2021 Eclipse Award Ballot & Discussion

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by knickslions2

All I know is I wouldn’t vote for a horse that only ran 3 times in a year only wining twice. I dont have a vote so it doesn’t matter.

None of it matters but it’s a fun discussion. We used to have lots of discussions here.

You’ve said 3 starts is too few…had Domestic Spending not gotten injured and ran in the Breeders Cup and ran a troubled 2nd would that have been enough? Just trying to figure out how many starts is enough.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

You’ve said 3 starts is too few…had Domestic Spending not gotten injured and ran in the Breeders Cup and ran a troubled 2nd would that have been enough? Just trying to figure out how many starts is enough.

Ignoring number of 2021 starts, it seems reasonable to expect Domestic Spending, Colonel Liam, and Yibir as the 3 finalists (with United as an alternate, though CA no longer has any turf Grade 1s beyond a mile).

But with a minimum starts criteria the finalists should be:

Rockemperor, Gufo, and Two Emmys. Those 3 just beating out Japan and any English Channel horse of your choosing (Channel Maker, Bizzee Channel, or Spooky Channel).

Arklow would have made the cut if he had just one more also-ran performance...

[knickslions2]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

None of it matters but it’s a fun discussion. We used to have lots of discussions here.

You’ve said 3 starts is too few…had Domestic Spending not gotten injured and ran in the Breeders Cup and ran a troubled 2nd would that have been enough? Just trying to figure out how many starts is enough.

Good question. I would like to have seen 4 or 5 total. Its hard to judge. I know horses dont run like the used to but to me 3 races with 1 win, 1 tie and a 2nd doesnt seem like the horse should win the award. Say 4 races with 3 wins and another solid showing or 5 races with three wins and I would feel better. I think the horse is really good but not deserving of an eclipse.

[Dahoss]

I just looked at Ed Derosa’s eclipse ballot.

Didn’t think it was possible to think he was more of a clown than I already did…but he proved me wrong!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I just looked at Ed Derosa’s eclipse ballot.

Didn’t think it was possible to think he was more of a clown than I already did…but he proved me wrong!

While mostly Ed just likes to get attention, other than Loves Only You, and the irresponsible abstaining, was he way off anywhere? Did he have Smooth Like Strait in his top three?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

While mostly Ed just likes to get attention, other than Loves Only You, and the irresponsible abstaining, was he way off anywhere? Did he have Smooth Like Strait in his top three?

No Jackie's Warrior?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

No Jackie's Warrior?

Oh, yeah, I forgot that. That was indefensible. He's just looking for attention. Whatever.

[Kasept]

2yo Male: Corniche (Baffert), Jack Christopher (C. Brown), Modern Games-Ire (Appleby)
2yo Filly: Echo Zulu (Asmussen), Juju's Map (Cox), Pizza Bianca (Pletcher)

3yo Male: Essential Quality (Cox), Life Is Good (Pletcher), Medina Spirit (Baffert)
3yo Filly: Clairiere (Asmussen), Malathaat (Pletcher), Santa Barbara-Ire (A. O'Brien)

Older Dirt Male: Knicks Go (Cox), Maxfield (Walsh), Mystic Guide (Stidham)
Older Dirt Female: Letruska (Gutierrez), Marche Lorraine-Jpn (Yahagi), Shedaresthedevil (Cox)

Male Sprinter: Aloha West (Catalano), Flightline (Sadler), Jackie's Warrior (Asmussen)
Female Sprinter: Bella Sofia (Rodriguez), Ce Ce (McCarthy), Gamine (Baffert)

Male Turf Horse: Domestic Spending-GB (C. Brown), Space Blues-Ire (Appleby), Yibir-GB (Appleby)
Female Turf Horse: Loves Only You-Jpn (Yahagi), Santa Barbara-Ire (A. O'Brien), War Like Goddess (Mott)

Steeplechase: Baltimore Bucko-GB (Brion), Snap Decision (Fisher), The Mean Queen-Ire (Brion)

Owner: Godolphin LLC, Juddmonte Farms Inc., Klaravich Stables Inc.
Breeder: Calumet Farm, Godolphin LLC, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr., Flavien Prat, Joel Rosario
Apprentice Jockey: John Hiraldo, Charlie Marquez, Jessica Pyfer

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Chad Brown, Brad Cox