Horse of the Year Contenders- What I Think Needs to Happen

In what could be the most wide open HOY in quite awhile (at least since I've been following horse racing), it looks like the field has been narrowed down to about 7. I'll talk about their accomplishments and what I think they need to happen in the BC in order for them to be Horse of the Year.

Acclamation (Unusual Heat x Winning in Style)

Accompilishments: Wins- Eddie Read (G1), Charles Wittingham (G1), Pacific Classic (G1), Jim Murray (G2), Clement L. Hirch Turf (G2)

Profile: With the exception of his first two starts of the year, this Cal Bred has been nothing, but money. He's already beaten the top Cal based Older Males and has not only a great shot at Eclipse for Turf Male, but Older Male too. He's probley better on turf then he is dirt, so if he where to go to the Classic, I really don't think he would have a great chance. Turf is most likely his race of choice.

What Needs to Happen at the BC: Up until a few days ago, he was the one who probley had the toughest assignment with going against Cape Blanco. However, the Irish invader was injured in what turned out to be his final race. He now needs to win and have help in the Classic from a longshot.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Honestly slim, no turf horse has been HOY since Kotashaan was in 1993. However, that main track win in the PC will help his chances.

Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie x Playa Maya)


Accomplishments: Wins- Timely Writer, Kelso (G2) On the Board: 2nd Kings Bishop (G1), 3rd Wood Memorial (G1)

Profile: After the year he's had, it's hard to believe that he even has a chance at HOY. Yet, with the 3yo's all beating up on each other and no clear cut standout, here he is. He's going to be going a distance that he's never been before in the Classic, and his brash owner Mike Repole will try to make him the favorite for the race.

What Needs to Happen at the BC: Only a win will help him in the Classic (although I think he's a better candiate for the Dirt Mile, he does not have a G1 win on his resume this year. The good news is he did win over the Churchill surface last year going two turns in the Juvenile. The bad news, it's 3/16 shorter then the mile and quarter Classic. The upside? His sire was third in the Derby (behind his stablemate Real Quiet), has a winner at a 1 1/4 distancce, and his broodmare sire is the defending sire of the Classic (with Blame just holding off Zenyatta). He is currently Timeform's #1 US based horse.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Fair. If he wins the Classic, he is 3yo Champion Male and maybe HOY.

Game On Dude (Awesome Again x Wordly Pleasure)


Accomplishments: Won: Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Goodwood (G1) On the Board: 2nd Charles Town Classic (G3), Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), 3rd Lone Star Handicap (G3)


Profile: Really has not done much wrong this year, shocked the world in the Big Cap, was a nose from winning the HGC, sputtered on the poly in the Pacific Classic and won the Goodwood. Like Acclamation, he's beaten all the Califorians (including Acclamation in the CTC), and he has a jockey that fits him like a glove. Chantal Sutherland could make history herself becoming the first female jockey to win the Classic, and only the second to win a BC race (Julie Krone being the first). 


What Needs to Happen at the BC: A win and he's HOY and Older Male.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Very good, however he might need the lead to get it done. Churchill might be the perfect surface for him to do it.

Flat Out (Flatter x Cresta Lil)

Accomplishments: Wins: Suburban (G2), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), On the Board: 2nd Lone Star Handicap (G3), Whitney (G1) Woodward (G1)

Profile: A horse who might be a little underappriated due to the fact he ran second to both Tizway and Havre de Grace at Saratoga. Won the two big distance races at Belmont.

What Needs to Happen at the BC: See Game On Dude, the problem is his worst loss this year was at Churchill. He has yet to win going two turns (a mile and a quarter at Belmont is a turn and a half basically). His JCGC time was also the slowest since they went back to a mile and a quarter in 1990.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Good, I would say not as good as Game On Dude or Tizway since they already have multiple G1 wins under the belt, but he would even it up.

Tizway (Tiznow x Bethany) 


Accomplishments: Wins- Whitney (G1), Met Mile (G1) On the Board: 3rd Gulfstream Park Handicap (G3), Charles Town Classic (G3)

Profile: After starting the year slow, he went on to win the stallion making Met Mile and defeated Flat Out in the Whitney. The problem is an illness popped up before the JCGC which he was forced to miss the race. He will need to be on his A game if he has any chance now to win the Classic.

What Needs to Happen at the BC: He needs to win and then have the other contenders finish up track. The reason being is that since he did miss some time, he can get it back if they all finish poorly.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Good to Fair. He seems to be an up and down horse who might be better in New York (all, but one of his wins where there) then anywhere else. Also he has yet to win at the Mile and  Quarter distance (he was third in the 09 JCGC). The final whammy against him is that no horse over the age of 5 has won the Classic. Tizway is six.

