By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–JANUARY 31, 2026– Abel Flores and James Sills’s homebred filly Shaken Goin On, a winner of a meet-best four stakes races at Los Alamitos, was named the 2025 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly during its Awards Banquet held Friday night in the Finish Line Room at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Trained by Eddie Willis and Albert Valles at Los Alamitos, Shaken Goin On won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks, Grade 2 Southern California Derby, Grade 2 Miss Princess Handicap, and the Justanold Love Stakes while winning in six of her seven starts at the Orange County oval. She was ridden by Justine Klaiber in each of her four stakes wins. Shaken Goin On had previously been announced as the AQHA champion 3-year-old filly.

“We had a great time racing her in California,” Sills said. “We hope she comes back this season and does some good.”

“She is going to be back this year,” Flores immediately confirmed with a smile.

The most prestigious award of the night is the Frank Vessels, Sr. Memorial Award. John and Kathie Bobenrieth were the 2025 honorees for their outstanding contributions to the sport of Quarter Horse racing. The Bobenrieths have been involved in racing since the early 1980s. In partnership with Kathie’s father, the late Joe Muniz, the couple claimed a horse and right away both families fell in love with horse racing. Great success soon followed as the Bobenrieths and Munizes bred and raced Chicks Beduino, the winner of the Governor’s Cup Futurity and Bay Meadows Futurity. Chicks Beduino was a champion on the track, yet his most enduring mark was as an all-time great stallion—siring champions like Whosleavingwho, Separatist, and Corona Chick, as well as Evening Snow, the first-ever winner of the Los Alamitos Million Futurity.

Chicks Beduino was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2007, a true testament to the Bobenrieth and Muniz Quarter Horse racing legacy. The Bobenrieths have owned a slew of stakes winners, but their greatest racehorse is their homebred A Ransom, the 2000 AQHA World Champion and two-time PCQHRA Horse of the Year. A Ransom won the 2000 Champion of Champions and a total of 12 stakes races at Los Alamitos. John has also served on the PCQHRA Board for over 15 years, was an AQHA California Director, and a member of the Racing and Graded Stakes Committees.

“This is very emotional,” Kathie said. “We’ve been blessed with some amazing horses and with all our great trainers and jockeys. Our kids grew up at Los Alamitos. I was pregnant with my son when we claimed our first horse. I remembered our daughter would be by the rail cheering on our horses. It’s a blessing and an honor for us.”

La Feliz Montana Ranch’s FDD Dreams, the 2025 AQHA World Champion, was named the PCQHRA champion 3-year-old gelding following his victory in the Champion of Champions. His connections sent the following message in acceptance of the award: “FDD Dreams is an amazing horse he is particularly special to the La Feliz Montana Ranch team as he is homebred,” the message read. “We've all had the privilege of being part of this incredible journey from the beginning and are extremely proud and humbled by this award.”

A year after being named the champion 2-year-old colt, Enrique Gonzalez’s EG High Desert Farms’ Favorite Jesshawk added the title of PCQHRA champion 3-year-old colt following another strong campaign highlighted by the Grade 2 Golden State Derby. It was a big night for EG High Desert Farms, as the Temecula-based racing operation took home six other awards. EG High Desert Farms’ homebred Jess Im Worth It, the winner of the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity, was named the champion 2-year-old colt, the Cal-Bred champion 2-year-old colt, and Cal-Bred Horse of the Year.

On the strength of having bred Favorite Jesshawk and Jess Im Worth It, EG High Desert Farms received the breeder special achievement award. The two champions are full brothers sired by EG’s A Mere Felix and are out of their broodmare Jess Hawk, who was the recipient of the 2025 James V.A. Carter Award as the top broodmare domiciled in California.

“Jess Hawk is my princess,” Enrique Gonzalez said. “She’s become an outstanding producer. I owe a lot of it to Burns Ranch. They’ve helped with my breeding program over the years.”

Favorite Jesshawk completed EG’s collection of trophies for the night by winning the Cal-Bred 3-year-old colt of the year. Valeriano Racing Stables’ Toby Sis was named champion 2-year-old filly following a year in which she won five of six starts including the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. Keith Nellesen’s Hi Octane won the champion 2-year-old gelding award after a strong campaign that was highlighted by his third-place finish in the Two Million final and included three wins and seven top-three finishes in eight starts.

