SunShine Millions, Santa Monica, and Forward Gal Selections

I’ve updated the “Free Horse Racing Picks” page with my selections for this weekend. I’ve picked several SSM races along with the Santa Monica and Forward Gal. I plan on adding other races tomorrow. Most of the races this weekend are very tough. I don’t feel very strong about any particular pick, but if I had to pick one it would be Compari in the Sunshine Millions Classic. He is a win machine and has proved he can handle the distance. Garrett Gomez will be in the irons and the colt will offer good value because of the presence of The Usual Q.T. who will be entering this race after a lengthy win streak on the turf.

The Usual Q.T. looks like a logical pick and probably should win the race. However, he will be a short price and Compari could be comprable in talent. I don’t think we really know how good he is yet. This will certainly be the acid test. He is in good hands with Gomez and I’m willing to roll the dice at a decent price.

I really like She Be Wild and I had her when she won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies, but I feel she is very vulnerable in the Forward Gal Stakes. I expect her to be heavily bet. She could bounce in her first race on traditional dirt. The filly must also contend with a layoff. I’ll look to Sister Resistor in that race. She has a nice closing kick and should be a good price with Kent Desormeaux in the irons.

In the SSM Turf I went with Duke of Mischief. I like the number at 8-1. He closed very well when he won last out despite dreadfully slow fractions. He looked very good heading into last years Haskell, but hasn’t really panned out since then. I believe the talent is still there and he will show us how good he really is in this event.

The Santa Monica is arguably the deepest and toughest race of the weekend. There are so many good fillies and mares in the race and any number of them could win. I took distance specialist Evita Argentina who won last out in the La Brea at just over 4-1. She has a great closing move, but I fear there may not be enough speed for her. I’m going to cross my fingers and hope a speed due develops.

Who do you like this weekend?

Justin Vitek, jockey, dead at 36

I was saddened when I learned that journeyman jockey Justin Vitek had succombed to acute myelogenous leukemia early Thursday morning. He was diagnosed with the illness two years ago. I had a chance to meet and have a brief chat with Justin a short time after he received his diagnosis. He seemed in good spirits despite the hand he had been dealt. After meeting him I posted links and mailing information for the Justin Vitek Fund.

Vitek won 763 races from 8,209 mounts and he earned in excess of $9.88 million. He was able to ride four times while his cancer was in remission. I can remember like yesterday watching him ride Model’s Memo at Turfway Park in early 2009. The biggest win of his career came in the 2000 Grade 2 Goldenrod Stakes aboard Miss Pickums. Justin Vitek is survived by his six year old daughter Bree and his mother Kathy.

If you are interested in sending money to the Justin Vitek Fund the mailing address is listed below. I’m sure the money could be used to help his young daughter or to help cover funeral costs. Horse racing will miss you Justin!

The Justin Vitek Fund

c/o JoLynn Johnston

5394 Taylor Mill Rd.

Taylor  Mill, Ky 41015

Click here for a DRF story about Justin Vitek by Marty McGee.

Synthetic Tracks reviewed by Bill Finley for TDN Magazine

While browsing the news today I came across a piece by Bill Finley for TDN Magazine. It is titled “Ground Control: The (REAL) Truth about Synthetic Tracks”. Finley is a strong proponent of synthetic surfaces and he uses the article as a platform to dispel rumors about the surfaces. He makes good use of statistical figures and does a good job of reasoning that the tracks have saved the lives of horses. I can agree with Finley; to an extent.

What is good for me may not necessarily be good for you. Horses are much safer competing on Poly Track in a very cold place like Turfway Park. This may or may not be true for the same horses at Santa Anita, Keeneland, or Del Mar. It must be considered that the cold weather in Florence, KY makes dirt at Turfway Park less safe. Adding Poly Track there made perfect sense. People quickly jumped to conclusions after seeing a decline in injuries and fatalities at Turfway. I’ve listed below a few that I have problems with.

• Richard Shapiro acted hastily and without enough data and evidence when he mandated that all California tracks install a synthetic surface. I believe his heart was in the right place, but from a logical sense these tracks shouldn’t have been forced on California until more data was available.
• Tracks that quickly decided to install synthetic surfaces did not consider variables such as the cold weather at Turfway Park, and the fact that they run mostly cheap horses there. I’m not a veterinarian or a trainer, but I would think that cheap horses are more susceptible to injury in the first place.

I plan on going into this subject further when I have more time, but for now I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. Click here to read Bill Finley’s article.

Papa Clem to stand at Legacy Ranch in California

Recent winner of the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes, Papa Clem, has been retired due to a minor injury and will stand for $7,500 at Legacy Ranch in California. He is a son of leading sire Smart Strike who has also produced Curlin, English Channel, and Lookin at Lucky. His mare, Miss Houdini, is a Grade 1 winning daughter of Grade 1 winning sire Belong To Me and multiple Grade 1 winning mare Magical Maiden. Shares of the stallion are being sold for $40,000.

