2006 Eclipse And Year In Review

[Stevie Belmont]

My 2006 Eclipse Awards and Year in Review/Thoroughbredzone.com

2 year old Colt-.Several two year olds showed promise early one. Eclipse could go to a few, but will settle with the undefeated Tiz Wonderful. Nobiz Like Shobiz’s Remsen win was impressive. Street Sense made a case in winning the Breeder’s Cup juvenile. Stormello’s gutsy win in the Hollywood Futurity was impressive.

2 years old Filly-Dreaming of Ana had as a dominant a season as a 2 year old filly can have. She was undefeated in all starts this year and capped it with an impressive Breeder’s Cup victory.

3 year old Colt- Barbaro was on the fast track for the award early on. It’s unfortunate that the injury he suffered in the Kentucky Derby ended his career. Who knows what the future would have held if not for that horrible incident. Bernardini came on the scene in the Preakness and was a force to reckon with all summer. Winning 3 Grade I’s and narrowly missing a win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. He also defeated his elders in the Jockey Gold Cup. It was a deep crop of 3 year olds this year. Showing Up had a great year as well, so did Henny Hughes and the lightly raced Discreet Cat. The Eclipse goes to Bernardini here.

3 year old Filly- You can make a case for a few 3 year olds here. It’s that close, but based on 3 Grade I wins, I will go for Bushfire for the Eclipse for top filly. She has beaten each of the other top two choices for the award in 2006 Wait a While and Pine Island. She defeated Wait a While in the Grade I Ashland while losing to her in the Grade II Davona Dale in February. She also traded wins against Pine Island, beating her in the Grade I Mother Goose, while Pine Island got the best of her in the Grade I Gazelle.

Older Filly or Mare-Top honor goes to Fleet Indian who had a super 2006 year. She rode a 6 race winning streak into the Breeder’s Cup. Game win in beating Balletto in the Beldame. She was simply the most dominant horse in the division this year.

Turf Male-A tough one, but based on 3 Grade I’s English Channel gets the Eclipse. English Channel won 3 Grade I’s this year and beat one of the contenders for an Eclipse in this division Cacique twice. Miesques Approval had a fine 2006 as well, finishing it off with a win in the Breeder’s Cup mile. Both Lava Man and The Tin Man also get consideration for their fine seasons on the grass as well.

Turf Filly or Mare- This could be tight, but i'm going for Wait a While as she was just sensational this year when she made the move to the lawn. She captured two Grade I wins in California and beat is a 3 year old who beat her elders in the Yellow Ribbon in an impressive romp. Ran an admirable 4th in the Breeder’s Cup Filly and mare. Gorella is another main contender for the award won the Beverly D at Arlington Park in what was one of the most impressive moves we have seen by a horse all year as she went 6 wide circling the field. I’ll be honest they are very close. However that was her lone Grade I win in 2006. If the Grade I wins accounts for anything, Wait a While has won two. Ouija Board is regarded as one of the best mares in the world, but only the Breeder’s Cup win is not enough for me to get it.

Sprinter- I have made a case for Discreet Cat, but based on the true sprint distance of 6 furlongs and what have you done for me lately, Thors Echo notched the award in my opinion with his late season heroics in the Breeder’s Cup Sprint and Defrancis Dash, both Grade I’s. Those were his only two wins of the year, but they were big ones. Henny Hughes had a big year as well. Bordonaro won three times this year and was very fast in each win including a Grade I. Thor's Echo for the top sprinter.

Trainer-Todd Pletcher broke the single season earnings mark for a trainer, so with that said he is a no brainer to capture the Eclipse for top trainer. Scott Lake was on pace to break the single season mark for most wins until he had to serve his suspension ending those hopes.

Owner- I will go with Roy and Gretchen Jackson. They owned and bred Barbaro and owned Showing Up who had super 2006 seasons, and were humble and courageous through the entire Barbaro situation. They also bred George Washington, winner of three Grade I’s in Europe including the 2000 Guineas the same day Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby. Now that’s a true daily double. Darley and Shadwell stables are also leading contenders for the award amassing several million dollars in purses with their Grade I winning Bernardini and Jazil. Live Oak Plantation also gets plenty of consideration.

Jockey- Garret Gomez leads in total purse money and has had arguably his best year yet as a jockey. Edgar Prado has had a great year and is right behind Gomez in earnings. I would give the edge to Prado who also rode Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. Eclipse to Edgar Prado.

