It's Post Time
ALL-TIME ECLIPSE AWARD BALLOT
Last month, when I was deciding who to vote for in the 2009 Eclipse Awards, I wondered what choices I would make if I were to fill out an Eclipse Award ballot for all time.
This is what I came up with:
TWO YEAR-OLD MALE: 1. Man o’ War, 2. Native Dancer, 3. Secretariat
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY: 1. Ruffian, 2. Moccasin, 3. Bewitch
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE: 1. Man o’ War, 2. Secretariat, 3. Citation
THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY: 1. Ruffian, 2. Rachel Alexandra, Twilight Tear
OLDER MALE: 1. Kelso, 2. Spectacular Bid, 3. Dr. Fager
OLDER FEMALE: 1. Zenyatta, 2. Personal Ensign, 3. Lady’s Secret
MALE SPRINTER: 1. Dr. Fager, 2. Bold Ruler, 3. Chinook Pass
FEMALE SPRINTER: 1. Ta Wee, 2. Pan Zareta, 3. Safely Kept
MALE TURF: 1. Secretariat, 2. John Henry, 3. Round Table
FEMALE TURF: 1. All Along, 2. Royal Heroine, 3. Goldikova
OWNER: 1. Calumet Farm, 2. Belair Stud, 3. James R. Keene
BREEDER: 1. Calumet Farm, 2. Harry Payne Whitney, 3. Claiborne Farm
TRAINER: 1. Charlie Whittingham, 2. Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, 3. Ben Jones
JOCKEY: 1. Bill Shoemaker, 2. Eddie Arcaro, 3. Laffit Pincay Jr.
APPRENTICE JOCKEY: 1. Steve Cauthen, 2. Kent Desormeaux, 3. Chris McCarron
HORSE OF ALL TIME: Man o’ War
Some categories were not all that difficult, at least in terms in coming up with my No. 1 choice. For instance, Calumet Farm was a very easy vote as owner and breeder. But even when the No. 1 choice was not too difficult, it sometimes took a lot of thought and some research as to the No. 2 and No. 3 choices.
I have no doubt that your all-time Eclipse Award ballot would look different -- perhaps much different -- than mine, just as there are differing opinions in terms of the actual Eclipse Award votes.
Perhaps you think Man o’ War is overrated (yes, there are those who really think that). If you believe that, undoubtedly you would vote for somebody else as 2-year-old male and/or 3-year-old male.
I am sure many would vote for Secretariat or Citation as 3-year-old male. Secretariat swept the 1973 Triple Crown, with his 31-length Belmont Stakes victory considered by many to be the greatest performance by a Thoroughbred in American racing history. Citation not only also swept the Triple Crown, he won a total of 19 races as a 3-year-old in 1948.
I also imagine there are those who would vote for somebody else besides Man o’ War, Secretariat or Citation as 3-year-old male.
But my vote for 3-year-old male goes to Man o’ War, who won all 11 starts at 3 in 1920 while setting world or American time records for one mile, 1 1/8 miles, 1 3/8 miles, 1 1/2 miles and 1 5/8 miles. He won the Belmont Stakes by 20 lengths, breaking Sir Barton’s American record for 1 3/8 miles by 3 2/5 seconds.
The 1 3/8-mile clocking of 2:14 1/5 by Man o’ War stood as the American record for 71 years until Timely Warning finally broke it at Aqueduct. Man o’ War won the Lawrence Realization by 100 lengths, breaking the world record set by War Mint at Hurst Park in England in 1912 by 1 3/5 seconds and smashing the American record held by Fitz Herbert by 4 1/5 seconds.
Also as a 3-year-old, Man o’ War won the Potomac Handicap despite being asked to carry a staggering 138 pounds (30 more than runner-up Wildair). He also won the Stuyvesant Handicap under 135 pounds (32 more than runner-up Yellow Hand).
In his final career start, Man o’ War won the Kenilworth Gold Cup at Kenilworth Park in Canada. Man o’ War was “never extended,” yet he won by seven lengths and broke the track record by 6 2/5 seconds. Do you know of any other horse who ever broke a track record by more than 6 seconds? It is true that Man o’ War beat only one horse in the Kenilworth Gold Cup. But that one horse was Sir Barton, America’s first Triple Crown winner.
ECLIPSE AWARDS DINNER MONDAY
This Monday evening in Beverly Hills, Calif., the 2009 Eclipse Award winners will be announced. The Eclipse Awards, of course, are racing’s version of the Academy Awards.
When it comes to the Academy Awards, many people like to try and predict the winners. With that in mind, these are the 2009 Eclipse Award finalists, along with my votes and predictions:
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE: Lookin At Lucky, Noble’s Promise, Vale of York
My vote: Lookin At Lucky. Predicted winner: Lookin At Lucky
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY: Blind Luck, Hot Dixie Chick, She Be Wild
My vote: She Be Wild. Predicted winner: She Be Wild
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE: Mine That Bird, Quality Road, Summer Bird
My vote: Summer Bird. Predicted winner: Summer Bird
THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY: Careless Jewel, Flashing, Rachel Alexandra
My vote: Rachel Alexandra. Predicted winner: Rachel Alexandra.
OLDER MALE: Einstein, Gio Ponti, Kodiak Kowboy
My vote: Kodiak Kowboy. Predicted winner: Gio Ponti.
OLDER FEMALE: Life Is Sweet, Music Note, Zenyatta
My vote: Zenyatta. Predicted winner: Zenyatta.
MALE SPRINTER: Dancing in Silks, Kodiak Kowboy, Zensational
My vote: Dancing in Silks. Predicted winner: Kodiak Kowboy.
FEMALE SPRINTER: Informed Decision, Music Note, Ventura
My vote: Informed Decision. Predicted winner: Informed Decision.
MALE TURF: Conduit, Gio Ponti, Presious Passion
My vote: Gio Ponti. Predicted winner: Gio Ponti.
FEMALE TURF: Goldikova, Midday, Ventura
My vote: Goldikova. Predicted winner: Goldikova.
STEEPLECHASE: Mixed Up, Red Letter Day, Spy in the Sky
My vote: Mixed Up. Predicted winner: Mixed Up.
OWNER: Godolphin Racing, Juddmonte Farms, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss
My vote: Godolphin Racing. Predicted winner: Goldolphin Racing.
BREEDER: Adena Springs, Juddmonte Farms, Dolphus C. Morrison
My vote: Juddmonte Farms. Predicted winner: Juddmonte Farms
TRAINER: Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, John Shirreffs
My vote: Steve Asmussen. Predicted winner: Steve Asmussen.
JOCKEY: Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, Julien Leparoux.
My vote: Julien Leparoux. Predicted winner: Julien Leparoux.
APPRENTICE JOCKEY: Luis Batista, Christian Santiago Reyes, Luis Saez
My vote: Christian Santiago Reyes. Predicted winner: Christian Santiago Reyes.
HORSE OF THE YEAR: Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta.
My vote: Zenyatta. Predicted winner: Rachel Alexandra.
John Pricci of horseraceinsider.com also has made Eclipse Award predictions. Pricci’s only different predictions from mine were: Zensational (sprinter), Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss (owner), Garrett Gomez (jockey) and Zenyatta (Horse of the Year).
Personally, I think there is a better chance that I will be voted the next governor of California than Rachel Alexandra will not be voted 2009 Horse of the Year.
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