Fox Valley Topaz Illinois Horse of the Year

Breeders Crown champion Fox Valley Topaz has been named Illinois Horse of the Year for 2008. Bred by Fox Valley Standardbreds, owned by the Engel and Rucker Stables and trained by Kenneth Rucker, the 2-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster won 10 of 15 starts, took a mark of 1:52.1 and earned $628,880 last year. She is the first Illinois-sired 2 year old to win a Breeders Crown championship. She was also voted the nation’s top freshman pacing filly by the members of the U.S. Harness Writers Assn. and her connections will be presented the Dan Patch Award during the Night of Champions banquet Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Fox Valley Topaz, who was also voted the Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, and the rest of the division winners, will be honored at the annual USTA District 5 banquet Saturday night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

Other divisional winners and honorees were:

2YO Colt Pacer           Enzo The Baker (by Cole Muffler)

2YO Filly Trotter          Miss Vickie (Valley Victor)

2YO Colt Trotter         Southern Rocketop (Psychic Spirit)

3YO Filly Pacer           Westside Gritty (Sportsmaster)

3YO Colt Pacer           Mucho Sleazy (Sportsmaster)

3YO Filly Trotter          Fox Valley Shannon (Vaporize)

3YO Colt Trotter         Maxter (Valley Victor)

Trotting Stallion of the Year                  Valley Victor

Pacing Stallion of the Year                    Sportsmaster

Trotting Broodmare of the Year            Colors Of The Wind

Pacing Broodmare of the Year  Incredashell

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