FDD Dynasty, Little Bit of Baja earn AQHA, PCQHRA honors

Two Vessels Stallion Farm horses received annual awards from both the American Quarter Horse Association and the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association.

FDD Dynasty was named as the top three-year-old colt by both the AQHA and the PCQHRA. Little Bit of Baja was named the top three-year-old gelding by both organizations. The two horses also earned Horse of the Meet honors from the Los Alamitos racetrack in those two categories.

“It’s quite an honor,” said Scoop Vessels.

The AQHA awards were announced January 22 in Oklahoma City, and Vessels Stallion Farm will receive the actual awards during the AQHA’s March convention in San Francisco. The PCQHRA awards were announced and presented January 29 at the organization’s banquet at Los Alamitos, where the track awards were also announced and presented.

FDD Dynasty’s wins in 2007 included the Governor’s Cup Derby and the Go Man Go stakes race. Little Bit of Baja captured last year’s Super Derby. All three of those races were at Los Alamitos.

FDD Dynasty and Little Bit of Baja were both bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and are both partially owned by the Bonsall entity. Both were sired by First Down Dash, who stands at Vessels Stallion Farm and is now 24.

FDD Dynasty will become a stallion himself this year. He was syndicated among 50 shareholders and will stand at Vessels Stallion Farm.

Little Bit of Baja underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following the Champion of Champions race December 15. “He is recovering very nicely and he should be back running,” said Vessels, who estimates a summer return for the gelding.