Apprentice- Julien Leparoux led the nation in wins and had a great year plain and simple.

Older Male- Invasor had a perfect season in the US and by winning the BC Classic all but locked it up. Lava Man had a great year. Swept the Big 3 races in Cali and won on turf. Invasor won the Pimlico Special, The Whitney, Suburban and capped it the Classic win. Invasor is HOY...So he is also the top older horse. Both had great years.

Horse of the Year-The top Eclipse award is the HOY. Cases can be made for at least three, but if accomplishments on the track are the main criteria for the award, it has to go to Invasor for his perfect 2006 season in the US which he won four Grade I’s and capped it with a win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Lava Man was a Grade I winner on dirt as well as grass. If he was able to put together a better run in the Classic, he could have very well have an argument, but the case against him is he raced in California all year. He did race often though and should count for something. Barbaro’s plight on and off the track has captivated a nation. He won the Kentucky Derby. And had to survive a brutal leg break in the Preakness Stakes. He has been through a lot, and the whole nation has watched with guarded optimism as he has struggled through it all. If HOY of the year used other criteria in being HOY he would be the horse, unfortunately none of that is considered for the top award. He is with out a doubt the story of the year.

Race of the Year-No Eclipse for this, but I would vote for the Florida Derby. Barbaro won a ding dong stretch battle over Sharp Humor, propelling him to a win in the Kentucky Derby.


Here is a look back at some happenings in 2006
Highlights of 2006

The story of Barbaro of course is something we will never forget. It was an up and down rides of the high of winning the Kentucky Derby, to the dreadful low of his breakdown in the Preakness Stakes. And the story is still not over. He is well on his way to recovery.

Russell Baze becomes the all-time winning jockey passing Lafit Pincay.

Jerry Bailey retires, capping a Hall Of Fame career. He joined ESPN/ABC as a racing analyst.

Fernando Jara the 18 year Panamanian wins the Belmont Stakes and Breeder’s Cup
Classic

A solid group of fast 3 year olds that included, Bernardini, Barbaro,Henny Hughes,Discreet Cat and Showing Up to name a few

Dr. Dean Richardson, the vet who has done a magnificent job in saving Barbaros life.

The new and improved Gulfstream Park opens, however some might consider this a
Lowlight

Perfect Drift competes in his record fifth straight Breeder’s Cup Classic

The introduction of synthetic races surfaces to Keeneland and Hollywood Park, ushering in the era of poly track.

ESPN televises its first Breeder’s Cup, ending the run of NBC which had televised every Breeder’s Cup race prior to this year.

The reopening of the Fairgrounds after hurricane Katrina ravaged the track in 2005.

Apprentice Julian Leparoux leads the nation in wins.

Lowlights of 2006

Barbaro breaking his hind leg in the Preakness Stakes

Big name trainers Scott Lake, Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher all won tons of races, and all faced suspensions for drug positives.

Bernardini and Henny Hughes both retired prematurely for breeding purposes, good for owners, bad for race fans.

The Triple Crown series was broken up into different networks….The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes were televised on NBC, while The Belmont Stakes. Bad move.

The sad ending of 2005 champion sprinter Lost In the Fog who lost his battle with cancer

Ouija Board in what was to be her final race in Honk Kong comes up lame forcing her to scratch.

Trevor Denman in his first shot at calling the Breeder’s Cup was not as sharp as one would hope.

Pine Island and Fleet Indian both breaking down in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff, Pine Island had to be euthanized.

The 16 million dollar buy Green Monkey has yet to make a start, word is he is not that fast.

ESPN decides to eliminate Wire To Wire from it's 2007 TV lineup.

Arlington Parks string of breakdowns this summer

[geowarrior]

Nice list Stevie. Although I thought that Showing Up was purchased for the Jacksons by Barclay Tagg? I didn't think they bred him themselves?

[Stevie Belmont]

Thanks for that. Ill have to change it to make sure.

[Perfect Sting]

A good analysis, SB. Though I assume this is *your* opinions and feelings and not a forecasting of what will happen.

Street Sense will get champion 2yo male.
Pine Island will get champion 3yo female (and I think she should).
Ouija Board is a strong favorite for turf female.

I do feel you overlooked a Turf Male candidate in Aragorn. This is a tough category and he deserves a thought just as much as the others you named. I'm partial to him, so would have to think longer before making a decision myself on who I feel deserves it and/or gets it.

