Eclipse Finalists...
 

Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Vineyard Haven

Two-Year-Old Filly: Dream Empress, Maram, Stardom Bound

Three-Year-Old Male: Big Brown, Colonel John, Raven’s Pass

Three-Year-Old Filly: Eight Belles, Music Note, Proud Spell

Older Male: Commentator, Curlin, Einstein (BRZ)

Older Female: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Ginger Punch, Zenyatta

Male Sprinter: Benny the Bull, Midnight Lute, Street Boss

Female Sprinter: Indian Blessing, Intangaroo, Ventura

Male Turf Horse: Conduit (IRE), Einstein (BRZ), Grand Couturier (GB)

Female Turf Horse: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Forever Together, Goldikova (IRE)

Steeplechase Horse: Be Certain, Good Night Shirt, Sovereign Duty

Owner: Godolphin Racing, IEAH Stables, Stronach Stable

Breeder: Adena Springs, Stonerside Stable, WinStar Farm

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Richard Dutrow, Jr., Bobby Frankel

Jockey: Robby Albarado, Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez

Apprentice: Inez Karlsson, Pascacio Lopez, Abel Mariano

My choices in bold.

Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Vineyard Haven

Two-Year-Old Filly: Dream Empress, Maram, Stardom Bound

Three-Year-Old Male: Big Brown, Colonel John, Raven’s Pass

Three-Year-Old Filly: Eight Belles, Music Note, Proud Spell

Older Male: Commentator, Curlin, Einstein (BRZ)

Older Female: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Ginger Punch, Zenyatta

Male Sprinter: Benny the Bull, Midnight Lute, Street Boss

Female Sprinter: Indian Blessing, Intangaroo, Ventura

Male Turf Horse: Conduit (IRE), Einstein (BRZ), Grand Couturier (GB)

Female Turf Horse: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Forever Together, Goldikova (IRE)

Steeplechase Horse: Be Certain, Good Night Shirt, Sovereign Duty

Owner: Godolphin Racing, IEAH Stables, Stronach Stable

Breeder: Adena Springs, Stonerside Stable, WinStar Farm

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Richard Dutrow, Jr., Bobby Frankel

Jockey: Robby Albarado, Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez

Apprentice: Inez Karlsson, Pascacio Lopez, Abel Mariano

** The two categories that are most interesting are Female Sprinter and Male Turf horse. Do you take body of work in older filly/mare races (Intangaroo)? Do you take body of work/brilliance in 3yo races (Indian Blessing)? Or do you take an overall great year plus the big one (Ventura)?
Turf horse more so because the choices are so weak. I think Einstein deserves the look but he did just as much on dirt this year.

Also, Goldikova should NOT get Turf Female over Forever Together with only 1 race in this country, end of story.

ALBARADO//BARF..whats the line on a byk atr award..they give one for derby day coverage ect..byk rolls 365 days a year..:tro:

Honestly... Steve will win an Eclipse award for broadcasting/media someday. I'm sure of it. :tro: As far as I know though they don't do it as part of the "show" but rather the results are announced prior.

Thx Matt-O, but bet-against. The Radio/Internet Media Eclipse went to the Courier-Journal for a 3-part series on injuries.. They announced it the other day.

This surprises me. Old Fashioned may end up being a great 3-yo, but he didn't do enough in 2008 to be alongside the other two.
I would think Charitable Man would have been a more deserving choice.

you will get yours soon..thats a crock a 3 day piece gets an award when you inform from the source of any issue..:mad:

I think the 4th and 5th choices would have been Street Hero and Square Eddie.

having violations in the calendar year of the award to be given should prevent you from being in the running.

Steve had a violation?

You could argue Raven's Pass winning the BC Classic combined with his overseas record beats Big Brown.

Don't even need to combine that with his overseas record. Big Brown beat Smooth Air, Eight Belles, Denis of Cork, Coal Play, and Proudinsky while losing to Guadalcanal. In one race Raven's Pass has a much better resume.

Agreed. Just like the rule the NFL adopted (post Shawne Merriman) prohibiting any player from being selected to the Pro Bowl or winning a performance award in the year they tested positive.

If that rule were in play and it eliminated Asmussen, Dutrow, Pletcher, et al., who should win the award? I'm surprised that Baffert - who may train three champions - has not had his name bandied about more in this category.

overseas records shouldnt count. If there were not a viable horse like BB you could make the case that his one race was enough but obviously that isnt the case this year.

From the list of finalists, I would choose:

Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Vineyard Haven

Two-Year-Old Filly: Dream Empress, Maram, Stardom Bound

Three-Year-Old Male: Big Brown, Colonel John, Raven’s Pass

Three-Year-Old Filly: Eight Belles, Music Note, Proud Spell

Older Male: Commentator, Curlin, Einstein (BRZ)

Older Female: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Ginger Punch, Zenyatta

Male Sprinter: Benny the Bull, Midnight Lute, Street Boss

Female Sprinter: Indian Blessing, Intangaroo, Ventura

Male Turf Horse: Conduit (IRE), Einstein (BRZ), Grand Couturier (GB)

Female Turf Horse: Cocoa Beach (CHI), Forever Together, Goldikova (IRE)

The only one that I would chose a horse different than one of the finalists would be for 3yo filly. My choice would be Indian Blessing.

I agree that it shouldn't count...but nearly everyone factors in the Dubai World Cup, so I figured it was the same logic.

The main reasoning that the Dubai World Cup factors in is cause such a large percentage of North American horses run in it. So it is as much a North American event held overseas as anything. European racing is very different as you'll never see one of our horses go over there to compete.

when doesn't he?

Steve Byk? He hasnt had a violation in years

The theory is an American based horses overseas races should count which has some merit.

lol
when you said steve, i thought you meant steve A.

Makes sense. Okay I get it now.

I agree with Sniper that the quality of what Raven's Pass beat in the BCC far surpasses anyone that Big Brown defeated. Curlin, Tiago, Go Between, etc. would destroy any of last year's 3 year olds on the Triple Crown trail, whether it be on synthetic or dirt.