The Eclispe Awards were Saturday night at Gulfstream Park in Florida. No, the TIHR team was not there. Blame the travel budget or the cold or pending southern swings for some in the next month.
It’s doubtful anyone missed us. The night crowned Thoroughbred racing’s official champions with Wise Dan again sweeping to Horse of the Year and two division crowns, Older Male and Turf Horse for owner/breeder Morton Fink and trainer Charlie LoPresti.
For the record, it went like this:
Two-Year-Old Male: Shared Belief.
Two-Year-Old Filly: She’s a Tiger.
Three-Year-Old Male: Will Takes Charge.
Three-Year-Old Filly: Beholder.
Older Male: Wise Dan.
Older Female: Royal Delta.
Male Sprinter: Points Offthebench.
Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll.
Male Turf Horse: Wise Dan.
Female Turf Horse: Dank (GB).
Steeplechase Horse: Divine Fortune.
Horse of the Year: Wise Dan.
Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey.
Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Apprentice Jockey: Victor Carrasco.
The championship voting was predictable in some cases, not so much in others. Two-Year-Old Male (Name, First-Place Votes): Shared Belief, 115; New Year’s Day, 99; Havana, 24; Honor Code, 5; Outstrip (GB), 4; Tamarando, 1; No Vote 1.
Two-Year-Old Filly: She’s a Tiger, 212; Chriselliam (IRE),15; Ria Antonia, 10; Sweet Reason, 3; Stopshoppingmaria, 3; Streaming 3; My Conquestadory, 2; Artemis Agrotera, 1.
Three-Year-Old Male: Will Take Charge, 231; Orb, 15; Palace Malice, 1; Goldencents, 1; Verrazano, 1.
Three-Year-Old Filly: Beholder, 207; Princess of Sylmar, 42.
Older Male: Wise Dan, 123; Mucho Macho Man, 93; Game On Dude, 31; Flat Out, 2.
Older Female: Royal Delta, 234; Dank (GB), 5; Joyful Victory, 3; Tiz Miz Sue, 2; Dance to Bristol, 1; Laughing (IRE),1; Brandy’s Secret, 1. Voter Abstention, 1. No Vote, 1.
Male Sprinter: Points Offthebench, 125; Secret Circle, 70; Sahara Sky, 45; Justin Phillip, 4; Private Zone, 2; Immortal Eyes, 1; Strapping Groom, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.
Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll, 192; Mizdirection, 45; Cluster of Stars, 7; Dance to Bristol, 5.
Male Turf Horse: Wise Dan, 243; Magician (IRE), 4; Obviously (IRE), 1; Point of Entry, 1.
Female Turf Horse: Dank (GB), 229; Laughing (IRE), 8; Mizdirection, 8; Alterite (FR) 1; Egg Drop, 1; Emollient, 1; Kitten’s Dumplings, 1.
Steeplechase Horse: Divine Fortune, 112; Italian Wedding, 27; Gustavian, 25; Alajmal, 21; Mr. Hot Stuff, 12. Voter Abstentions, 52.
Horse of the Year: Wise Dan, 208; Mucho Macho Man, 21; Will Take Charge, 15; Dank (GB), 1; Princess of Sylmar, 1; Royal Delta, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.
Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 235; Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc., 4; Morton Fink, 3; Gary and Mary West, 2; Jungle Racing, 1; Maggi Moss, 1. Voter Abstentions, 3.
Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 221; Adena Springs, 17; Morton Fink, 4; Darley 1; WinStar Farm, 1. Voter Abstentions, 5.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher, 183; D. Wayne Lukas, 21; Jerry Hollendorfer, 9; Bill Mott, 7; Charles LoPresti, 6; Shug McGaughey, 6; Bob Baffert, 5; Steve Asmussen, 3; Chad Brown, 2; Kathy Ritvo, 2; Ollie Figgins, 1; David Jacobson, 1; King Leatherbury, 1; Dale Romans, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.
Jockey: Javier Castellano, 134; Gary Stevens, 65; Joel Rosario, 21; Mike Smith, 19; John Velazquez, 8; Corey Nakatani 1. Voter Abstention, 1.
Apprentice Jockey: Victor Carrasco, 172; Edgard Zayas, 18; Manuel Franco, 13; Emmanuel Esquivel, 8; Jose L. Ortiz, 4; Dylan Davis, 3; Trevor McCarthy, 2. Voter Abstentions, 29.
