Horse of the Year prediction thread
 

I want two names and two names ONLY (and yes, I know it's a bit early for this but whatever! Why not?!)...

Who do you think it will be and who do you hope it will be (?).

Who wants to go first?

shared belief
shared belief

Close Hatches

California Chrome (don't judge me... in my world he wins the Classic)

Tonalist

Shared Belief

Shared Belief

Bayern

Ditto or Wicked Strong

He's done for the year.

Shared Belief
Tonalist

Belle Gallantey or Condo Commando.

Hoping Dads Caps can take down honors as top sprinter..

WISE DAN ......... again! :D

California Chrome

I would try Close Hatches in the Classic. What do they have to lose?
I think 5 or 6 different horses are still in play. If I had to give one right now I would say Bayern, but who knows.

Wise Dan and close hatches

Wise Dan
California Chrome (MMSC I think you are right !)

I am surprised by all the Wise Dan picks. I don’t see how he wins it this year, even if he wins his next two races. I don’t think he has been as impressive this year as he has been the last two years. On top of that I think horses like Bayern, Tonalist and Shared Belief will have all done more if any of them wins the BC Classic. Even Close Hatches… If she were to win the Keeneland G1 and the Distaff I think she would be more deserving this year.

Emergency colic surgery will do that to you

He's admirable that's for sure. But I did not think he was as impressive Derby day even before the set back.
Plus its not even a negative stance that Im taking on him. I just think if any of the horses I mentioned wins the Classic they will have had better overall years. Has a horse ever won the Belmont, JCGC and Classic or Haskell and Classic with a few other big wins and not win HOY?

Rudy Rodriguez (AKA Richard Dutrows Protege) is making a name for himself on the East coast. Not sure if that is a good thing. A true magician

The West Coast has one too. His name is Philip D'Amato. His ROI in almost every category is profitable. Pure Genius!

I think Rudy made a name for himself like 5 years ago. I get what your saying though, he is having a huge run right now. I think he is 33% at the current Belmont meet. And we all know about the back to back G1 and G2 wins on Saturday.

Tonalist

Close Hatches

Seems like a two horse race at this point.

CC and SB.

Not sure how the filly can win it. I think she'd need to win the Classic, and no way does that happen.

Tonalist would need to win the Classic as well, and I think that is really far fetched.