Rhetorical earned New York-bred Horse of the Year honors and led a haul for his breeders Mallory and Karen Mort Monday evening during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc.’s Annual Awards Ceremony at the Hall of Springs at the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs.
Bred by the Morts and campaigned by Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable, Rhetorical won four of five starts and earned $863,800 in 2025. His victories included the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland Race Course and the West Point Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. In addition to Horse of the Year honors, Rhetorical took home Champion Turf Male honors.
The 2025 New York-bred Horse of the Year and divisional champions were chosen by a vote of New York turf writers, handicappers, photographers and television and radio hosts and analysts conducted by the NYTB.
The Morts were also selected by the NYTB board as New York Breeder of the Year and their former Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor was named Broodmare of the Year. Sheet Humor also produced Sterling Silver, who was bred by the Morts and took home honors as Champion Female Sprinter for owner Mark Anderson.
A Commemorative Awards Program, written and produced by ST Publishing (the team behind The Saratoga Special and Thisishorseracing.com), was produced for the Awards Dinner and is available on the Thisishorseracing.com website by clicking here.
New York’s 2025 honorees:
New York-Bred Horse of the Year, Champion Turf Male
Rhetorical (Not This Time – Sheet Humor, Distorted Humor)
Owners: Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable
Breeders: Mallory and Karen Mort
Trainer: Will Walden
Foaling farm: Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent
Champion Two-Year-Old Male
Arctic Beast (Yaupon – Frostie Anne, Frost Giant)
Owners: Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables and Jennifer Rice
Breeders: Rockridge Stud, Saratoga Glen Farm and Beal’s Racing Stable
Trainer: Mike Maker
Foaling farm: Rockridge Stud in Hudson
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
Iron Orchard (Authentic – Onebrethatatime, Brethren)
Owners: KatieRich Stables, CSLR Racing Partners, Edward Childs and R.A. Hill Stable
Breeder: Pine Ridge Stable
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Foaling farm: Waldorf Farm in North Chatham
Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Mo Plex (Complexity – Mo Joy, Uncle Mo)
Owners: R & H Stable
Breeder: Everything’s Cricket Racing
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Foaling farm: Stonegate Stables in Fort Edward
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, Champion Female Sprinter
Usha (Tiz the Law – Animal Appeal, Leroidesanimaux)
Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman
Breeder: Esler and Raine
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Foaling farm: Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs
Champion Older Dirt Male
Bank Frenzy (Central Banker – Storm Now, Tiznow)
Owners: LSU Stables
Breeders: Chester and Mary Broman
Trainers: Rudy Rodriguez, Miguel Clement
Foaling farm: Chestertown Farm in Chestertown
Champion Older Dirt Female
Sterling Silver (Cupid – Sheet Humor, Distorted Humor)
Owners: Mark Anderson
Breeders: Mallory and Karen Mort
Trainers: Bill Mott and Anthony Margotta Jr.
Foaling farm: Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent
Champion Turf Female
Awesome Czech (Mendelssohn – Marvelous Martina, Awesome Again)
Owner: Barry Schwartz
Breeder: Stonewall Farm
Trainer: Horacio De Paz
Foaling farm: Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs
Champion Male Sprinter
Whatchatalkinabout (Dialed In – Super Savvy, Super Saver)
Owner: Ice Wine Stable
Breeder: Newtown Anner Stud
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Foaling farm: Jack’s Farm on the Hill in Millbrook
Broodmare of the Year: Sheet Humor (Distorted Humor – Sheets, Scatmandu), dam of Rhetorical, Sterling Silver
New York-Sired Horse of the Year: Bank Frenzy
New York-Bred Trainer of the Year: Linda Rice
New York-Bred Jockey of the Year: Manny Franco
New York Breeders of the Year: Mallory and Karen Mort
New York-bred Program Lifetime Achievement Award: Marlene Brody
New York Farm Manager of the Year: Gregg Falk (Chestertown Farm)
