Eclipse Finalists

  Yesterday, the Eclipse finalists where announced. These will be the horses who you'll be hearing about over the next couple of weeks leading up to the ceremony which will be held on January 19th at Gulfstream Park. HRTV will be the station where you can watch and ESPN's Jeannine Edwards will once again host the ceremony. Lets take a look at this years contenders, I will also have my official picks as there will be some changes due to a few horses not doing well in their final races of the year.

2yo Filly: Beholder, Dreaming of Julia, Executiveprivilege

Even though after the Breeders' Cup, Executiveprivilege was still the leader in the division, losing the Starlet cost her. For that reason, Henny Hughes will get his first champion in Beholder. Dreaming of Julia could be an interesting horse down the line. 

2yo Male: Shanghai Bobby, Uncaptured, Violence

Don't think it will be a unanimous title for Shanghai Bobby, but it will be close. Uncaptured will be the Champion 2yo in Canada and Violence well... His name isn't the best.

3yo Filly: Believe You Can, My Miss Aurelia, Questing (GB)

Before I walk about the actual award, this might be the first snub is. Many people believe that Lady of Shamrock should be here instead of Believe You Can who didn't run past June. As for the award, if MMA wins it will be because people didn't wait till after the La Brea before submitting. I'll take Questing's two G1's over hers and runner up finish in the LC. (Yes I'm being a little biased) Expect this to be a very tight finish. 

3yo Male: Bodemeister, I’ll Have Another, Union Rags

Talented, but fragile is what you can call this group. None of these horses ran past June. Poor Dullahan, wins the Pacific Class and not even a finalist. History is on I'll Have Another's side. 

Older Female: Groupie Doll, Include Me Out, Royal Delta

I think Royal Delta will win, but fully expect Groupie Doll to take some 1st place votes. Glad to see Include Me Out here instead of Love and Pride. 

Older Male: Fort Larned, Little Mike, Wise Dan

While all three have had multiple G1 seasons, honestly I would have replaced Little Mike with Shackleford as the third finalist. Wise Dan is the heavy favorite for the win, but don't be surprised if Fort Larned wins instead.

Female Turf: Marketing Mix, Tapitsfly, Zagora (FR)

This division was well... Interesting. Honestly, I felt that Winter Memories had she not gotten injured would have won here. With that being said, Zagora won the BC while Marketing Mix came up just short. Tapitsfly did well this season as well.

Male Turf: Little Mike, Point of Entry, Wise Dan

If Wise Dan loses Older Male, he wins here I think. Little Mike win the Arlington Million and BC Turf, possibly the two most important turf races in the US for Older Males. Point of Entry had a great season in the wrong year.

Female Sprinter: Contested, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection

This is really the only slam dunk division with the exception of Bobby. Groupie Doll stood out from this group its not funny. She is more then likely to be unanimous. Contested didn't run past August, while Mizdirection won the BC Turf Sprint over makes. 

Male Sprinter: The Lumber Guy, Shackleford, Trinniberg 

I love Shackleford as much as the next person, but I wouldn't call him a sprinter. Trinniberg showed that the Derby didn't run him when he returned to his preferred Sprint distance. Thus I feel he deserves it. 

Steeplechase: Demonstrative, Divine Fortune, Pierrot Lunaire

Unfortanlly, I didn't follow Steeplechasing this year, so I'm abstaining.

App. Jockey: Jose Montano, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Angel Suarez  

Apparently, Ortiz only had his bug for a month in 2012, so it's wierd that he's on here. That being said, 3 G1 wins at Saratoga is pretty impressive.

 

Jockey: Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez

This is a tough one, but I expect Dominguez wins going away. Velazquez is the only jockey who rode a HOY contender this year among the finalists. 

Trainer: Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans

A career year for Romans could lead to his first Training Eclipse. After all he did train Little Mike and Shackleford.

Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc., Reddam Racing LLC

Two of these three owners won multiple G1's this year. The other though set a record for number of wins in a season. Honestly, I hope Godolphin wins, but Midwest more likely.

Breeder: Adena Springs, Darley, Brereton C. Jones

Adena always wins this award, and will likely win it again. However I would love to see the former Govenor of Kentucky win it this year, Darley has a big chance to with a big meet at Saratoga with 4 G1 wins. 

Horse of the Year: Fort Larned, I’ll Have Another, Wise Dan

The Classic winner, the Derby winner and the Mile winner. No matter who wins, for the first time since 2008 the Horse of the Year will be male. Wise Dan should and more then likely win the award this year. 3 G1's on turf plus a runner up finish in the Foster will be more then enough. Fort Larned had an amazing year, but will come up just short. Had I'll Have Another ran in and won the Belmont, then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Win or lose, it's still an honor to be considered a finalist. Good luck to all and there will be a recap post after the ceremony on the 19th.

