b'2019 NATIONAL AWARDS HBPA Claiming Crown Horse of the YearRoyal SqueezeIn early February 2019 trainer Elizabetha three-time participant in the Pegasus World Cup Dobles dropped a claim slip on behalf ofInvitational Stakes (G1) for Guarnere.Glenn Ellis and Imaginary Stables for RoyalDobles, who grew up near Finger Lakes Gaming Squeeze at Gulfstream Park for $25,000. Theand Race Track, is the daughter of exercise riders Steve Wildcat Heir gelding was exiting a third- Dobles and Lori Burgess. Her father had a brief training place finish in the $60,000 Persesus Startercareer, and Elizabeth worked for local legend Chris Stakes optional claiming race going sevenEnglehart in her youth. She later worked for Engleharts furlongs.son, Jeremiah, and was on hand when the Englehart-Following the claim, Royal Squeeze rattledtrained, Loooch Racing Stables and Christopher off four consecutive wins that includedDunn-owned Ria Antonia won the 2013 Breeders Cup three scores against starter allowance-levelJuvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita Park. She earned her competition and a victory in the seven- first career win as a trainer in October 2016.furlong Big Drama Stakes for Florida-breds. The yearGary Aiken bred Royal Squeeze out of his Roanoke culminated with a 13/4-length win Dec. 7 in the $110,000mare Mop Squeezer. The Ohio-bred Mop Squeezer Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes at Gulfstream,had been a steady runner in South Florida in her day and a title as the National HBPA Claiming Crown horsewhile under the tutelage of trainer Manny Azpurua. of the year. A six-time winner, Mop Squeezer won or placed in Imaginary Stables is headed by John Guarnere,eight stakes events, all at Calder Race Course save a who grew up in Philadelphia and owned the Newthird-place effort in the 2000 Sabin Handicap (G3) at Jersey-based Hylton Paper Company. He and his wife,Gulfstream.Mary Ann, moved to South Florida a decade ago. HeRoyal Squeeze has bounced back and forth from formed Imaginary Stables in 2016 and has raced manyclaiming company to stakes races throughout his seven-stakes winners with Ellis and others, including Paulyear racing career. A two-time black-type stakes winner, Braverman and Ron Paoluccis Loooch Racing Stables.he has won 12 of 44 starts and has earned $602,477.War Story, a three-time graded stakes winner, has beenEvan HammondsIndustry Service AwardHumberto ChavezThe immeasurable contributions made by chaplainBorn in Mexico City, the chaplain came to the Humberto Chavez and his staff to the backstretchUnited States with his mother when he was in fourth communities of New York Racing Association tracksgrade. After graduating from high school on Long are recognized through the Thoroughbred Owners andIsland, he began a successful career in construction. Breeders Associations 2019 Industry Service Award. Chavez, however, also felt a calling to serve his local What is achieved on a daily basis by the New Yorkchurch and through that work he was introduced to the division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America,backstretch at Belmont Park. The connection he felt to which Chavez has led since 2003, is a labor of love, purethe community there was instantaneous.and simple. When the New York chaplaincys former chaplain, Because of specific needs of the close-knitJames Watson, was retiring, Chavez applied for the job.community of backstretch workers, Chavez and hisIt was all God-ordained, Chavez said in a recent wife, Karen, general manager of the New York DivisionBloodHorse feature. Never in my wildest dreams would of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, must rise toI have said that Im going to New York Theological the occasion every day to provide a safe and nurturingSeminary to be a chaplain. But when you open your haven for the men and women who provide essentialheart and just let God be God in your life, he has things care to the Thoroughbreds. in store for you where you can be a blessing for others, Through a multitude of initiatives and programs, suchand that has always been our intent in this industry, as weekly food pantries, holiday food drives, and socialwhere there is so much love and where they are very events, as well as help with navigating the complexitiesproud of the work they do in every platform. From of the immigration system, translation services, adultbreeders to trainers, and all the way down to the people education, recreational and enrichment programs forwho are taking care of the stalls, they are very proud of kids and their parents, and religious servicesthetheir work, keeping the stalls clean. And that just enables chaplaincys mission is to make the lives of backstretchthe chaplaincy to continue to do what we do.workers and their families bigger and brighter. Karen Johnson22 TOBA NATIONAL AWARDS DINNER/2020'