2012 Eclipse Awards finalists
 

Horse of the Year
Fort Larned, I’ll Have Another, Wise Dan

2-Year-Old Male
Shanghai Bobby, Uncaptured, Violence

2-Year-Old Female
Beholder, Dreaming of Julia, Executiveprivilege

3-Year-Old Male
Bodemeister, I’ll Have Another, Union Rags

3-Year-Old Female
Believe You Can, My Miss Aurelia, Questing

Older Male
Fort Larned, Little Mike, Wise Dan

Older Female
Groupie Doll, Include Me Out, Royal Delta

Male Sprinter
The Lumber Guy, Shackleford, Trinniberg

Female Sprinter
Contested, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection

Turf Male
Little Mike, Point of Entry, Wise Dan

Turf Female
Marketing Mix, Tapitsfly, Zagora,

Steeplechase
Demonstrative, Divine Fortune, Pierrot Lunaire

Owner
Godolphin Racing, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Reddam Racing

Breeder
Adena Springs, Darley, Brereton C. Jones

Trainer
Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans

Jockey
Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez

Apprentice Jockey
Jose Montano, Irad Ortiz Jr., Angel Suarez

This was my ballot...

Horse of the Year: 1st - Wise Dan, 2nd - Royal Delta, 3rd - Groupie Doll

Two-Year-Old Male: 1st - Shanghai Bobby, 2nd - Uncaptured, 3rd - Overanalyze
Two-Year-Old Filly: 1st - Beholder , 2nd - Executiveprivilege, 3rd - Dreaming of Julia

Three-Year-Old Male: : 1st - I'll Have Another, 2nd - Bodemeister, 3rd - Paynter
Three-Year-Old Filly: 1st - Questing, 2nd - Grace Hall, 3rd - My Miss Aurelia

Older Male: 1st - Fort Larned, 2nd - Shackleford, 3rd - Mucho Macho Man
Older Female: 1st - Royal Delta, 2nd - Groupie Doll, 3rd - It's Tricky

Male Sprinter: 1st - Trinniberg, 2nd - The Lumber Guy, 3rd - Unbridled's Note
Female Sprinter: 1st - Groupie Doll, 2nd - Dust and Diamonds, 3rd - Mizdirection

Male Turf Horse: 1st - Little Mike, 2nd - Point of Entry, 3rd - Unbridled Command
Female Turf Horse: 1st - Zagora, 2nd - Marketing Mix, 3rd - Tapitsfly
Steeplechase Horse: 1st - Demonstrative, 2nd - Pierrot Lunaire, 3rd - Divine Fortune

Owner: 1st - John Oxley, 2nd - Godolphin, 3rd - Reddam Racing LLC
Breeder: 1st - Adena Springs, 2nd - Darley, 3rd - Stuart S. Janney III

Jockey: 1st - Ramon Dominguez, 2nd - John Velazquez, 3rd - Javier Castellano
Apprentice Jockey: 1st - Wilmer Garcia, 2nd - Jose L. Ortiz, 3rd - Kevin Navarro

Trainer: 1st - Dale Romans, 2nd - Todd Pletcher, 3rd - Bob Baffert

How do you have Mucho Macho Man who won two grade 2 events over a horse who won 2 grade 1 events and 3 grade 2 events?

How can Wise Dan not even make the top three for male truf horse?

Paul

You mean Game On Dude? Every event is nothing more than the value of the race's grading? The performances and participants involved don't have any bearing? Mucho Macho Man was a head from winning the Classic and arguably was impeded from winning the Woodward. Game On Dude beat up on relatively little most of the year and then was shown up for being rather one dimensional when not getting his way in the Classic.. on his home track no less. I'd have put Game On Dude 4th if that was an option, but in my judgement he didn't distinguish himself to a greater degree than Mucho Macho Man in 2012.

His prize is Horse of the Year for the consistent excellence and unique versatlity. It wasn't a conventional year in terms of pristine categorization and he's not a conventional 'turf' horse. I frequently like to use the 3rd slot to show appreciation for a horse that is being under-appreciated. The first place vote is what drives the results.

Thanks for the Vote for Mr Oxley its a Shame he did not atleast make the final 3. Most don't know him But he is one of the Good guys in our Sport. Its an absolute pleasure getting to break and train his young horses each year. I know its early and hard to get a good gauge on 2 year olds at this time of year but I like the Hand we are holding for Mr O. :D

I hope Jack has lots of good horses. No doubt he is one of the good guys.