[Ill-bred]

A good analysis, SB. Though I assume this is *your* opinions and feelings and not a forecasting of what will happen.

Pine Island will get champion 3yo female (and I think she should).

Pine Island is by no means a lock to be champion three-year-old filly. Wait a While and Bushfire have their share of backers.

Personally, I think Wait a While is the clear choice, but we will see...

[Perfect Sting]

I believe those will be the three finalists, yes. But I have little doubt Pine Island will get the nod.

a) she has the sympathy vote (a horrible thing to say, but true; I'm not sure anybody would seriously consider Barbaro could beat Bernardini had he been retired after the Derby with a non-life threatening injury - I still think Berni should, and will, win, but there is quite a lot of discussion about Barbaro)

b) Bushfire's wins were too long ago and in 3yo only company and she ran dismally on the most important day of the year - most Eclipse voters think "what you have done for me lately?"

c) Wait A While is a turf filly - name the last turf horse of either sex to win the 3yo/f title (maybe Hollywood Wildcat or Dance Smartly, both of whom won the BC Distaff on dirt). IMO, she will contend more for turf female than for 3yo female. People would rather oust the one-time US start, already been named a champion European, from the pedestal than the filly that is owned by the American icons, looked like Ruffian and suffered the same fate. But that's just my opinion. Yes, I know WAW won stakes on dirt as well, but nothing of major importance and you can also see Bushfire's "flaw" for what voters will be thinking...She did? When was that?

It's not that B or WAW are undeserving, but the Eclipse voters are fairly predictable in my experience and I think I would bet heavily on PI taking the title. WAW would not surprise me *too* much. Bushfire would surprise me big time.

[Stevie Belmont]

I should have mentioned Aragorn. Had a fine year and without a doubt shpopuld get some consideration. Some of the cats are going to be close. Pine Island will probably win the Fillies. Im basing Bushfires 3 Grade I's. They were earlier in the year, but 3 of them nonetheless. Will see....

[JimbleBrimble]

I give you credit for the Bushfire logic - that's how I would vote too!

[Stevie Belmont]

Well she did win 3 Grade I's and thata should count for something. Although she was certainly not that good at the end of the year. Pine Island and Wait A while were the best as the season wound down, but you can't forget what Bushfire did early.

Tough Eclipse, will go to one of those 3 and I would be fine with that.

[angelsprite]

I know most of you won't agree with me, but I think Barbaro would have mopped the floor with Bernardini if the injury had not occurred. Barbaro had guts and a competetive spirit that would have given him the edge, not to mention a lot of power in his finishing drive.
I really thought he could have been a triple crown winner. But, they have to hold up and if they don't, they don't win the triple crown.

[JimbleBrimble]

I know most of you won't agree with me, but I think Barbaro would have mopped the floor with Bernardini if the injury had not occurred.

Possibly, and very easy to say, but that doesn't matter a bit where it concerns Eclipse Awards given to who accomplished the most.

[Savana Star Dubois]

I always thought they should have a "special eclipse" for those warriors of the game and their owners who brought so much to the sport..and created a following..years from now the names of Invasor, Jazil etc. will barely be a memory for me..but I will always remember Smarty, Afleet Alex, Lost in the Fog and Barbaro

[FOS]

hi Stevie Belmont

Thanks for spending the time and sharing your thoughts re the 2006 Eclipse(s) and Year In Review.

Sprinter- I have made a case for Discreet Cat, but based on the true sprint distance of 6 furlongs and what have you done for me lately, Thors Echo notched the award in my opinion with his late season heroics in the Breeder’s Cup Sprint and Defrancis Dash, both Grade I’s.

Talk about what have you done for me lately...that's what I might ask of the small field of horses that Discreet Cat faced in the Cigar.

I suggest that who have you ducked lately might be a befitting question re Discreet Cat. I submit that had team-DC had the confidence in him (as a sprinter) that you seem to subscribe to, he could have strutted his stuff versus TOP sprinters on BC day, and really made a case for a sprint eclipse. Instead, team-Discreet Cat decided (and wisely so, to my way of thinking) to take what looked to me to be the much easier path, and run (at what I sense is a better distance for him) in the one mile G1-Cigar against a small group of horses whose best days were arguably...days gone by.

Discreet Cat's a nice horse...but clearly he ducked the TOP competition on BC day. That said...I suggest that if Discreet Cat had run in ANY race on BC day...he would NOT have won.

