Instead of doing a Year in Review post for 2013, I thought that this year I would do a Look Forward post. So this is what I have come up with division by division, with the exception of the 2yo's. Please note, that for now this is only North American divisions, but some European names will be mentioned.
3yo Female
She's a Tiger and Ria Antonia are the two key leaders here. Although the latter is being pointed towards the Derby, I fully expect her to be in the Oaks instead. She's a Tiger who I think will be your Eclipse winner this year might have a tiny bit of trouble with the Oaks distance, but I think people thought the same about Beholder and she handled that just fine. Sweet Reason and Artemis Agrotera are also two horses to keep an eye on. From the non BC horses Stopchargingmaria seems to be the it horse after winning at Aqueduct to finish her season. A possible dark horse is Got Lucky, she hasn't won a race yet, but she was second to her stablemate who I just mentioned in her last and she is from the same female family as two of Todd Pletcher's best male horses, Bluegrass Cat and Super Saver. Plus he knows how to handle A.P. Indy fillies (see Rags to Riches).
3yo Male
This division took a bit of a hit yesterday with the retirement of New Year's Day due to injury. Even with that though, I'm not sure he would have been a true Derby contender. Shared Belief won at the now defunct Hollywood Park and is undefeated in his career, but all of those races where on synthetic. Havana looked like the winner in the BC before being run down by NYD. Honor Code skipped BC and won at Aqueduct. He has the defending Derby winning trainer and is one of A.P. Indy's last chances to win the race. Rise Up will try to go in the same footsteps of Goldencents in winning the Delta Jackpot at 2 and a G1 Derby prep race at 3. If he can do that, he (and possibly Ria) could go a place that his late great father Rockport Harbor couldn't and that's to the Derby. Strong Mandate is also a contender to watch. Of course unraced 2yos are my possible dark horses and also Wicked Strong. 3rd to Honor Code in his last, he's by a Derby runner up and his broodmare sire is a Derby winner. From Europe, don't be suprised if Giovanni Boldini comes... that is if he runs in Dubai.
Older Female
Even with the retirement of Royal Delta, this is going to be a very strong division. That is if Beholder and Princess of Sylmar both return strong. Close Hatches could be the horse that steps up to fill her stablemates hooves. Also look out for Heir Kitty in the sprints. As for dark horses? Well they can popup at any time. Especially on the West Coast which can get very wild at the beginning of the year.
Older Male
Normally this division isn't as strong as the Older Females. Even though Fort Larned, Paynter, Flat Out are all retired and Ron the Greek is heading overseas the 3 soon to be 4yo's are very strong. Sure Orb and Oxbow are retired, but look at whose coming back. Palace Malice, Revolutionary, Will Take Charge (who will be you're 3yo Champ), Moreno, Goldencents, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. River Seven who has hit the board both times he's been on dirt and Upcaptured hail from Canada. Add in Mucho Macho Man, Game On Dude and the Dans. This could be possibly the best Older Male season in several years. A dark horse to watch is Easter Gift. 3rd behind WTC and Dude at Churchill, he missed out on being in the BC by one horse. However that was a blessing in disguise. Will his 5 year old season be the year he finally puts it together?
Grass Male
This division goes thorough the Mile subdivision and that is ruled by Wise Dan. Beware of Silver Max though, his synth win over the HOY was no fluke as he is just as strong on grass. As for the Classic subdivision it's prob. going to be Kitten dominated. However Little Mike when he decides to show up is a contender and the Euro's (Magician, Outstrip) will be major challengers. The 3yo's where not as strong as they had been in the past, but expect Up with the Birds, Jack Milton and others make noise next year in their 4yo season. Bobby's Kitten should be the one to watch as a 3yo. Even though he is not BC nominated Ben's Cat should remain king of the sprints, but Tightend Touchdown was a co-second in the BC.
Grass Female
European shippers or ex- Europeans have dominated the US/CAN girls the past several years. Dank could be back better then ever, it sounds like The Fugue is returning and who knows Treve could come over as well. North America's best turf filly Marketing Mix is retired. I think Tiz Flirtatious is returning next year, but I could be wrong on that. For sprint/mile, if Reneesgotzip returns it's her's to lose with the retirement of Mizdirection and the MIA status of Stephanie's Kitten.
Female Sprinter
With Groupie Doll returning for what appears to be one more race, this division is wide open. Heir Kitty and Sweet Lulu where 1-2 at Santa Anita on Thursday and could meet up again this Winter. On the East Coast, many of the top sprinters have been retired. Like with the Older Females, this will be a place where you can see an out of a blue horse show up and be a star.
Male Sprinter
This division is a mess. Pointsoff the Bench sadly passed away, Private Zone and Goldencents are possibly more like milers then true sprinters, Secret Circle pulled a Midnight Lute to win the Sprint. Whoever comes out on top in the Eclipses won't get any discredit from me. As for next year I have no clue.
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