Eclipse finalists are out

Here are the 2010 Eclipse finalists which where announced today, along with my picks for everything except for App. Jockey and Horse of the Year (app. jockey because I'm not sure what their records are and Horse of the Year I'm going to do a post a pros and cons for each horse sometime next week).

Two-Year-Old Male
Boys At Tosconova, To Honor and Serve, Uncle Mo

Uncle Mo is going to win this award, most likely by a very comfortable margin. To tell you the truth I'm a little suprised to see To Honor and Serve as a finalist as I would think either Pluck or Rouge Romance would get the nod over him. However, very happy to see him there.

Two-Year-Old Filly
Awesome Feather, R Heat Lightning, Turbulent Descent

Like Mo, Awesome Feather should win this by comfy margin. Turbulent Descent could end up being the #1 Oaks contender, and R Heat Lightning is going to be a very interesting horse to watch this year.

Three-Year-Old Male
Eskendereya, Lookin At Lucky, Paddy O’Prado

This has to be the first time in a while where the Derby winner is not a finalist. No offence to Eskendereya, but he didn't make a start after April. Lookin at Lucky should become the first 2yo champion to win at 3 in quite a while.

Three-Year-Old Filly
Blind Luck, Evening Jewel, Havre de Grace

Good to see both members of the East vs West rivalry and Evening Jewel be on the finalist list. Blind Luck should and will win, but the fact that EJ is on my split the vote with her which could open the door for Grace to sneak a few first place votes possibly.

Older Male
Blame, Quality Road, Richard’s Kid

Blame will win. The End.

Older Female
Life at Ten, Unrivaled Belle, Zenyatta

Umm why is there even other finalists in this division? Hopefully there are no mistakes this year and even with her loss in the BC, Z should be unanimous again.

Male Sprinter
Big Drama, Majesticperfection, Smiling Tiger

All three of these candiates all deserve this title. In matter of fact you can even say that Smiling Tiger should be in the 3yo catagory as well over Esky. However, he is not. With that being said, being a 3yo in this division is really really hard. Last year Zensational who probley should have won lost to Kodiak Kowboy. Which is why I'm going with a horse who would have most likely been the Sprint Champion this year in Majesticperfection. He beat Big Drama at Saratoga, and I think he would have blown the competion away at Churchill. Big Drama is actually a bit up against it since the last Sprint winner to the Eclipse the same year he won the BC was Midnight Lute. So you are saying he won the Sprint twice? Well he won the Eclipse once and that was even up in the air after bombing in the Cigar Mile in his last start of that year.
Female Sprinter
Champagne d’Oro, Dubai Majesty, Rightly So

No BC F/M Sprint winner has lost this catagory since it was created for horses who ran in 2007. Dubai Majesty won the F/M Sprint, it's her's for the taking. I would have put Switch instead of Champagne d'Oro as the third finalist, but that's just me.

Male Turf Horse
Dangerous Midge, Gio Ponti, Winchester

Outside of Paddy O' Prado (whose connections cost him a finalist spot here by putting him in the Classic), Winchester was the best Turf horse this year. I think Gio got a finalist spot just because well he's Gio. Dangerous Midge on here is a bit of redemption for his now exported sire Lion Heart.

Female Turf Horse
Goldikova (Ire), Proviso (GB), Tuscan Evening (Ire)

I don't care if she had one start in this country, Goldikova flat out deserves it this year. Not because I'm not a Proviso fan (which I'm not) nor is it because Tuscan Evening unexpectly passed away (RIP girl). However, 3 Miles in a row? That's just crazy especially since the horse she has been often compared to Miesque didn't do that. To top it off, she'll be back in November! (Hopefully)

Steeplechase Horse
Arcadius, Percussionist, Slip Away

Traditionally this goes to the horse who wins the NSA HOY. However, I believe they don't name the winner until February. With that being said, Slip Away should win this since had captured the most G1's last year I believe. However, I'm hoping Arcadius can somehow pull the upset.
Owner
Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss, WinStar Farm

Give me a W I N S T A R what does that spell? WinStar! WinStar! WinStar!!!!!!

They where 1 out of gas Super Saver away from winning the owner Triple Crown. Plus well Distorted Humor stands there. Expect a very close vote between them and the Mosses.
Breeder
Adena Springs, Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider, Brereton C. Jones

I love how Blame's breeder is a finalist, but Maverick Productions once again gets jibbed. Anyway I'm rooting for the Gov. to win this.

Trainer
Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, John Shirreffs

Three very deserving candiates. Not really suprised despite Blame and Apart that Al Stall isn't on here. This is going to be a tough one. I gotta go with Todd on this, he had an amazing year with the highlight getting that ugly Derby monkey off his back. However, I would not be suprised if Bob or John wins.

Jockey
Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, John Velazquez

Apprentice Jockey
Forest Boyce, Omar Moreno, Angel Serpa

???

Horse of the Year
Blame, Goldikova (Ire), Zenyatta

Post coming next week.