The Eclipse finalists where announced today and while both of the 2yo Categories, Male Sprinter, 3yo Male (should be unanimous), Older Female (same) and Horse of the Year (could be unanimous) are locked up, some of the other finalists where... lets just say very interesting. Lets take a look at them.
2yo Female: Catch a Glimpse, Rachel's Valentina, Songbird
Catch a Glimpse won the 2 major turf stakes races for 2yo's in Canada and the US. Valentina lived up to early expectations of her, Songbird who is bred similarly to Valentina's dam just dominated and will win this.
2yo Male: Airoforce, Mohaymen, Nyquist
Airoforce was so close to winning the Juvenile Turf, and took his talents to the dirt well. Mohaymen will try to keep the NY Fall 2yo race roll going. Nyquist is going to win this award based off his undefeated status and winning the Juvenile.
3yo Female: Found, I'm a Chatterbox, Stellar Wind
I get it, the girls did not have a great year. However, no Curlalina? All she did was win 2 G1's and came up just short to win the Triple Tiara (and how cool it would have been had we had a TC and a TT the same year?). Although she was the beneficiary of a DQ so that might have been her own enemy. Even though she beat the boys, I don't think Found will win. Stellar Wind prob wins by default.
3yo Male: American Pharoah, Dortmund, Runhappy
I really wished that this would be me gushing all over you know who. However, I need to make a complaint. Dortmund?! WTF! Yes he won the SA Derby, 3rd in the KY and a small stakes later in the year, but come on! The voters really threw out Keen Ice's 3rd in the Belmont, 2nd in the Haskell and win the Travers? Up until Runhappy's Malibu win, he was considered to be the 2nd best 3yo in the Country. Sigh poor Ice and Frosted, both who deserved to be here over him.
Anyway we all know whose going to win this award and it should be unanimous. All hail Pharoah!
Older Dirt Female: Beholder, Sheer Drama, Stopchargingmaria
Even though this was not the best group of older girls, the 3 who are the finalists are the most obvious. Beholder should be unanimous despite the fact that Sheer and Maria had great seasons.
Older Dirt Male: Honor Code, Liam's Map, Tonalist
In what was supposed to be a West Coast dominated season, the three finalists all are based out of NY (and will actually be standing together this year at Lane's End). The latter has zero chance as he lost to both the other two finalists. You could have also made a case for Effinex, but my guess his Brooklyn bolting cost him a spot here. I think Honor Code wins based off the fact that he beat Liam in the Whitney and then Liam skipped the Classic for the Dirt Mile.
Turf Female: Found, Stephanie's Kitten, Tepin
This is actually the most competitive of all the categories IMO. Steph has been amazing over the years, but since she didn't beat the boys like the other two did I'm throwing her out. I'm giving the edge to Tepin as her body of work of the year was better then Found's (she didn't even win 3yo Female in Europe).
Turf Male: Big Blue Kitten, Golden Horn, The Pizza Man
Traditionally once you make a start in the US, your entire record for the year is looked at. In that theory Golden Horn should win in a landslide as he had a great year. Here is the problem though... his lone start in the US was a loss. I get it, turf horses here stink. But come on there had to be a third horse that was good enough? I think this is going to be really close with BBK getting it over Pizza Man in a close vote.
Female Sprinter: Lady Shipman, La Verdad, Wavell Avenue
You know this year is bad for the division when a turf sprinter (who did dominate) is dominated is a finalist over several G1 winners. No clue who is going to win this division.
Male Sprinter: Private Zone, Rock Fall, Runhappy
Runhappy is going to win this award, but the drama behind the scenes took it's life of it's own. I honestly think had he not broken down, Rock Fall would have won the Sprint and this award. RIP boy :(.
Steeplechase: Bob Le Beau, Dawalan, Demonstrative
Abstain
Owner: Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc., Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, Zayat Stables
Two of these owners won BC races this year. The other one won in 2014. The Zayats had a great year not only with Pharoah, but El Kabier and when they owned him Mr. Z. The Ramseys however have two finalists... they get the slight edge.
Breeder: Darley, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Zayat Stables
Pharoah is a homebred... end of story.
Trainer: Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher
In a category dominated by the east... the West Coast trainer is your likely winner.
Jockey: Javier Castellano, Victor Espinoza, Irad Ortiz Jr.
If Team Pharoah loses any category this is the one that they would. Victor had a great year... Javier's year was better.
Apprentice jockey: Eric Cancel, Angel Cruz, Tyler Gaffalione
Abstain
Horse of the Year: American Pharoah, Beholder, Runhappy
Who knew that a horse who finished 2nd in the 2009 Derby and 11th in the Preakness would turn out to be the father of the one who broke the Triple Crown jinx. Pioneerof the Nile's boy did good and ended his career with a bang. Any other year Beholder would have won... but Pharoah deserves it. Have a feeling Runhappy is here because they just needed a third horse to be a finalist.
We will find out on January 16th who will take home the awards. Good luck to all!
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