The Eclipse Finalists
 

The finalists, in alphabetical order:

Two-year-old male: Lookin At Lucky, Noble's Promise, Vale of York

Two-year-old filly: Blind Luck, Hot Dixie Chick, She Be Wild

Three-year-old male: Mine That Bird, Quality Road, Summer Bird

Three-year-old filly: Careless Jewel, Flashing, Rachel Alexandra

Older male: Einstein, Gio Ponti, Kodiak Kowboy

Older female: Life Is Sweet, Music Note, Zenyatta

Male sprinter: Dancing in Silks, Kodiak Kowboy, Zensational

Female sprinter: Informed Decision, Music Note, Ventura

Male turf horse: Conduit, Gio Ponti, Presious Passion

Female turf horse: Goldikova, Midday, Ventura

Steeplechase horse: Mixed Up, Red Letter Day, Spy in the Sky

Owner: Godolphin Racing, Juddmonte Farms, Jerry and Ann Moss

Breeder: Adena Springs, Juddmonte Farms, Dolphus Morrison

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, John Shirreffs

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, Julien Leparoux

Apprentice jockey: Luis Batista, Christian Santiago Reyes, Luis Saez

The fact that Jonathon Sheppard didn't make Top 3 in this polling is about as insulting and pathetic as anything you'll ever see. Asmussen of course deserves the trophy again after smashing his own training records, but what sport are the voters watching that puts Baffert and Shirreffs ahead of Sheppard this particular year? Ridiculous.

It would be an interesting experiment.

Vegas should have betting on who wins the awards, and then we should see if PG can hex RA and Zenyatta.

I agree completely with you on Sheppard. (http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=31036). He's likely to train a Champion over the flats (Informed Decision) and the jumps (Mixed Up), and his work with Cloudy's Night has been remarkable.

I think the fact that Asmussen was given a suspension during the year for a medication positive should be disqualifying for year-end awards (similar to the Shawne Merriman rule that the NFL adopted).

how about atr in the broadcast catagory?..hmm hmm.danny..

same thing i said last year-but they didn't listen, and he won.

Still can't believe Summer Bird is as good as he is. I wached him run at Oaklawn and he beat me that day. Wasn't even a Stakes race, He was long and lanky, clumsy but not winded after the race. Tim Ice was a happy camper after the race saying he'll be in the Arkansas Derby before it's over this sprin.

Baffert deserves to win it, he led all trainers in Grade 1 wins this year, what else matters?

Maybe doing more with less.

That's the type of logic that makes me not pay attention to these or any other sports awards.

LOL this is silly. So because he gets good stock he should be punished? He deserves it, he is a legend and his wife is hot.

Didnt Baffert win like 10 Gr. 1's with only a couple of hundred starts?? that sounds like doing more with less

I'm just wondering about something for absolutely no reason and while I suppose i could look it up was wondering if you (or anyone here) knows the answer.

I'm curious about the number of G1 wins the 3 nominees and Sheppard had this past year.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer.

As an aside, I don't care much about awards but i hope Einstein wins.

Cheers and applause to him and to his connections.

Asmussen-7, Baffert-10, Shireffs-6, Sheppard-4.

http://cristblog.drf.com/crist/2010/...s-of-2009.html

That was fast DaTruth. Thank you!

Just wanted to mention that Mixed Up won the G1 Colonial Cup Hurdle...

http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/1039100.html

... and the G1 Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase.

http://www.st-publishing.com/cms/ind...=907&Itemid=76

I guess these don't count...

I wasn't referring solely to numbers. Strawbridge has become more active at sales, but Baffert is likely to get more expensive yearling and 2yo purchases than Sheppard will get. It is a very small sample, but looking at their Grade 1 winners this year that sold at public auction: Zenzational ($700k 2yo), Looking at Lucky ($475k 2yo), POTN ($270k yearling), Forever Together ($240k 2yo) and Informed Decision ($320k 2yo).

i agree, nothing beats head to head comp. if people worried about making good bets as much as they worry about these goofy (fake) awards they would do better at the track. its basically a bunch of fat guys that smoke cigars voting on who they THINK deserves some corny award. most of them could not get up and do a lap around the dinner table, yet they KNOW what a great athlete is. its moronic, thats why i can't remember who won this crap more than a year back. yet, ask me who won the belmont in 1978 and i'll tell you. the funniest part of it, is watching everyone bitch about who deserves what. the races are in the books, what, somehow a group of chosen "experts" are going to sort out which horses are most deserving of a crappy plaque. i'm sure going to be heart broken if so and so deos not get one of those.....lol....:rolleyes:

If the award goes to who did the most with less I nominate Tim Ice.:D

Tom McCarthey with General Quarters..(1 horse barn):D

Good article on the man who should be winning it this year:

http://www.drf.com/news/article/110095.html