Stay Thirsty (Bernardini x Marozia)


Accomplishments: Wins- Gotham (G3), Jim Dandy (G2), Travers (G1), On the Board: 2nd Belmont (G1), 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)

Profile: For all of last year, and the spring till the Belmont he was in his stablemate Uncle Mo's shadow. However, after a runner up finish in the Belmont he showed that he might just be a pretty good horse on his own. Mo fans started getting worried after he won both the Jim Dandy and Travers that their favorite horse was passed in his own stable. However, he was brought back down to reality after Mo won the Kelso and Thirsty was third in the JCGC.

What Needs to Happen at the BC: A win will get him HOY and 3yo Champion Male. If he does not win, while he'll be out of HOY contention, he still could get 3yo Honors.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Fair, honestly Churchill might not be his best track. He may very well be a Saratoga wonderhorse, even though his first stakes win was at Aqueduct. The one thing that seperates him and Mo is that he has a win at a mile and a quarter.

Havre de Grace (Saint Liam x Easter Bunnette)


Accomplishments: Wins- Azeri (G3), Apple Blossom (G1), Obeah (G3), Woodward (G1), Beldame (G1), On the Board: 2nd Delaware Handicap (G2)

Profile: I never got to see Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta in person during their racing days. I had the honor to see this girl and her arch rival Blind Luck at this year's Delaware Handicap where they did not dissapoint. Only a nose loss to BL is between her and a perfect season. She has already beaten the boys in the Woodward, and she has won in the slop (Beldame). With Older Female honors locked up (Blind Luck's uncharaistic finish sealed the deal) it's time to go after the big prize, Horse of the Year.

What Needs to Happen at the BC: A win in the Classic and she's HOY. The concern is that the last time her owner and trainer ran a female in a major Open race, she was a valient second and sadly was euthanzied due to a break down after the race (Eight Belles, 2008 Kentucky Derby). Also she has yet to win at a mile and a quarter, but gave Blind Luck all she could handle both times at this distance. If it comes up sloppy, she moves up big time.

Possible Horse of the Year Chances: Very good, in matter of fact she is in the drivers seat. Before last year, Female HOY's never happend Back to Back. Rachel, Z and Grace would be the first back to back to back Female HOYs.

It will be interesting on what happens to all of these horses, in the weeks leading up to the race.

Regular Season Awards

We are just two months out to the Breeders' Cup which is when we will find out who will most likely be the champions for the year, but for now since the "Regular season" is over, lets hand out some awards!!!

2yo Filly: Weemissfrankie- Sure Sister Moon broke a track record, but she has yet to face stakes company. Weemissfrankie showed that she has the potential to be something special.

2yo Colt/Gelding: Currency Swap/Union Rags- The only reason why Drill is not the leader IMO is that the Del Mar Futurity was run roughly and he might not had won if it was run clean. However, by the time we get to the BC I do expect Drill to be ahead of the pack. As for Union Rags, his win was a very impressive one in the slop, he'll be the one to beat in the Champange.

3yo Filly: Turbulent Descent- It went back and forth on who to put here since for the first time in 3 years there's just not a standout in this division. As much as I don't care for her, she's been one of the most consistant this year.

3yo Colt/Gelding: Stay Thirsty- In what could be the most wide open 3yo male catagory in a long time, he takes the prize for defeating the Preakness, Belmont and Haskell winners in the Travers. Next up, Tizway and older males.

Older Female: Havre de Grace- I was thisclose of making it a tie between her and Blind Luck. However, her win in the Woodward puts her ahead... for now. If BL beats her in the Beldame (that is if she goes), then we are all square again.

Older Male: Acclamation- I know I'm going to get critized for this pick. However, he's already beaten the top Older Males in California on both main track and turf. His one hiccup was on dirt which he hated. Keep in mind that while he lost last year's Older Male, the defending champ in the catagory was Gio Ponti. Tizway is a nice horse, but he hasn't faced the greatest company.

Turf Female: Summer Soiree- This filly is this years "horse takes to turf, like a duck takes to water". Undefeated in her two starts, it's going to get tougher from here. It helps that this division once again is a bit of an engima to me.

Turf Male: Cape Blanco (IRE)- Has come in twice to defeat Gio Ponti on the nose both times. Our turf division stinks.

Sprinter Female: Turbulent Descent- With Ballerina winner Hilda's Passion on the sidelines, it's smooth sailing even though there are several tough horses still out there.

Sprinter Male: Big Drama/Trappe Shot- Yes I know Trappe Shot lost the Vanderbilt, but he actually looked like he was going to win. Do not be suprised if he prevails over what could be the deepest Sprint prep in sometime. As for BD, well he's the defending champ what else can you say. His return this weekend didn't look that visually impressive, but he won the race and should do well in NY if he is heading that way.

Horse of the Regular Season: Havre de Grace- A nose away from what could have been an undefeated season so far. Beat the boys last weekend and could be Classic bound. It's just a shame that she is from what is her sire's lone crop.

So I hope you enjoyed these!