He's a nice horse, but I sense that DC is destined to run in carefully selected spots...and duck the best of the best whenever possible. If he stays sound and attrition favors him, Discreet Cat might have his opportunity to garner an eclipse some day...but in 2006, he was NOT (to my way of thinking) by any stretch of the imagination the genuine TOP dog in any eclipse category.

Unless and until Discreet Cat lines up in a sprint stake (preferably a G1) versus horses that are (not were) considered TOP sprinters (on the day he loads into the gate to run against them) and he wins...DC is NOT (the way I view him) worthy serious consideration for a sprint eclipse.

As for Thor's Echo, he ducked no one and showed up and beat arguably the best sprinters in the country on BC day...and followed that up with another impressive win in the G1 DeFrancis (as you mentioned).

You might agree...quite a gamble (particularly when an eclipse title is at stake) to run in back to back Grade 1s with little time for a breather. Team-Thor's Echo had confidence in their charge...they gambled and asked him to do it...and he delivered (winning both the G1-BC Sprint and the G1-DeFrancis). Thor's Echo is hands down my choice for sprint eclipse winner 2006.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[Stevie Belmont]

Your post is both unfair and flat-out incorrect. Sheikh Mohammed ducked nobody, to say that is a fallacy. Discreet Cat never once was even considered to run in any sprint race, or attempt to win an eclipse. The plan was drawn a long time ago to run in a few races, with the Cigar Mile selected as the main goal in 2006. Than to ship him back to Dubai where he will run in the Dubai Cup as one of the main objectives of 2007.

To say he ducked anyone is ridiculous; in fact if you did any homework and looked at his races, he in fact was the horse being ducked. And that is a fact.

Sheikh Mohammed never at any time even considered running in any Breeder's Cup race with Discreet Cat. His brother owned Investor and he owns Bernardini. So why would he have interest to run in that spot? He already has a solid contender and his brother’s horse is a legitimate horse. The sprint was never an option either. If the goal was the BC, or any race in it, he would have gladly run. Not to mention his son also trained the Sprint favorite in Henny Hughes. Just because he did not run, does not mean he ducked anyone. He is owned by the same family. They had made that point clear several months ago. This team always has a well thought out plan with their horses. Sheikh Mohammed does to not duck or run from anyone, especially with a horse as talented and as classy as Discreet Cat, it’s the other way around.

And that weak five horse field you mentioned in the Cigar Mile, why do you think only five horses popped up to face Discreet Cat? The Clark on the same day drew a full field of 12 horses, several of which were cross entered in the Cigar Mile. Discreet Cat goes on to equal the mighty Easy Goers track record for the mile in the Cigar Mile in a near hand ride winning over a two time Grade I winner in Silver Train and a gutsy Badge of Silver. We will see who the real duckers are next year. I can assure you it won’t be Discreet Cat.

[FOS]

hi Stevie Belmont

"Your post is ... flat-out incorrect."

"Discreet Cat never once was even considered to run in any sprint race..."

"The sprint was never an option either."

Respectfully...the Breeders Cup Sprint was absolutely, positively under consideration for Discreet Cat.

Following is one of the many articles (this one from NTRA) that indicates that Discreet Cat's connections announced that the colt was under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

The article also includes comments from Henny Hughes' trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, and his then thoughts on Discreet Cat...including how he might fare (going 6 furlongs) versus Henny Hughes. McLaughlin also shares his views on what he believes might be Discreet Cat's best distance/s. I'll give you a hint...it's not 7 furlongs and it's not 10 furlongs.

"Sheikh Mohammed never at any time even considered running in any Breeder's Cup race with Discreet Cat."

Respectfully...you're dead wrong again.

Discreet Cat was not only absolutely, positively considered for the BC Classic...but Discreet Cat was pre-entered for the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Re Discreet Cat, I expect the plan in 2006 was to be extremely selective of when and where to race him (with the goal to [hopefully] keep him undefeated and win at least one Grade 1). I expect they'll continue to be selective (based on risk and reward) re Discreet Cat's racing career in an effort to keep him undefeated (although now that he's a G1 winner they can arguably throw some caution to the wind), and will plan his racing future with the thought in mind that his best distance might be a mile (plus or minus an eighth)...and hope also that attrition (of possible TOP rivals) favors him.

Best to you...and

Happy New Year.

Respectfully