http://www.drf.com/news/steven-crist-close-call-many-eclipse-categories (http://www.drf.com/news/steven-crist-close-call-many-eclipse-categories)
... I agree with him for the most part.
Made sense to me. I dont really care to much though, maybe I would if I was in the industry.
Yeah, I actually don't care all that much either, but if I was going to vote then I'd probably side with him on most if not all.
I agreed with everything except Princess of Sylmar.
If a horse earned an award prior to a race, I do not think you can penalize that horse for entering the race.
Mr. Crist suggests that the connections knew the risk, but they were racing for HOTY honors and the sport of horse racing and they should not be punished.
I would not have a problem with a tie with Beholder, but I do not think you can take it away from POS.
Glad he went with POB for top male sprinter and GOD for top older male.
I would have made Mizdirection top female sprinter. I don't care if she ran on grass only. She won the turf sprint 2 years running against males, and had only lost 1 race and that was on soft turf.
I'm also surprised Cluster of Stars didn't get at least the 2nd spot. Not sure why her owners didn't bring her to the BC. Too inexperienced still? Perhaps not BC nominated? I don't recall the reason.
I could put Mizdirection in the 2 position - but I still think Groupie Doll deserves it.
Here are the Eclipse Award Finalists...
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/theraces/2014/01/wise-dan-named-an-eclipse-finalist-in-three-categories
Horse of the Year candidates Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and Wise Dan, the finalists for the 2013 Eclipse Awards were announced Wednesday.
Wise Dan is expected to repeat as the Horse of the Year and Turf Male winner, off a campaign where he won six of seven starts, finishing second in his lone defeat.
Of the 272 eligible voters, 249 took part in the voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters' top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first place votes.
Besides Wise Dan, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man and Travers winner Will Take Charge are the other two finalists for Horse of the Year honors, which will be announced on January 18.
The older male category is where Wise Dan is expected to face his stiffest competition from Mucho Macho Man. The Joe Torre owned Game on Dude is the third finalist but a longshot to win the award after finishing out of the money in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Here are the other finalists in their respective categories.
Two-Year-Old Male: Havana, New Year's Day, Shared Belief
Two-Year-Old Filly: Chriselliam, Ria Antonia, She's a Tiger
Three-Year-Old Male: Orb, Palace Malice, Will Take Charge
Three-Year-Old Female: Beholder, Close Hatches, Princess of Sylmar
Older Female: Joyful Victory, Royal Delta, Tiz Miz Sue
Male Sprinter: Points Offthebench, Sahara Sky, Secret Circle
Female Sprinter: Dance to Bristol, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection
Male Turf Horse: Magician, Point of Entry, Wise Dan
Female Turf Horse: Dank, Laughing, Mizdirection
Steeplechase: Divine Fortune, Gustavian, Italian Wedding
Owner: Juddmonte Farms, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Ken & Sarah Ramsey
Breeder: Adena Springs, Morton Fink, Ken & Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Gary Stevens
Apprentice Jockey: Victor Carrasco, Manuel Franco, Edgard Zayas
Here are some other Eclipse votes:
Jennie Rees
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2013/12/25/eclipse-awards-my-ballot-and-thoughts-with-wise-dan-again-on-top/
Jerry Bossert
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/theraces/2013/12/heres-my-2013-eclipse-award-ballot
Other ballots:
Richard Eng
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/richard-eng/wise-dan-trainer-lopresti-top-picks-eclipse-awards
Andrew Beyer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/othersports/eclipse-awards-mucho-macho-man-deserves-to-be-horse-of-year/2013/12/18/380b7694-67f1-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html
Jessie Oswald
http://www.louisville.com/content/how-i-voted-horse-racing-s-eclipse-awards
Greg Hall
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/horsebiz/2014/01/04/eclipsing-common-sense-2/
Bill Finley
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/10153370/champions-championship-credentials
Here is the final NTRA Poll:
2013 NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll
Week 36 of the FINAL 2013 NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through November 3. Current Horse of the Year ranking of the Top Thoroughbred on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2013 record and total points. Poll Concludes Monday, Nov. 4. A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
Name A-G 2013 Record Pts. PVS
1 Wise Dan (53) 6-G 7-6-1-0 548 2
2 Mucho Macho Man (2) 5-H 5-2-0-2 473 7
3 Beholder (0) 3-F 7-5-2-0 369 11
4 Will Take Charge (1) 3-C 10-4-2-0 365 8
5 Game On Dude (0) 6-G 6-5-0-0 279 1
6 Princess Of Sylmar (0) 3-F 8-6-1-0 177 3
7 Groupie Doll (0) 5-M 4-2-0-2 131 26
8 Dank (0) 4-F 5-4-0-1 116 0
9 Royal Delta (0) 5-M 7-3-2-0 102 4
10 Mizdirection (0) 5-M 5-4-0-0 91 24 -
See more at: http://www.ntra.com/en/news-media/press-releases/2013/11/4/ntra-top-thoroughbred-poll-for-november-4-2013/#sthash.r8RlIDYr.dpuf
The winners are in bold.
