Shackelford won a TC and kept on chugging on til the end, I think he wins by just hanging around to race in the end. Stay Thirsty won a signifcant race but not a TC and didnt do much after that win. Had Animal Kingdom stuck around and at least one more semi important race, he would get it by virtue of winning the big race and winning another race of consequence but that didnt happen.

with everything said, HOY imo would be Harve De Grace she is the only horse to generate any kind of buzz and she has probably had the most impressive race out of all the contenders. Woodward win showed pretty much she was best older horse, and back it up with the Beldame in which she won as impressive as you can win a race with Royal Delta 2nd.