Eclipse Awards 2007

Tomorrow evening the Eclipse Awards for 2006 will be announced. Considering all the dramatic occurrences of 2006, this is perhaps the most anticipated renewal of the Eclipse Awards ever. We will begin the 2007 racing season with my analysis of what will go down this Monday night. Anyone with access to TVG can watch the show live at 7PM ET.

Horse of the Year

There is no way around it, it's Invasor. Since coming to the United States, Invasor is unbeaten with multiple Grade I wins at tracks across the country, including Pimlico, Saratoga and Churchill Downs. His performance in the Breeders Cup Classic clearly stamped his ticket to a Horse of the Year title. The irony lies in his sole defeat of the season, in Dubai's UAE Derby. Thay day he was soundly beaten (by over 7 lengths) by Discreet Cat (undefeated). Had he been given more of an opportunity, Discreet Cat probably would not only be Horse of the Year, but Horse of the World! But with just one victory against older company (albeit in dazzling fashion), he simply cannot be horse of the year. This year it is Invasor, hands down. However, a potential showdoen between these two superhorses is lurking in the Dubai World Cup, and I for one cannot wait for that.

Two Year Old Male

One of the flaws of the eclipse awards always shows in the two-year old division. Win the Breeders Cup Juvenile and you are the two-year old champ. (i.e. Action This Day). While Street Sense's performance in the Breeders Cup was sensation, one of the best ever by a two-year old, it's authenticity must be question by a clear track bias, favoring the inside. However, I am not certain that anybody else did enough to trump what Street Sense did on Breeders Cup Day. I do believe that Circular Quay, Great Hunter and Nobiz Like Shobiz will have a brighter future, nonetheless Street Sense is the two-year old champ.

Two Year Old Female

Simply put, its Dreaming of Anna. The only star in what was deemed an inscrutable crop of two year old fillies. Her performance in the Breeders Cup was excellent, controlling the pace every step of the way. Furthermore, she beat the boys prior to that win in Canada. She also has graded stakes wins on both the turf and dirt. There is not a single knock against this filly, and I will be following her career with tremendous interest as she has the potential to be the best filly we have seen in some time. Only time will tell, but until then she is the two-year old filly-champion.

Three Year Old Male

This will be the most anticipated award of the night. There are three horses that have done nothing wrong this season. Discreet Cat in March of his three year old season won the UAE Derby, defeating probable Horse of the Year, Invasor by nearly eight lenghts. Unfortunately, his return to the U.S. would come much later than we would have liked. In the meantime Barbaro was dominating, winning on turf and dirt alike, including a powerful and compelling triumph in the Kentucky Derby. Of course the stretch of Pimilico is where he would take his final steps on a racetrack, and where Bernardini would take his first to potential greatness. Bernardini dominated his three year old rivals, and his only loss came to older horses in the Breeders Cup Classic. In the meantime Discreet Cat was showing the world how freakishly fast and talented he is, albeit slightly under the radar. Ironically enough, the likely winner Bernardini, I feel is probably the least talented of the three. In 2004, Smarty Jones after winning the Derby and Preakness, lost in the Belmont, never to race again. Birdstone would go on to win the Belmont and Travers Stakes, before losing in the Classic. That year, Smarty Jones was champion three year old. Barbaro dominated the five months from January 1st-May5th, while Bernardini dominated from May 15th-October (also five months). Discreet Cat who is probably the most gifted of the three simply did not compete enough. Therefore my vote goes to the horse who won the biggest of them all....Barbaro.

Three Year Old Filly

This group is marred by dissapointments from beginning to end. Balance's early dominace fading. Bushfire's early brilliance fading, and Pine Island's greatness tragically never given a chance to be realized. Through it all however Wait A While was brilliant. Her races through the spring and summer were simply brilliant, and she even showed ability on dirt as well. She was clearly the most accomplished three year old filly, and despite the tragedy of Pine Island, I feel Wait A While accomplished the most in a tough year for the three year old filly division.

Older Male

Clearly the winner is Invasor. He is undefeated in his U.S. Starts, and a multiple grade I winner. He is the Horse of the Year, and therefore must be champion older male. Lava Man showed he cannot fire outside of California, and Premium Tap didn't do enough.

Older Female

The winner should be Fleet Indian, who wheeled off nine in a row prior to being injured in the Breeders Cup Distaff. There is no knocks against her, and you can't hold the Breeders Cup against her either. However, Round Pound what the Azeri Stakes earlier in the year and "when it counted" in the Breeders Cup. I love Michael Matz, but her two wins simply do not stack up against Fleet Indian's consisten brilliance, and she deserved to be the champion older Female.

Sprinter

Henny Hughes showed his one-dimensionality in the Breeders Cup, and Thor's Echo got good late after going winless for much of 2006. Discreet Cat however won two races with such promise, speed and brilliance that to me he is the champion sprinter. The Cigar Mile (at one turn) is a virtual sprint, and was run like one this year (3/4 in 1:07), and his win in the Jerome (another one turn mile) was just as impressive. I need to award his talent somewhere, and this is where it should be.

Male Turf Horse:

My vote is English Channel. He danced every dance, whether it be the Breeders Cup, the Arlington Million, the U.N., and he was never disgraced. He was beat by Europenas in the Breeders Cup, and was the best of the Americans that day. He is America's male turf horse. I feel Miesque's Approval is the waeakest choice of the three, despite his Breeders Cup Victory. The Tin Man showed much brilliance, especially in Dubai and the million. But I feel that English Channel's consistency and ability should be rewarded.

Female Turf Horse

It's Ouija Board. She came overseas again and toyed with America's best including Wait A While. She is the best Turf filly since the likes Pebbles and Miesque. She is one of the greatest horses of our generation and should be rewarded with a title on Monday.

Steeplechase

Clearly McDynamo, winning the Steeplechase Breeders Cup for the upteenth time in a row.

Owner

My vote is for the Shadwell Stable. The Shadwell stable had dual classic winners in both the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders Cup Classic, with two different horses. And i applaud them for keeping both of them in training for the 2007 season, and it will not be long before the Maktoum family will get their Derby win.

Breeder

It is Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson. They bred dual classic winners, in Barbaro (winner of the Kentuccky Derby) and George Washington (winner of English 2000 Guineas). That is simply stunning, and makes them champion breeders.

Trainer

Despite Todd Pletcher's inability to win a Triple Crown race or a Breeders Cup, he broke a ton of records through the course of the year (albeit with the largest racing stable we have ever seen). Nonetheless, he is the champion trainer.

Jockey

Edgar Prado, winning both the Kentucky Derby and a Breeders Cup Race and his brilliance throughout the year at major thoroughbred meets including Gulfstream Park and Saratroga.

Apprentice Jockey

Clearly Julien Leparoux, winning a jockey title as an apprentice.