recognition of trainers and industry veterans, including Trainer of the Year awarded to Steve Knapp and the induction of Chris McCarron, Mike Smith, and Gary Stevens into the CTBA Hall of Fame.
For more details about thoroughbred racing in California and the achievements of its champions, visit CTBA and other relevant sources in the racing community.
Conclusion
Lovesick Blues’s accolade as the 2025 Horse of the Year and the recognition of other outstanding horses encapsulate the vibrant spirit of the thoroughbred racing industry in California. These champions continue to elevate the standards of horse racing and inspire fans and participants alike.