Steve, I'm sorry, but having Wise Dan as the 3rd best older male and not even in the top 3 as a turf horse is completely ridiculous.

I understand Little Mike is an admirable turf horse who had a great season -- and I understand a case for putting him 1st as turf horse. Point of Entry 2nd? Ok. He also had a great season.

Unbridled Command over Wise Dan for 3rd is a complete facepalm ... even though I get the intent is to help Little Mike in that category.

We live at a time when compassion and award giving seem to go hand and hand. That was demonstrated by the Zenyatta vote over Blame. in a year where she did absolutely nothing Horse of the Year worthy other than losing to Blame with a great pace setup.

Alydar never won an eclipse award. Coastal never won an eclipse award, Gun Bow never won an Eclipse award. General Assembly never won an eclipse award. Sharp Cat never won an eclipse award, etc.

Doug..

The way they score the thing, only the first place votes on a ballot really matter in terms of determining the finalists and winners.. the rest is window dressing. I subscribed to the Crist theory that Little Mike deserved Turf and then didn't think Fort Larned deserved to go without recognition, so I exclusively recognized Wise Dan as HOY only. It was a quirky year in that respect and I think all 3 of them should get something as opposed to Wise Dan getting 2 or even all 3 honors. And the way for me to 'voice' that was how I filled out the ballot.

Look at it like this with just the first selections on the ballot because that's all that really counts..

Horse of the Year: 1st - Wise Dan
Two-Year-Old Male: 1st - Shanghai Bobby
Two-Year-Old Filly: 1st - Beholder
Three-Year-Old Male: : 1st - I'll Have Another
Three-Year-Old Filly: 1st - Questing
Older Male: 1st - Fort Larned
Older Female: 1st - Royal Delta
Male Sprinter: 1st - Trinniberg
Female Sprinter: 1st - Groupie Doll
Male Turf Horse: 1st - Little Mike
Female Turf Horse: 1st - Zagora
Steeplechase Horse: 1st - Demonstrative

And the order in which the finalists are listed (Turf Male: Little Mike, Point of Entry, Wise Dan) is alphabetical.

Mitch,

As Andy says, Oxley deserves respect and appreciation for his ongoing dedication to the game. His year jumped out at me when looking at the stats and after having his horses kept prisoner by Ward for the last 10+ years, I thought he should be recognized for re-booting his operation. Best for '13 to you, the Casses and Oxley.

They use a 10-5-1 point system for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

So, 3rd does count for a point and 2nd certainly matters.

Maybe they can make more awards like the Vox Populi for recognition in regard to horses who could have won divisions in other years, but might come up short this time.

If Wise Dan is your horse of the year -- he should certainly be in the top 3 in some other category. Logic dictates.

Dale Romans should be offended if he sees that ballot...

Shackleford 2nd for older male and Little Mike 1st in the turf category with no Wise Dan anywhere in sight ... it's almost like you're implying that Romans isn't a competent trainer and these horses deserve special recognition or extra credit for overcoming his bad training.

That is until Dale Romans reads he's been selected your outstanding trainer of the year.

How I would have voted...

Horse of the Year
Wise Dan, Fort Larned, Game On Dude

2-Year-Old Male
Shanghai Bobby, Overanalyze, Normandy Invasion

2-Year-Old Female
Beholder, Dreaming of Julia, Executiveprivilege

3-Year-Old Male
I’ll Have Another, Bodemeister, Union Rags

3-Year-Old Female
Questing, My Miss Aurelia, Contested

Older Male
Wise Dan, Fort Larned, Game on Dude

Older Female
Royal Delta, Groupie Doll, Include Me Out

Male Sprinter
Trinniberg, Amazombie, Emcee

Female Sprinter
Groupie Doll, Contested, Beholder

Turf Male
Wise Dan, Point of Entry, Little Mike

Trainer
Bob Baffert, Mike Hushion, Todd Pletcher

Jockey
Ramon Dominguez, Jose Lezcano, Javier Castellano

Apprentice Jockey
Wilmer Garcia, Jilver Charmafi, Irad Ortiz Jr.

