Pacific Coast QHRA Awards

Three graded derby wins helped Martha Wells’ Tell Cartel earn the title of 2020 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association horse of the year.

Last year's AQHA champion 3-year-old, Tell Cartel was bred by Wells and is trained by Matt Fales. The son of Favorite Cartel won five of 10 races and earned $717,751 last year, and his record included victories in the Los Alamitos Super (G1), Los Alamitos Winter (G1), and El Primero del Ano (G3) derbies. He also ended his season with a second-place finish in the 440-yard, $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1), and he was the PCQHRA champion sophomore colt. Eduardo Nicasio rode the colt in all of his 2020 starts.

“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 has been retired from racing and will stand the 2021 season at Fales Ranch in Arizona.

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 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 family-run horse racing operation would soon become an integral part of the Southern California racing scene.

Reliance Ranches' best 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 awards show, which was hosted by Michael Wrona, celebrated the 2020 achievements of California's Quarter Horse breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses. It can be accessed at www.LosAlamitos.com.

The complete list of award winners follows below with the special awards video featuring each nominee and honorees. 

CHAMPION 2-TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT
CONSTITUENT
Owner: M and G Farms, Inc.
Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD GELDING
APOLLITICAL GOLD
Owner/Breeder: Grant R. Cox Revocable Trust

CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY
APOLLITICAL PATTY
Owner: Walker Family Trust
Breeder: Jim Walker

CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD COLT
TELL CARTEL
Owner/Breeder: Martha F. Wells

CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD GELDING
NOMADIC
Owner/Breeder: Edward C. Allred

CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY
DREAMS DIVINE
Owner: Reliance Ranches. LLC.
Breeder: J. G. Kelly, J. L. Yother and N. Yearsley

CHAMPION AGED STALLION
CORONA JUMPIM MRL
Owner: Haras Portofino 
Breeder: Anapurus Comerclo E Part Ltda

CHAMPION AGED GELDING
CHOCOLATITO
Owner: Edward C. Allred
Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

CHAMPION 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.
Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

HORSE OF THE YEAR
TELL CARTEL
Owner/Breeder: Martha F. Wells

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

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 RECOGNITION AWARD
TVG (for its contribution to Quarter Horse racing)

SAM THOMPSON MEMORIAL AWARD
VINNIE BEDNAR (for an Individual who displays leadership within the Los Alamitos racing community)

FRANK VESSELS, SR. MEMORIAL AWARD
RELIANCE RANCHES LLC (in recognition for an outstanding contribution to 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
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FAIRS
JUAN ARRIAGA

LEADING JOCKEY
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FAIRS
MARTIN ARRIAGA

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED COLT
CONSTITUENT
Cal-Bred Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED GELDING
CHANCE TO EXCEL
Cal-Bred Breeder: Edward C. Allred 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED FILLY
LA JACONDE
Cal-Bred Breeder: Balgo Racing Team, Inc.

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED COLT
TELL CARTEL
Cal-Bred Breeder: Martha F. Wells

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED GELDING
NOMADIC
Cal-Bred Breeder: Edward C. Allred

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED FILLY
VICTORIOSO DINASTIA
Cal-Bred Breeder: Ronald J. Hartley

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
AGED CAL-BRED STALLION
RED HAWK CARTEL
Cal-Bred Breeder: Martha F. Wells

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
AGED CAL-BRED GELDING
CHOCOLATITO
Cal-Bred Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
AGED CAL-BRED MARE
TEQUILA SANGRIA
Cal-Bred Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

LEADING MONEY-EARNING
CAL-BRED HORSE OF THE YEAR
TELL CARTEL
Cal-Bred Breeder: Martha F. Wells

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