Iowa-bred named claiming horse of the year

August 2, 2011 - Kate’s Main Man, an Iowa-bred thoroughbred, has been named the nation’s top claiming horse of 2010 by the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

The award goes to the horse that won the most money after being claimed — bought out of a race where a horse has a preset selling price.

Kate’s Main Man is the first Iowa-bred to be named champion claimer since the award was started in 1978.

"That's pretty special," said Leroy Gessmann, president of the Iowa HBPA. "There's only one (winner) in the whole United States, and for it to be an Iowa-bred is pretty cool, I think."

Kate's Main Man was claimed by Randy Patterson for $35,000 in February 2010 and went on to win the Cyclones Handicap and Ralph Hayes Stakes. He also finished second in the $150,000 Remington Green and earned $145,3567 in 2010.

He has continued to win this year at age 6, taking the $100,000 Essex Handicap in Arkansas in February. He has won 12-of-46 starts in his career, including four stakes races.

“Horses usually have to win a lot of races to be claimer of the year,” trainer Randy Morse said. “It's a great deal. If he never wins another race, he's done good.”

While Kate's Main Man is the first Iowa-bred to win the award, two others have had Iowa ties. Maggi Moss of Des Moines won the award twice with the Kentucky-bred Silver Axe in 2005 and the Louisiana-bred Cort's P.B. in 2006.

Kate’s Main Man will try to win the Ralph Hayes for the second straight year on Iowa Classic Night Saturday at Prairie Meadows.