Eclipse Award voting – Curlin looks strong
This year, for the first time, Eclipse Award voting is being conducted online.
Eligible voters affiliated with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Turf Writers Association or Daily Racing Form are tasked to list 1-2-3 selections for Horse of the Year and 11 other equine and five human categories.
Here’s the rundown of how this voter’s pointing and clicking went concerning the top selections.
Horse of the Year – Curlin. On the reasoning that this honor is there for the winning by the standout of the handicap division, the toughest and most competitive, unless no real standout emerges.
None did in 2002 and the vote went to magnificent mare Azeri. But Curlin’s wins in the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup make him worthy of repeating as Horse of the Year. That takes nothing away from undefeated Zenyatta, whose seven wins were strictly against her own gender.
Two-year-old colt or gelding – Midshipman. Del Mar Futurity winner followed up with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory, making the choice obvious.
Two-year-old filly – Stardom Bound. Impressive Del Mar Debutante, Oak Leaf Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies victories make this one obvious, too.
Three-year-old colt or gelding – Big Brown. Derby, Preakness and five other wins bury the bafflingly bad Belmont Stakes.
Three-year-old filly – Eight Belles. Sometimes you’ve got to put stats aside and let sentiment be your guide. Unbeaten before a game second against males in the Kentucky Derby moments before her tragic death.
The unsentimental choice in this, and the Female Turf category, would have been Goldikova, winner of the BC Mile on turf against some of the world’s best older males. But because Goldikova only raced once in the United States, I placed her second on the ballot in both and will leave the deserved glory to voters for the European equivalent to the Eclipse.
Older Male – Curlin. Enough said.
Older Female – Zenyatta. (See above).
Male Sprint – Midnight Lute. Repeat victory in the BC Sprint was good enough for me to vote a repeat award in the category.
Female Sprint – Ventura. Head-to-head win in BC Filly & Mare Sprint over Indian Blessing tipped the scales.
Male Turf – Conduit. With some reluctance, considering BC Turf win was his only U.S. start. Just didn’t see enough from anybody in the U.S.-campaigned group.
Female Turf – Forever Together. Finished strong with back-to-back Grade I wins, last in BC Filly & Mare Turf.
Steeplechase – Good Night Shirt. Unbeaten in five Grade I assignments from April to November.
Trainer – Steve Asmussen. Curlin conditioner became first to top 600 wins in a year and has nearly twice as much in purse earnings as closest competitors.
Jockey – Garrett Gomez. Has a shot to top Jerry Bailey’s one-year purse earnings record with more than $23 million by his mounts already.
Apprentice Jockey – Pascacio “Paco” Lopez. Meet-leading rider at Calder (Fla.), 23, ranks among top 20 in the nation with 225 wins through Thursday.
Owner – Jerry and Ann Moss. Have done more, proportionately, with a lot less than mega-outfits above them on the earnings list, thanks to Zenyatta, Tiago and others.
Breeder – Juddmonte Farms. Another case of quality of success trumping quantity of starters.
The finalists (top three vote getters) in each category will be revealed early next month. The winners will be announced at the Eclipse Awards dinner January 26 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
