Following on the heels of his Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old colt, undefeated Kentucky Derby hopeful Declan's Moon was named 2004 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year in the annual poll conducted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
Bred by Brice Ridgely at his Spring Meadow Farm in Cooksville, Declan's Moon will race Saturday in the Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita Park for owners Mace and Samantha Siegel. The colt's sire, Malibu Moon, stood at Country Life Farm in Bel Air before his runaway success led to a move to Kentucky for the 2004 breeding season.
Declan's Moon, also named Maryland-bred 2-year-old champion, won all four starts as a 2-year-old, including a victory in the Grade I Hollywood Futurity over Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko.
Other Maryland-bred divisional honors went to Hear Us Roar (2-year-old filly), Love of Money (3-year-old male), He Loves Me (3-year-old filly), Our New Recruit (older male and sprinter), Angela's Love (older female), Slew Valley (turf horse) and Preemptive Strike (steeplechaser).
-- John Scheinman
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