15. Kalvory Vary- Ashland Stakes: On the surface, the daughter of Dynaformer who went gate to wire in the lead looks ho-hum. However I was very happy that the runner up to her was Hard Not to Like who I had been following her entire career and was Hard Spun's first G1 placed filly. That and Stephanie's Kitten who was the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf winner finished behind Lila (Hard Not to Like's barn name).
14. Hero of Order- Louisiana Derby: April Fools Day was no joke to the stunned crowd at the Fair Grounds when this son of Sharp Humor had them all laughing at the end of the race. He nailed Mark Veleski just before the wire to take down the signiture race of the New Orleans track. The downside of Hero of Order's win... he wasn't TC nominated. Oops!
13. Havre de Grace- New Orleans Ladies: While her season ended after a career ending injury, the defending Horse of the Year showed that she could have been very tough to deal with this year with a win in at the Fair Grounds. The runner up Juanita went on to win the La Troianne over St. John's River and Plum Pretty.
12. Hansen- Gotham Stakes: He had lost in the Holy Bull, so what was next for the 2yo Champ? A trip to NY for the Gotham to get back onto the right track with a win here.
11. Dullahan- Bluegrass Stakes: Before the race, all the hubub was about Hansen and his infamous blue tail. I honestly think all the stress that he went through for having it dyed and then washed out cost him a win in the final prep for the Derby. Then again, Dullahan did win over the Keeneland surface the previous fall in the Breeders' Futurity.
10. Bodemiester- Arkansas Derby: Even though he had just run a bangup race in the San Felipe, there whree still question marks for the son of Empire Maker. He put them to rest and positioned himself to be one of the favorites for the Derby with this eyepopping win in Hot Springs. The question would be, would he be the first horse since Apollo to win the Derby without starting at 2?
9. Was- Epsom Oaks: She wasn't her trainer's best horse in the field, but she was the one who got the job done. Was whose a daughter of an Epsom Derby winner out of a sister to a Derby winner showed her heart in this race. It also gave a look at greater things to come for Aiden O'Brien.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcAfP956kA8
8. I'll Have Another- Santa Anita Derby: After he had won the Lewis, there where still people not sold on him. Never the less, a rematch against Creative Cause who had beaten him in the Best Pal as 2yo awaited. This time though, he was able to pass him before the wire to get the win. He would have some history to buck though as no horse had won the SA Derby and KY Derby since Sunday Silence in 1989.
7. Black Caviar- Goodwood Stakes: There aren't that many international horses who capture horse racing fans in the US attentions that often. Coming off the heels of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, this sprinting sensation from downunder has done just that. Here is her #21 win a row. UP next for her, Royal Ascot!
6. Camelot- Newmarket 2000 Guineas: With trainer Aiden O'Brien's son Joseph in the saddle, Camelot made his 3yo debut a winning one. It would be the highlight of the day for the Irish connections though as Daddy Long Legs would run miserbly in the Kentucky Derby later on in the day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnVsIxUjR3Y
5. Union Rags- Belmont Stakes: After the Florida Derby, people jumped off the Union Rags wagon saying he couldn't get the Derby distance. After the Derby, the doubters became even more convinced. However, he showed that he was more then just a pretty face in that he was able to deny Zayat Stables and Bob Baffert a TC win after they had finished second in the Derby and Preakness. It was redemption for him, his trainer Michael Matz and jockey John Velazquez who had a horrible trip with Animal Kingdom the year before. Sadly the Derby and Preakness champ was not given the chance to try for the Triple Crown after an injury kept him out of the race.
4. Camelot- Epsom Derby: It almost didn't happen. Stablemate Astrology looked like he was going to hand the undefeated champ his first loss. However, he came with a big rush to take down the second leg of the British Triple Crown. He has a big shot to take down the St. Ledger in September to become the first TC winner since Nijinsky in 1970 to win all three races.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkwjmGYGgy8
3. Shackleford- Met Mile: In what many call the race of the year so far, it came down as a rematch between Caleb's Posse and Shackleford. Unlike last year's Dirt Mile though, the 2011 Preakness winner came out on top.
2. I'll Have Another- Preakness Stakes: It really looked like Bodemeister was going to hang on this time and we would have to go another year without a TC winner. However, much like he did in the Derby, I'll Have Another was able to grind down the Derby runner up and put himself one race away from possible imortality.
1 (tie). Frankel- Lockinge Stakes: For a few days it looked like that we might have seen the last of the superstar after a small injury. However, all those worries where put to rest when he ran with his big brother Bullet Train as his pacesetter he won very nicely. Sets him up for the Queen Anne which he will participate in this year at Royal Ascot.
I'll Have Another- Kentucky Derby: The stablepony was such a popular racehorse in the mid 2000's that he had gotten more visitors while in KY then his pupil. Of course after this race though, Lava Man would be starting to become second fiddle. I'll Have Another will be those what if's. What if he wasn't injured in the days leading up to the Belmont, would he have done it? Unfortnally we may never know.
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