With the candidates now up for the North American Eclipse Awards I thought it would be fun for us to choose for ourselves who we’d vote for.
Owner:
Juddmonte Farms
Godolphin Racing
Jerry & Ann Moss - Zenyatta seems to be their only real good horse this year but with the care they give their horses on and off the track I have to vote for them. The other two finalists had a few notable runners but add all their horses up and you still wouldn’t have a Zenyatta. They are also a class act so really how can you vote against them?
Breeder:
Dolphus Morrison
Adena Springs
Juddmonte - They always have nice horses and Adena always gets this award. Can’t give it to Dolphus Morrison off one horse’s accomplishments however great they are.
Jockey:
Ramon Dominguez
Garrett Gomez
Julien Leparoux - An amazing rider who seems to get the best out of his horses and he isn’t always on favorites/better horses like the other two finalists.
Trainer:
Steve Asmussen
Bob Baffert
John Shirreffs - After the camgaign of Zenyatta how can you not pick him over Steve Asmussen (whose assistents should be the ones getting the credit) and Bob Baffert who both have the owner power. I do love Bob but I’m with John on this one.
3yo Male:
Quality Road
Mine that Bird
Summer Bird - You have to give this to him hands down, Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and a very respectable 4th in the Classic he is the clear winner.
3yo Filly:
Careless Jewel
Flashing
Rachel Alexandra - I do love the freaky Careless Jewel but no one would have stolen this award from Rachel. Wins the Oaks by 20 lengths, the Preakness against the boys, the Haskell against the boys and ran her eyeballs out in the Woodward early and held on grimly to win against the men. If there were one award for 3yo’s both male and female’s running for it she would have beat out the boys easily.
Older Mare:
Life is Sweet
Music Note
Zenyatta - Like Rachel, there is no competition for Zenyatta in this award. 5 starts this year with 5 wins. Poor Life is Sweet would probably be getting this award if it weren’t for Zenyatta.
Female Sprinter:
Music Note
Ventura
Informed Decision - Both she and Ventura had stellar years but Informed Decision did beat Ventura in the F/M Sprint so she gets my vote here.
Female Turf Horse:
Midday
Goldikova
Ventura - Goldikova could easily get my vote but she only ran in the states once. These are the eclipse awards for the best horses in American and Ventura was clearly that, beating the boys in the Woodbine Mile she may have been able to beat Goldikova in the turf mile if given the chance.
Male Turf Horse:
Conduit
Presious Passion
Gio Ponti - I love Presious Passion to death but Gio Ponti was unbeatable on the turf this year (though if he met Presious Passion on a firm turf course that may have been a different story!) Still with 4 Grade One wins and a winning run in the Classic if it weren’t for Zenyatta he gets my vote.
Older Horse:
Einstein
Kodiak Kowboy
Gio Ponti - Again I have to go with Gio Ponti. He easily had the best year of the three.
Sprinter:
Zensational
Dancing In Silks
Kodiak Kowboy - Zensational could easily get this award but I don’t like him because he never raced outside of California and completely folded in the BC Sprint when things didn’t go his way. Kodiak Kowboy won three times in 2009 and 2 were Grade One’s and was running against MUCH better horses in my opinion (Fabulous Strike, Fatal Bullet, Pyro, Vineyard Haven).
2yo Male:
Vale of York
Noble’s Promise
Lookin’ At Lucky - 5 for 6, his only loss by a head in the Juvenile after a HORRIBLE trip. He’s my derby pick for next year. Stay sound Lucky!
2yo Female:
She Be Wild
Hot Dixie Chick
Blind Luck - After her explosive win in the Starlet I have to go with Blind Luck. She had a great year a close third in the Juvenile Fillies and was beaten up a bit in there.
Steeplechaser:
Red Letter Day
Spy in the Sky
Mixed Up
Apprentice Jockey:
Luis Batista
Luis Saez
Christian Santiago Reyes
Horse of the Year:
Rachel Alexandra
Zenyatta - While I would love to see a tie it most likely not happen and I really can’t go against Zenyatta who is perfect. She got my vote after her astounding win in the Classic.