In the aged division, Reliance Ranches’ Unrelentless, winner of the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship, added the champion aged stallion award to his AQHA award in the same division. Bobby Cox’s Jeriko was named the champion aged gelding. He qualified for his third consecutive Champion of Champions with a thrilling win over the great Empressum in their Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials.

“That’s the only race in which he got out of the gate,” trainer Chris O’Dell said. “But the thing about him is that the horse comes racing all of the time at the end. That’s not something you see a lot.”

Parsons Family Limited Partnership’s Rockin With Energy, now a two-time winner of the Grade 1 James Dreyer Charger Bar Handicap and the winner of the Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap, was named champion aged mare.

“This mare is a tribute to the Parsons family great breeding program,” trainer Paul Jones said. “I’m very lucky to train her and must also credit Henry Reynoso Lopez. He’s done a great job riding her.”

Owned by Steve Burns and Bobby Cox, Favorite Cartel won the Three Bars Award for top stallion for the ninth time, while Dr. Burns was named PCQHRA Breeder of the Year for the eighth consecutive year. Ed Allred, who raced graded stakes winners Norco and Defending Champ, received the PCQHRA Owner of the Year after being the meet’s leading owner by wins. Scott Willoughby and Henry Reynoso Lopez were recognized as the PCQHRA champion trainer and jockey, respectively, based on their number of victories last year.

Eddie Willis received the special achievement trainer award following a successful season in which he trained Horse of the Year Shaken Goin On and stakes winners Unrelentless, Hott Temptation, I Am Candy, and many other stakes winners. For the second consecutive year, Justine Klaiber won the jockey special achievement award. She piloted Grade 1 winners Shaken Goin On, Unrelentless, and Hott Temptation, and led all local riders in total stakes wins for the meet. Klaiber is only the third jockey and the first since Cody Jensen in 2003-04 to win this award in back-to-back years.

Allred’s Norco was named the PCQHRA Most Improved Horse in 2025 after his 57-1 upset win in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby. He then ran a terrific race to finish fourth in the Champion of Champions.

“It took a little longer to get him ready for his sophomore season, but it certainly worked out in the end,” Willoughby said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to train so many great horses for Dr. Allred.”

The Moonist Award, presented in recognition for enduring success while racing on a competitive level, went to Train B Taka, owned by Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola, and Tungsten Racing Partnership. The Marc Jungers-trained runner started 11 times during the meet, winning five races with every win coming in either a stakes race or a stakes trial. He was a three-time stakes winner during the meet, which included the Holiday Handicap on the meet’s opening night while he was still a juvenile.

Richard English received the Sam Thompson Memorial Award for exhibiting leadership within the racing community at Los Alamitos Race Course. English is the President of the Quarter Horse Benevolent Foundation and has worked closely with PCQHRA and Los Alamitos for decades overseeing purse accounts. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association.

“It’s been my honor to work at Los Alamitos for 50 years. The horsemen and horsewomen put on the sport and [I am] thankful to Dr. Allred, who keeps uplifting the sport and helps keep it going.”

The Val Tonks Award, presented to an up-and-coming young rider, went to Edwin Escobedo, who over the past two years has ridden the likes of Lethal Cowboy 123, who was last year’s PCQHRA Horse of the Year, and Moonist winner Train B Taka.

“I’m thankful to the great connections of these horses for the opportunity to ride in California,” Escobedo said. “I’ve had a great time here.”

In the Mixed-Breed division at Los Alamitos, Jesus Uranga won hardware as the leading owner and trainer, while Edgar Payeras won his first Mixed-Breed riding title. Payeras also added the Thoroughbred riding title, his fifth in this category. Sergio Morfin was the champion Thoroughbred trainer, while Angela Aquino was the champion owner.

“My mom is here tonight and I’ll say this, I used to take her car when I was 15 to come to Los Al,” Aquino said. “This is home to me.”

Lirios Racing swept the 1,000 Yards Horse of the Year titles, as former claimer Alphabetical Order was named the top male. Lirios Racing’s Tiz The Prospect was the top female in the division. The two local distance stars won their respective Winter Championship races held in early December. FanDuel TV received a special recognition award for its importance to racing at Los Alamitos, while the leading money-winning Cal-Breds in various divisional categories also were recognized during the show.