I'm surprised you don't have Dale Romans in your final 3 for trainer. His barn was outstanding from start to finish, better than 25% in Grade I races with a $3.61 ROI. Unlike Todd Pletcher, who was 4-14 in Grade I races for 2YOs, all of Romans' Grade Is were with 3YO and up on turf, dirt and synthetic. He got 2 Grade Is out of Tapitsfly. That's Eclipse worthy alone.

As far as Wise Dan, in my opinion, he is deserving of Horse of the Year and Older turf male, which is unfortunate for horses like Little Mike and Point of Entry, who both had phenomenal years. If we would like in the end for the Older Male Eclipse to be more of a dirt-oriented award, which I would, then I'd vote for Fort Larned.

Let's discuss the three I highlighted...

Amazombie? Ah, no.

Beholder? Not eligible.

Wilmer Garcia???? I beg to differ. I know he's the board darling, and I wish him a speedy recovery, but Jose Ortiz rides circles around him.

Amazombie tailed off (ala Questing) -- but he was the consensus top rated sprinter heading into the fall and no one did anything impressive as he tailed off. He was still the Breeders Cup Sprint favorite despite an absolutely dreadful prep race. To me, he won the first half of the year and Trinniberg won the second half by winning the definitive race.

As for Beholder -- I thought the award was for "outstanding female sprinter" -- since I don't vote, or pay much attention to these, I think it is appropriate to put her into the 3rd spot on the simple fact that her prep for the BC Juvie fillies produced a higher speed figure than any Breeders Cup Sprint entrant on everyones figures.

I will take your word on the apprentice jockeys of New York.

Romans had a great year.

He was a 16% trainer who was 4th in earnings. I don't knock anyone who wanted to put him top 3 or even first.

Here was one of the more head scratching things you'll ever see ... Beholder, in her six furlong prep for the BC Juvie Fillies and first career dirt start, running faster (90) than any Breeders Cup Sprint entrants last 3 races (88)






And that's on a pace adjusted figure! Her Beyer of 108 was also the same Trinniberg earned while winning the Breeders Cup Sprint.

Obviously, these things are supposed to be about accomplishments throughout a year more than performance ... but I think Beholder is simply a much better dirt sprinter than any female to race last year with the exception of Groupie Doll and Contested.

Avoiding the duel with Kauai Katie was obviously big for her in the BC Juvie Fillies ... but I think she's MUCH better as a sprinter.

If we just went on who they beat in socal then Zenyatta should never have won very much, she never beat much of anything out there. You show up for grade 1 events and win them, often in dominating fast performances and its your fault no one else showed up. Why have a grading system at all?

Game on Dude shouldn't win anything, but he got screwed on the basis of one bad performance.

The fact that Little Mike is actually an older male finalist over him pretty much shows you that the voting biased against the horse tailing off or the horse who bombs on BC day is still there. He is a main track horse, Little Mike is a turf horse.

I would be shocked if Questing wins...even though there is no one else to give it to in that category.

There has always been a strong bias against the horse who tails off late in the season or doesn't fire in the Breeders Cup.

About the scoring, the prelim process (10-5-1) identifies the 3 finalists but the 1st place votes then determine the winner. That's what I mean about the importance of the first place vote and the rest being window dressing.

The thing about logic dictating in this process is that there are plenty of elements to these discussions where logic is belied. As Privman said on Loose on the Lead today when I asked him, every year is a free standing circumstance and since there is no set formula for "older horse" v. "turf horse", voter perception rules. Yes the older horse and turf horse and HOY can colide -- John Henry -- but when Kotashaan was HOY and grass champion, Bertrando was best older male. If Kotashaan was HOY, why wasn't he top older male too?

My inclination is to reward everyone that was worthy and since there is a format available to acknowledge the best 'handicap' (dirt) elder -- Fort Larned -- the best 'traditional' grass horse -- Little Mike -- and the best horse overall for the year -- Wise Dan -- I chose to take advantage of it.

I understand where you're coming from but it's one dimensional to strictly judge horses' seasons -- and careers -- on just the pure number power of the graded stakes. The grading system was created by/for the breeders as a generality. We can analyze the specific events more closely for a better handle on the quality of the races themselves and the performances within them.

That is common in society today.

I once got an award for finishing 4th out of 5 in a track and field event in 8th grade.

Unbridled Command over Wise Dan for 3rd best turf horse is brutal Steve.

The Bertrando year, he won older male because they had a special category for turf horses.