Papa Clem’s best win unquestionably came in the Arkansas Derby where he triumphed in a stunning stretch duel over Old Fashioned. He exited that race to post a strong 4th place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He ended his three-year-old campaign with a third place finish in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. He has a strong pedigree and was obviously a great runner. I expect him to do well at stud.

2007 Breeders Cup Mile winner Kip Deville is recovering well from a deadly fight with laminitis at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. It is still very early and it will be a fight for his life, but it’s hard not to be encouraged by good signs. I wish him all the best. Here is what IEAH President Michael Iavarone had to say about Kipper:

“Every day has been better and better for him. He is walking around well, eating well, and is full of himself. He is clearly headed in the right direction, but it is important to never get too excited.”

On a more disheartening note, $2.2 million auction purchase Kinsella was euthanized after sustaining an injury during a workout on Santa Anita’s Pro Ride surface. The son of Mr. Greeley posted his best performance when he finished third in the Grade 3 Bryan Station over the turf at Keeneland in the spring of 2009. I hate reading about the death of our equine athletes who give us everything on the track. The only reward they ask for is a bucket of oats or an apple. They are the best athletes in the world. Every time I read news on the horse racing industry I cross my fingers and hope I won’t come across a story like this one.  Below is a quote from Team Valor International:

“We breezed him, and he finished the work right at the finish line,” said Team Valor’s Barry Irwin. “The injury to his front leg started at the cannon bone and went right through the sesamoids. They were shattered, and we put him down right there.”

Free Pick for 1/25/09; Fair Grounds 6th race

Past performances for this race can be found at www.drf.com/ under the Race of the Day section. The race is for three-year-old fillies at the distance of 5.5 furlongs on the turf. It is an OC50/N1X event. This is an interesting race, and I must admit that turf sprints are hardly my forte. However, I’ll make my top pick Winning Tale at odds of 5-1. She has run into some really good horses including Delta Princess winner Quiet Temper, Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies winner She Be Wild, and Santa Ynez winner Amen Hallelujah. She will be getting a significant relief in class today. Jockey Eddie Martin Jr was aboard when she finished 2nd in the $100k La Senorita and will have the mount in this race also.

Winning Tale has a strong pedigree being a daughter of Tale of the Cat. Trainer Bret Calhoun connected at 19% with jockey Eddie Martin last year. She ran poorly last out when trying a dirt route for the first time, but I’m willing to put a line through that race. Turf is clearly her preferred surface. I expect her to get a nice trip behind the pacesetters and pounce turning for home.

Quiet Class deserves a look at 8-1 from the Ralph Nicks barn. Fransico Torres will regain the mount. He guided the filly to a first out victory at Keeneland at six furlongs over the Poly Track. She ran poorly last out when trying a turf route, but I expect a better effort here cutting back in distance. I’d hook her with my top selection Winning Tale in the exacta.

Good luck and lets hope Winning Tale can get it done!

Breeders Cup Classic winner and undefeated mare Zenyatta to race in 2010!

Trainer John Sheriffs confirmed what many of us suspected today when he said that champion mare Zenyatta will race again and put her perfect 14 for 14 record on the line in 2010. She last competed in the Breeders Cup Classic where she closed with a furious kick to rush past Gio Ponti. Owners Jerry and Ann Moss have said they are taking things race to race just as they have in the past.

One must think they are going to target new things. I could see the mare heading to Dubai to compete in the Dubai World Cup. I also must speculate about the chances of her facing Rachel Alexandra. I think the win in the Classic may have emboldened Zenyatta’s connections. I’m going to go on record right now and say the race will happen this year. I could be wrong, but I hope with all my being that it does happen for the sake of the sport.

What are your thoughts on this big news?

Video Preview of Grade 2 San Fernando & Santa Ynez Stakes from Santa Anita Park

Enjoy and feel free to share your thoughts!

San Fernando selection: Papa Clem 3-1

Santa Ynez selection: Amen Hallelujah 3-1

Horse Racing lessons apply to everyday life

Horse racing is a very complex sport with various plots and subplots. It is very much like life in many ways. Horses are like people in many ways. Every horse has its own unique personality. I’ve learned a lot of things from thoroughbred racing that can be applied in real life situations. Let’s take a look at a few.

#1) Horses that break poorly are often eliminated at the start; but not always. A bad start in a horse race and a bad start in life will not prevent those with supreme determination from finding the winners circle. Whether Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes or projected first round pick Mardy Gilyard who was homeless at one point in his collegiate career, getting back on track is possible for those with the spirit and grit.

#2) No matter how great the odds, everyone has a shot. Mine That Bird shocked the world when he slipped up the rail to a powerful win in the Kentucky Derby. Giacomo also won the Run for the Roses at impossibly long odds. The same holds true in everyday life. Who would’ve ever thought that a black man named  Barack Obama would be President of the United States of America? Love him or hate him, the odds were a million to one.

