Wave Carver is 2006 World Champion

BONSALL — Wave Carver, a 4-year-old stallion by all-time leading sire First Down Dash, is the 2006 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) racing world champion. The announcement was telecast live on the TVG Network during a ceremony at Oklahoma City.

Bred by Dan Lucas’ Lucas Racing Inc. of New Market, MD, and owned by a partnership that included Lucas, AQHA Past President Frank “Scoop” Vessels III, Vaughn Cook and Gary Muller, Wave Carver raced exclusively at Los Alamitos, where he won seven of nine races and earned $739,036 during the campaign. His stakes resume included victories in the Grade 1 Champion of Champions and Los Alamitos Super Derby and the Governor’s Cup Derby (RG2).

With a career bankroll of $1,011,196, Wave Carver ranks 42nd on the sport’s all-time earnings list.

A group of 25 people comprising racing media, racing officials and AQHA Racing Committee members served on the voting body for the champions.

Wave Carver was also voted champion 3-year-old colt and champion 3-year-old. Other equine champions named were Ima Ramblin Girl (3-year-old filly), Strawkins (3-year-old gelding), Blues Girl Too (2-year-old and 2-year-old filly), FDD Dynasty (2-year-old colt), Jess You And I (2-year-old gelding), Apollitical Time (aged horse and aged mare), Country Chicks Man (aged stallion), Gotta Get (aged gelding), Snowbound Superstar (distance horse), Its All About Speed (Canadian champion), SF Finita Dash (Mexican champion) and First Prize Dash (champion broodmare).

Also, Paul Jones was voted champion trainer for the fifth consecutive season and G.R. Carter Jr. won champion jockey honors for the fourth straight year. The List Family’s Double Bar S Ranch of Moreno Valley, CA, was the sport’s champion owner, and champion breeder honors were awarded to Vessels Stallion Farm. Located in Bonsall, Vessels Stallion Farm was also named champion breeder in 1999.

The ’06 champions will be recognized in March at the AQHA’s annual convention in Houston. The owner of the world champion will receive a three-horse gooseneck Sooner trailer, AQHA’s official trailer.