Speaking of Dale Romans ...

"He has Rick Pitino's colt Siva debuting in race 7 at Gulfstream Thursday, as well as Bobby Flay's Conversationalist in the same race."

This is a slightly different. Wise Dan, Little Mike and Fort Larned all deserve recognition for the campaigns they had. They transcended awkward teenage guido long jumpers...

:D:tro:

Maybe so, but if they don't, that's life in the big city.

Sharp Cat deserved recognition more than Little Mike or Fort Larned.



She was a multiple Grade 1 winner at ages 2, 3, and 4.

She was the post time favorite in the Santa Anita Derby and cost Silver Charm the race.

She won her final start for Lukas in a walkover in a Grade 2 race. She was getting close to invincible after she left Lukas.

Look at the Spectacular Bid crop of 3-year-old males. That was the most strung out crop on fast figures at the high end ever. Horses like Private Account (sire of Hall of Famers Personal Ensign and Inside Information) and Relaunch (sire of 3 multi millionaires and dam sire of Ghostzapper) couldn't compete with the 3rd and 4th stringers. And the 3rd and 4th stringers were running numbers like strong champions most years compared with other stakes divisions, alw divisions, maiden divisions, claiming divisions, of both genders.

The single most amazing thing about those two horses are that they're both homebreds. Their dams were awful, Siva's being a little bit worse.

Maybe someday they will grow up to make Doug's list of solid horses with really slow dams?

Those dams honestly aren't that bad.

The top one was 2nd to Kodiak Kowboy and had black type.

The bottom one ran fairly good numbers for a 2yo filly and was bet.

Every year you have top horses from broodmares who stunk on the track. The dam of Groupie Doll and the dam of Hansen both broke their maiden at Mountaineer Park.

The dam of Wise Dan and the dam of Little Mike were both mediocre Illinois breds. The dam of Little Mike was a little better racer, but she was running for $5,000 claiming tags near the end.

Since Hansen won an Eclipse in 2011 and Groupie Doll will win one in 2012, I checked the 2010 winners to see if the dam of any of them broke their maiden at Mountaineer.

The dam of champion female sprinter Dubai Majesty raced at Birmingham and Thistle Downs and ran for $4,000 claiming tags. The dam of Lookin At Lucky won a maiden claiming race at Sam Houston ... but no luck on 3 straight Eclipse winners coming from broodmares who got the maiden win at Mountaineer Park.

Correction, the dam of Hansen broke her maiden in a $5,000 maiden claiming race at Turfway. She won a starter alw race at Mountaineer, not her maiden.

I fail to see the point in having awards to recognize the best if you're going to award those that you don't even believe are the best. Aren't you just lowering the significance of the award? They won't name LeBron James as MVP but leave him off the all-NBA team in order to give Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant recognition for nice seasons.

The best Older Male (traditionally the top handicap dirt horse) was Fort Larned.

The best Turf Horse (traditionally the top handicap turf horse -- and generally the one that dominated the 9f-12f events) was Little Mike.

The Horse of the Year (traditionally the horse whose season transcended all others) was Wise Dan.

The system allows for that interpretation and the opportunity to acknowledge each. It's not that complicated.

If you're going to assign a general handicap to these three horses based only on their turf races in 2012...

Wise Dan is the unquestionable high weight.




Point of Entry is unquestionably going to be rated 2nd in the weights. He was a 3/5 favorite against Little Mike in the Turf Classic on very demanding yielding ground. And he was a 2/1 favorite (VS 17/1 odds on Little Mike) when he faced him on the billiard table like turf course at Santa Anita and lost by just a half length, after beating him soundly in his prior start.




Little Mike had a little bit of trouble running his good race twice in a row, even though he was unable to win back-to-back races, he scored 3 very important Grade 1 wins and had a great season.

For those on the edge of their seat wanting to know the winners --

Watch the Eclipse awards here tonight! http://www.drf.com/news/2012-eclipse-awards-finalists :D

This year they have hired a band to cut off any speech that exceeds the limit.

Rock on Dale wins trainer of the year!!! :tro:

Wow, Questing beat My Miss Aurelia 106 to 102. What a squeaker.

Who did Pincay III say was his favorite older male horse to ride? My video got all tied up in knots right there and I missed it.

Looking like a Dan sweep!

Affirmed.

don't ever get old........





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