The nominees:
Horse of the year — Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge, Wise Dan
Two-year-old male — Havana, New Year's Day, Shared Belief
Two-year-old filly — Chriselliam, Ria Antonia, She's a Tiger
Three-year-old male — Orb, Palace Malice, Will Take Charge
Three-year-old filly — Beholder, Close Hatches, Princess of Sylmar
Older male — Game On Dude, Mucho Macho Man, Wise Dan
Older female — Joyful Victory, Royal Delta, Tiz Miz Sue
Male sprinter — Points Offthebench, Sahara Sky, Secret Circle
Female sprinter — Dance to Bristol, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection
Male turf horse — Magician, Point of Entry, Wise Dan
Female turf horse — Dank, Laughing, Mizdirection
Steeplechase horse — Divine Fortune, Gustavian, Italian Wedding
Owner — Juddmonte Farms, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Breeder — Adena Springs, Morton Fink, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer — Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher
Jockey — Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Gary Stevens
Apprentice jockey — Victor Carrasco, Manuel Franco, Edgard Zayas
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-nominees-eclipse-awards-20140108,0,607115.story#ixzz2r9EI9yfI
The best part for me was Pointsoffthebench winning champion sprinter posthumously.
Next was Javier Castellano winning top jockey.
I was sorry that Game On Dude was snubbed again. 5 main track stakes wins including the trifecta of 10 furlong Classic Distance G1s in California. Only the second horses to do it - with Lava Man being the other. Too bad.
Quote from: Man o Taz on January 22, 2014, 09:09:27 AM
The winners are in bold.
The nominees:
Horse of the year — Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge, Wise Dan
Two-year-old male — Havana, New Year's Day, Shared Belief
Two-year-old filly — Chriselliam, Ria Antonia, She's a Tiger
Three-year-old male — Orb, Palace Malice, Will Take Charge
Three-year-old filly — Beholder, Close Hatches, Princess of Sylmar
Older male — Game On Dude, Mucho Macho Man, Wise Dan
Older female — Joyful Victory, Royal Delta, Tiz Miz Sue
Male sprinter — Points Offthebench, Sahara Sky, Secret Circle
Female sprinter — Dance to Bristol, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection
Male turf horse — Magician, Point of Entry, Wise Dan
Female turf horse — Dank, Laughing, Mizdirection
Steeplechase horse — Divine Fortune, Gustavian, Italian Wedding
Owner — Juddmonte Farms, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Breeder — Adena Springs, Morton Fink, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer — Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher
Jockey — Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, Gary Stevens
Apprentice jockey — Victor Carrasco, Manuel Franco, Edgard Zayas
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-nominees-eclipse-awards-20140108,0,607115.story#ixzz2r9EI9yfI
The best part for me was Pointsoffthebench winning champion sprinter posthumously.
Next was Javier Castellano winning top jockey.
I was sorry that Game On Dude was snubbed again. 5 main track stakes wins including the trifecta of 10 furlong Classic Distance G1s in California. Only the second horses to do it - with Lava Man being the other. Too bad.
I don't have a strong feeling about this, but I agree with all winners except Older Male, female sprinter, and I can understand the case for Princess of Sylmar.
Dude was snubbed, yes, but that's what happens when you fail repeatedly when push comes to shove. I still thin he deserved the older male award, esp. since Dan walked with Turf male and HOY (both of which I agree with).
I would have voted Mizdirection for female sprinter, but that's just mho. She had a pretty light year, but then again so did Groupie Doll. The Miz beat males though. That counts for something imo.
Good points peeptoad.
I would have supported Mizdirection getting it.
I was glad Groupie Doll did because I really like her.
Sad I won't be able to see her in person on turf in her finale at Gulfstream.
Let me know if you want some Cigar Mile pics of her.
It's interesting that both horses that won the three Gr.1 10f races for older horses in so. CA--Lava Man and Game On Dude--not only didn't win the Older Male Eclipse but weren't even close. Lava Man had a Gr. 1 turf win to go along with it.
Well, I do not find it strange at all that Lava Man didn't win it over the 2006 Whitney, Suburban, Pimlico Special and BC Classic winner and HOTY Invasor...
Is Wise Dan a main track specialist like Invasor or Game On Dude?
Quote from: Man o Taz on January 28, 2014, 08:25:08 AM
Well, I do not find it strange at all that Lava Man didn't win it over the 2006 Whitney, Suburban, Pimlico Special and BC Classic winner and HOTY Invasor...
Is Wise Dan a main track specialist like Invasor or Game On Dude?