#3) Age takes its toll on all of us. There is no avoiding father time. However, just because your old doesn’t mean you can’t do great things! Look at John Henry. The famous gelding won the Arlington Million and was Horse of the Year at the ripe old age of 9. Cloudy’s Knight was a desperately close second in the Breeders Cup Marathon last year at the age of 9. Brett Favre is having the season of his life. He won the Super Bowl when I  was in kindergarten. Who would’ve thought his next Super Bowl triumph might possibly come when I was in college? Certainly not I. While I’m sure most of us would prefer to be in our prime, it is still possible to do very great things in the latter stages of life.

#4) Sometimes making a few changes is all that is need to do your best. Many horses can’t run a lick on dirt but are lights out when you put them on the grass. Others can’t run well over long distances, but are speed demons at sprint distances. Furthermore some horses aren’t using the most optimal running style or equipment. We all remember what happened when Calvin Borel took Mine That Bird off the lead and decided to close in the Kentucky Derby. The next time you encounter trouble try and think objectively about what you can do differently to solve the problem.

#5) The people you surround yourself with are very important. Many horses have done poorly for one trainer or jockey but for some reason respond very well to another jockey or trainer. I hate to keep coming back to the same example, but this is very true for Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird.

Can you think of any lessons that horse racing has taught you which can be applied in everyday situations? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Bettor Friendly Tracks; where to get the most bang for your buck!

Horse bettors are presented with a million different variables on any given day. There are almost always at least 10 tracks to bet at any given moment. There are a minimum of 11 “traditional” wagers that can be made. These include Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, and the Pick 6. Many circumstances are beyond the bettor’s control. Tracks can come up sloppy. Turf courses can be rated good or soft. Jockeys can fall off their mount. These things are uncontrollable, but we as bettors are able to control certain variables such as takeout. Will I place my wagers at the track with 25% exacta takeout, or the one with 18.5% takeout? Will I give my business to the track that has large and competitive fields, or the track that has small fields with many favorites finding the winners circle?

There are many factors to consider when deciding which track offers the best bang for the buck. The number one factor is size and competitiveness of the fields. If favorites are winning a disproportionate amount of races it will be hard to make money. If the majority of races at a track have only 6-8 horses or even less then exotics will pay little to nothing unless a huge long shot is able to win and the favorite runs out of the money. The wagering menu is also an important factor. Dime superfectas offer great value in fields of 10 horses or more. The same can be said for the 50-cent trifecta. Rolling Pick 3’s and the Pick 4 and 6 wagers offer great value for those who are able to string together several winners in a row. Takeouts must also be taken into consideration when making your decision. Whether you realize it or not, YOU have a choice when it comes to where you will bet your hard earned money. Let’s take a look at the top five bettor friendly tracks in the United States along with some honorable mentions.

#1 Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)- It was a tough decision, but the storied Churchill Downs ranks as the most bettor friendly racetrack in the entire United States. Whether it’s the beautiful scenery behind the legendary twin spires, low takeouts, or full fields, gamblers cannot go wrong with Churchill Downs. Home to the Kentucky Derby, this track is beloved by many fans. The Run for the Roses is one of the best betting races you will find, but there is much more to Churchill Downs than just a single race. One of the things I love best about Churchill Downs is the “real dirt”. While many gamblers have no problem with synthetic tracks, I find them harder to handicap and I know a lot of people out there would agree with me. Regular dirt races are much easier to handicap, and thus easier for gamblers to make money. The second thing I love about Churchill Downs is the diversity in race types. Churchill Downs is one of the only tracks I can think of where you might see low level claimers and Grade 1 winners compete on the same day on a regular basis.

The takeouts at Churchill Downs are very reasonable. The track keeps 16% of the Win-Place-Show pools, and 19% of all exotic pools. The amount of money in the pools is among the highest in the nation due to Churchill Downs popularity and strong racing. Their wager menu is very strong. They offer 50 cent Trifectas, Pick 3’s, and Pick 4’s. They also have the very popular dime superfecta wager. These wagers shouldn’t be underestimated. They allow bettors to stretch their bankroll and offer more bang for your buck. Average field size at Churchill Downs is 8.28 according to information provided by the Horseplayers Association of North America. I also like Churchill Downs because of their very useful advanced deposit wagering service (www.twinspires.com). Wagering online is very convenient and has many benefits, but we will save that discussion for another time. Churchill Downs has set the bar for other tracks when it comes to treating the bettor well.

#2 Keeneland (Lexington, Kentucky)- While the Kentucky racing circuit certainly has problems that it needs to address, the top two tracks when it comes to wagering lie in the Bluegrass State. Keeneland is one of the premier meets in horse racing. The beautiful location combined with the highest quality of racing makes Keeneland a must visit for all horse racing fans. The feature race in the spring is the Bluegrass Stakes, which has produced countless Kentucky Derby winners. It is just one of many excellent races at Keeneland. The takeout rate of 16% for Win-Place-Show wagers and 19% on exotic wagers is very reasonable. The takeout rates in Kentucky are among the best in the entire nation. Keeneland is similar to Churchill Downs in many ways. