NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, March 28, 2010) – Arnold Zetcher’s Zardana, the 6-year-old mare who shipped in to defeat reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies, was named Horse of the Meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ 2009-2010 Thoroughbred Racing Season Presented by Miller Lite by a vote of media and racing officials following Sunday’s Closing Day program.
Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Heiligbrodt Racing Stable-who combined to win the meet’s final stakes race with Hisse in the $60,000 Red Camelia-took home awards as the season’s leading horsemen in their respective categories.
Bridgmohan earned his first Fair Grounds Leading Jockey title with 79 wins, seven more than runner-up James Graham at 72.
Asmussen won his ninth Leading Trainer title, tying him with Tom Amoss for the all-time lead. Asmussen’s 69 wins left him 28 ahead of Bret Calhoun in second place with 41 trips to the winner’s circle.
The Heiligbrodt Racing Stable of Houston residents Bill & Corrine Heiligbrodt clinched their third Fair Grounds Leading Owner title on Closing Day, fishing two wins in front of Southern Equine Stables (Michael Moreno), 22 to 20.
2009-2010 Thoroughbred Racing Season Honors
Horse of the Meet and Older Female of the Meet: Arnold Zetcher’s Zardana
Leading Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
Leading Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Leading Owner: Heiligbrodt Racing Stable (Bill & Corrine Heiligbrodt)
Older Horse of the Meet: Overbrook Farm’s Battle Plan
Turf Horse of the Meet: Anstu Stables’ Blues Street
Turf Female of the Meet: Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena
Sprinter of the Meet: Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein’s Cash Refund
Three-Year-Old Male of the Meet: Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Mission Impazible
Three-Year-Old Filly of the Meet: Mark Stanley’s Quiet Temper
Older Louisiana-bred of the Meet: Brittlyn Stable’s Star Guitar
Three-Year-Old Louisiana-bred of the Meet: Dan Lynch, Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer’s Red Rally
Claimer of the Meet: Carl R. Moore’s King of Speed