I don't think that Lava Man deserved the an Eclipse Award in any way. Much like Game On Dude he lost any chance of that in the Breeder's Cup. My comment was just centered around the fact that so few have been able to win the three races and due to circumstances they did not come close to an Eclipse.
Wise Dan is in no way a main track specialist. The problem is that when the Older Male Award was changed from Handicap Male, many voters took it to mean that the spirit of the award changed. There should be an award for older male dirt routers. Unfortunately nothing is defined specifically and when you give folks an inch they'll inevitably take a mile. Fairly or unfairly Game On Dude--who in my opinion deserved the award of Older Male--is going to be vilified for not stepping up on the biggest stage, especially on his home track. As he ages the chances are less and less that he can turn it around. Maybe Baffert can keep him in top form for one more year. At least Lava Man had the excuse of not traveling well, as he never performed well outside California.
I would have voted Lava Man in 2006 had Invasor not been there.
Even if Invasor had lost to Bernardini in the Breeders Cup Classic, I still would have selected him first.
But as an older male in 2006, I think that Lava Man was the second best horse running.
The fact that it has been done twice I think gives us few comparisons to make...
I am glad we share the same opinion regarding Game On Dude for the award, but I certainly understand those people who suggest that his inability to win the BC Classic on his home turf is defining for his campaign. I would say there was a bias against geldings, but we know Wise Dan is a gelding as well.
I am hopeful Game On Dude will win the award at some point, but agree that he is running out of time. The BC Classic will be particularly challenging for him given that no horse has ever won it at 6 or older. I still think it was a mistake to have him sit out the Goodwood Stakes. I know the connections saw that as an excellent opportunity for him to enter the Classic rested and sharp, but th Goodwood win (particularly over Mucho Macho Man) would have probably cemented him as champion older male...and made the Classic less determinative in the year end awards.
For myself, I hope they campaign him more in the Northeast. I think he's an excellent fit for the Woodward Stakes, but I understand the money is not as much as the Pacific Classic. Then how about the Jockey Club Gold Cup...I know his performance in the Belmont Stakes was nothing to write home about, but that was before he reached his peak.
Quote from: Man o Taz on January 29, 2014, 06:01:22 AM
I would have voted Lava Man in 2006 had Invasor not been there.
Even if Invasor had lost to Bernardini in the Breeders Cup Classic, I still would have selected him first.
But as an older male in 2006, I think that Lava Man was the second best horse running.
The fact that it has been done twice I think gives us few comparisons to make...
I am glad we share the same opinion regarding Game On Dude for the award, but I certainly understand those people who suggest that his inability to win the BC Classic on his home turf is defining for his campaign. I would say there was a bias against geldings, but we know Wise Dan is a gelding as well.
I am hopeful Game On Dude will win the award at some point, but agree that he is running out of time. The BC Classic will be particularly challenging for him given that no horse has ever won it at 6 or older. I still think it was a mistake to have him sit out the Goodwood Stakes. I know the connections saw that as an excellent opportunity for him to enter the Classic rested and sharp, but th Goodwood win (particularly over Mucho Macho Man) would have probably cemented him as champion older male...and made the Classic less determinative in the year end awards.
For myself, I hope they campaign him more in the Northeast. I think he's an excellent fit for the Woodward Stakes, but I understand the money is not as much as the Pacific Classic. Then how about the Jockey Club Gold Cup...I know his performance in the Belmont Stakes was nothing to write home about, but that was before he reached his peak.
I don't know if this is still a possibility--given most connections disdain for having their horse beaten it probably isn't--but at one time the connections of both Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge were talking about the Big 'Cap. If Game On Dude could beat them in that race it would go a long way towards finally shutting a few people up. The Santa Anita track, I always believed, plays differently in the Winter than in the Autumn as the weather is much different.
That would be a great race - like the Big Caps of old which featured the top horses in the country.
Mucho Macho Man has proved he likes the surface with two G1 wins over it last fall.
But your point about connections not wanting to get their horses beat might be what keeps Mucho Macho Man away from the race...
I think Mr. Lukas has not fear and might consider that race if Will Take Charge is successful in the Donn Handicap...which means a top finish...
HRN for whatever its worth has the three of them being featured in that race...
http://www.horseracingnation.com/race/2014_Santa_Anita_Handicap
Quote from: Man o Taz on January 30, 2014, 07:15:09 AM
That would be a great race - like the Big Caps of old which featured the top horses in the country.
Mucho Macho Man has proved he likes the surface with two G1 wins over it last fall.
But your point about connections not wanting to get their horses beat might be what keeps Mucho Macho Man away from the race...
I think Mr. Lukas has not fear and might consider that race if Will Take Charge is successful in the Donn Handicap...which means a top finish...
HRN for whatever its worth has the three of them being featured in that race...
http://www.horseracingnation.com/race/2014_Santa_Anita_Handicap
We can always hope!