Yes they aren't given out till January, but here are my predictions for this year's Eclipse Award winners except for Horse of the Year. I'll give my explination on why I'm not choosing that catagory at the end.
2yo Female- She Be Wild (Offlee Wild)
A filly who raised from what I call the "ugly ducklings" (maiden claimers) to "beautiful swans" (stakes races), this filly started her career in a 40k maiden claimer, finished second in a G1 before winning the BC Juvenile Fillies. She also got a bit of luck on her side after California's top filly Mi Sueno suffered a career ending injury and New York's best filly Hot Dixie Chick skipped the BC after winning the Spinaway up at Saratoga. Her trainer Wayne Catalano is no stranger to training top fillies, as he also trained 2006 BC Juvenile Fillies winner Dreaming of Anna (Rahy).
2yo Male- Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike)
Normally the BC Juvenile winner would win this award, however this won't be the case this year. With the winner of the race, a Euro who will be wintering in Dubai, Lucky gets it as he won 2 G1 races and was undefeated until the BC. His form over to dirt should not be a problem as his big bro is G2 winner Kensei (Mr. Greeley).
3yo Female- Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d' Oro)
Dear Eclipse voters,
If one Rachel Alexandra Morrison-Jackson is not an unanimous champion, then I think you should lose your voting previliges
Love a Rachel Alexandra fan
Just kidding ;). In all seriousness she should be unanimous dispite Careless Jewel (Tapit) coming on mid-Summer and winning the DE Oaks and Alabama. Rachel this year did something that no female could do, win the Woodward. And she did it fighting off Macho Again (Macho Uno) and Bullsbay (Tiznow). Plus she became the first female to win the Preakness in 85 years, the second female to win the Haskell and she almost broke the 2 track records (Belmont and Monmouth). All this after she romped home by 20 1/2 lengths in the KY Oaks.
3yo Male: Summer Bird (Birdstone)
Really known as the "Other Bird" from after the Derby until his Travers win. Still to become the first horse since Easy Goer to take the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the sam year is quite an accomplishment. Unfortnally with his career no in doubt, we may never know how good he exactly is.
Older Male: Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat)
Really he wins this by default, as this was one of the worst older male classes in a while. However, the good news is he's coming back next year and hopefully we'll see him in the Classic again (I also think he'll do fine on dirt).
Older Female: Zenyatta (Street Cry (IRE))
Dear Eclipse voters,
If Zenyatta Mondatta Moss is not an unanimous champion, then I think you lose your voting previligies.
Love a Zenyatta fan
Just kidding (again) ;). Like Rachel, if Zen is not unanimous it would be a shame. After all she did become the first female ever to win the Breeders' Cup Classic. This in her first try against the boys, in her final race ever (there hasn't been an "offical announcement", but Jerry Moss did say that the Classic was her final race).
Male Sprinter: Zensational (Unbridled's Song)
This is one that is really up in the air and could come down to who did more this year. While Kodiak Kowboy (Posse) will have his supporters, but this guy was just wow all year. His downside is he did finish 5th in BC Sprint to a longshot, and he did retire before he really hit his prime.
Female Sprinter: Informored Decidsion (Monarchos)
It pains me to say this girl deserves it, but she does. I'm sorry, I never could get on board with her, to me she just seems to be a synth specialist. It's really a shame that Music Note (A.P. Indy) wasn't in the BC F/M Sprint as I think she would have won going away. Keep an eye on Sara Louise (Malibu Moon), next year though as she could be a huge factor.
Turf Female: Ventura (Chester House)
This is another up in air situations, but it reality it comes down to this girl and Goldikova (IRE) (Anaaba). And since the 2 time Mile winner is coming back to try for three in a row, I would love to see Ventura get it. She lost by a nose to Gio Ponti, got two tough beats by Informed Decidsion, however was able to beat the boys in the Woodbine Mile and just wrapped up her career in the Matriach. I'm not 100% sure if she'll take it, but I sure hope so.
Turf Male: Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat)
Had he been in the Turf instead of the Classic, he would have been America's best hope. He won 5 G1's in a roe from a mile to a mile and half. Including outside of of the Turf, the biggest race in the Arlington Million.
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