Suablenanav TH Shines as Top Honoree at Distinciones Maroñas

The 2024 Triple Crown winner swept the awards, earning titles as Horse of the Year, Champion 2-Year-Old Male, Champion 3-Year-Old Male, Champion Stayer, and sharing Maroñas Horse of the Year honors with Horacio Espósito

Suablenanav TH Sweeps the Maroñas Awards / ORANA MAGNANI

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).- Sunday’s racing at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas included top-level action both on and off the track to celebrate another anniversary of its reopening. Among the highlights was the latest edition of the Distinciones Maroñas, honoring the standout performers of the season spanning January 7, 2024, to January 6, 2025. Official champions, it should be noted, are determined by the Uruguayan Stud Book.

The star of the ceremony, held between races and perhaps lacking some prominence, was Suablenanav TH. The Triple Crown hero for Haras Phillipson claimed the titles of Horse of the Year, Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, Champion 3-Year-Old Colt, and, curiously, Champion Stayer – a pattern similar to Argentina’s Pellegrini Awards, where 3-year-olds are often included in the distance division by voters.

Suablenanav TH, a gray preparing to debut in the U.S. under trainer Ignacio Correas IV, was also named co-winner of the Maroñas Figure of the Year, sharing the honor with Argentina’s Horacio Espósito, IFHA Vice President and key figure behind Uruguay’s return to Part I of the Blue Book.

Among fillies, Devassa (Alcorano), now with Paulo Lobo in the U.S., took Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, and Filly/Mare of the Year honors. The legendary Girona Fever (Texas Fever) earned Champion Older Mare once again, while Metido a Bacana (Put It Back) was crowned Champion Sprinter, Sí Señor (Señor Candy) Champion Miler, and Pluto (Discreetly Mine) Champion Older Horse.

Suablenanav TH’s influence extended to his parents: T.H. Approval (With Approval) was named Stallion of the Year, and Argentina-bred Forbidden Love (Footstepsinthesand) took Broodmare of the Year.

Phillipson swept both Breeder and Owner of the Year by earnings, while Héctor Lazo claimed Jockey of the Year for the seventh straight season. Jorge Rey received the Trainer of the Year award, though he represents Antonio Cintra’s stable, and Fernanda Rodríguez was named Apprentice Jockey of the Year.

A special mention went to John Fulton, Breeders’ Cup’s man in South America, whose efforts were instrumental in bringing a Win and You’re In event to Uruguay.