2025 P.C.Q.H.R.A. AWARDS

2025 CHAMPIONS

HORSE OF THE YEAR

Shaken Goin On

Owner / Breeder: James Sills and Abel Flores

 

CHAMPION

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT

jess im worth it

Owner / Breeder: EG High Desert Farms, LLC

 

CHAMPION

TWO-YEAR-OLD GELDING

hi octane

Owner: Keith W. Nellesen

Breeder: Lance & Tammy Finlinson

 

 

CHAMPION

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Toby Sis

Owner: Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC

Breeder: Edward C. Allred

 

CHAMPION

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT

Favorite jesshawk

Owner/Breeder: EG High Desert Farms, LLC

 

CHAMPION

THREE-YEAR-OLD GELDING

fdd dreams

Owner/Breeder: La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC

 

CHAMPION

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Shaken Goin On

Owner / Breeder: James Sills and Abel Flores

 

CHAMPION

AGED STALLION

Unrelentless

Owner: Reliance Ranches, LLC

Breeder: Flag Ranch, LLC

 

 

CHAMPION

AGED GELDING

Jeriko

Owner/Breeder: Bobby D. Cox

 

 

CHAMPION

AGED MARE

rockin with energy

Owner/Breeder: Parsons Family Limited Partnership

 

MOONIST AWARD

train b taka

Owner: Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola & Tungsten Racing Partnership

Breeder: Rancho El Cabresto, Inc.

 

MOST IMPROVED HORSE AWARD

norco

Owner/Breeder: Edward C. Allred

 

JAMES V.A. CARTER AWARD

Outstanding Broodmare

jess hawk

Owner/Breeder: EG High Desert Farms, LLC

 

THREE BARS AWARD

Outstanding Stallion

favorite cartel

Owner: Steve D. Burns, DVM & 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

reliance ranches, llc

 

Breeder - SPECIAL recognition

eg high desert farms, llc

 

trainer - SPECIAL Recognition

edDie D. WILLIS

 

JOCKEY OF THE YEAR

Henry reynoso Lopez

 

JOckey - SPECIAL Recognition

justine klaiber

 

VAL TONKS MEMORIAL AWARD

Edwin Escobedo

 

FRANK VESSELS, SR.

MEMORIAL AWARD

Presented by P.C.Q.H.R.A. to

john and kathie bobenrieth

In Recognition of an Outstanding Contribution to the Sport of Quarter Horse Racing

 

SPECIAL P.c.q.h.r.a.

rECOGNITION aWARD

PRESENTED TO

FanDUel TV

For its Contribution to Quarter Horse Racing

 

sam thompson memorial award

Presented by P.C.Q.H.R.A. to

Richard M. English

For an Individual who displays leadership within the Los Alamitos racing community

 

THOROUGHBRED OWNER OF THE YEAR

Angela Maria Aquino

 

THOROUGHBRED TRAINER OF THE YEAR

Sergio Morfin

 

THOROUGHBRED JOCKEY OF THE YEAR

edgar payeras

 

MIXED-BREED JOCKEY OF THE YEAR

Edgar Payeras

 

 

MIXED-BREED TRAINER OF THE YEAR

Jesus J. Uranga

 

MIXED-BREED OWNER OF THE YEAR

Jesus J. Uranga

 

1000 YARD CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR COLT / GELDING

Alphabetical Order

Owner: Lirios Racing Stables

Breeder: Harris Farms. Inc

 

1000 YARD CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR FILLY / MARE

tiz the prospect

Owner: Lirios Racing Stables

Breeder: Travis Zimmerman

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

CAL-BRED HORSE OF THE YEAR

jess im worth it

Cal-Bred Breeder: EG High Desert Farms, LLC

 

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED COLT

jess im worth it

Cal-Bred Breeder: EG High Desert Farms, LLC

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED GELDING

mayor humdinger

Cal-Bred Breeder: Michael Casselman

 

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

TWO-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED FILLY

toby sis

Cal-Bred Breeder: Edward C. Allred

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED COLT

favorite jesshawk

Cal-Bred Breeder: EG High Desert Farms, LLC

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED GELDING

norco

Cal-Bred Breeder: Edward C. Allred

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

THREE-YEAR-OLD CAL-BRED FILLY

see it clearly

Cal-Bred Breeder: Edward C. Allred

 

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

AGED CAL-BRED GELDING

Cattail Cove

Cal-Bred Breeder: Steve D. Burns, DVM

 

 

LEADING MONEY-EARNING

AGED CAL-BRED MARE

rockin with energy

Cal-Bred Breeder: Parson Family Limited Partnership

 

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