Here, by quasi popular demand, are my selections for Eclipse Awards. The ceremony is Monday night, and TVG will televise the proceedings live.
No real surprises. My only comment on Horse of the Year is that to win an award open to all horses, I think you should have to win at least one race open to all horses, but that's how I vote, and I certainly have no issue with people who voted for Zenyatta or Goldikova using other criteria.
Turf male was by far the weakest group on accomplishment. My rule for Eclipse Award eligibility is that a horse must start in North America and then I will consider all races in determining their merit. Americain won the Melbourne Cup, and I thought that deserved more recognition than Paddy O'Prado's Secretariat or Dangerous Midge's Breeders' Cup Turf.
I abstained from both the apprentice jockey and steeplechase categories. I don't follow steeplechase racing, so I don't think it'd be fair for me to vote using past performances rather than my experiences as a guide. As for apprentice, I just didn't have a feel for that group this year.
With the exception of Horse of the Year, I have listed the categories in the order in which they appeared on the official ballot. If you have any other questions, use the comments.
Horse of the Year:
- Blame
- Zenyatta
- Goldikva
Two-year-old male:
- Uncle Mo
- Boys At Tosconova
- Comma to the Top
Two-year-old female:
- Awesome Feather
- More Than Real
- Dancinginherdreams
Three-year-old male:
- Lookin At Lucky
- Super Saver
- Eskendereya
Three-year-old female:
- Blind Luck
- Switch
- Devil May Care
Turf male:
- Winchester
- Gio Ponti
- Americain
Turf female:
- Goldikova
- Proviso
- Tuscan Evening
Older male:
- Blame
- Quality Road
- Richard's Kid
Older female:
- Zenyatta
- Unrivaled Belle
- Life At Ten
Female sprinter:
- Dubai Majesty
- Rightly So
- Monda de Momma
Male sprinter:
- Big Drama
- Majesticperfection
- Smiling Tiger
Apprentice jockey: ABSTAIN
Jockey:
- Garrett Gomez
- John Velazquez
- Ramon Dominguez
Steeplechase: ABSTAIN
Trainer:
- Todd Pletcher
- Bob Baffert
- Jerry Hollendorfer
Breeder:
- Claiborne Farm
- Brereton Jones
- Edward Evans
Owner:
- WinStar Farm
- Jerry & Ann Moss
- Midwest Thoroughbreds
Interested in hearing your thoughts on your jockey vote of GG over the other two. What did you weight more heavily in making that decision?
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ReplyDeleteGomez just felt like the money rider for me this year. He led the nation in earnings in both G1 races and graded stakes races.
On top of that, I give him credit for riding my Horse of the Year pick, particularly the Classic ride, which was masterful.
He also popped with some longshots in big races this year. E.g. Chinchon in the United Nations, Telling in the Sword Dancer, and Haimish Hy in the Hollywood Derby.
Gomez has a rep for riding the best, and that's definitely the case, but he can move a horse up as well.
Interesting to see Tod Pletcher as your #1 pick for trainer after the Life at Ten debacle and Quality Road's inexplicable performance in the Classic.
ReplyDeleteWhy qualify your vote on HOTY? What if the criteria is absolutely wacky that others are using to vote for Z or Goldi? Should not sound criteria be used with the wacky criteria not validated?
ReplyDeletePeople like you are what is wrong with the Sport. Voting for Todd Pletcher is absurd. He mismanaged his best colt, Quality Road, and then there was the shenanigans with his best mare, Life at Ten. He also served time for a drug suspension this year. Your voting privileges should be revoked.
ReplyDeleteImagine that. An easterner (east of the Mississippi) voting for an eastern horse (east of the Mississippi).
ReplyDeleteEd DeRosa probably never showed up in Arkansas to watch Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom (because the horse he voted for in 2009 for "HOY" disappeared under a rock and was exposed in 2010).
Huge disappointment. Huge.
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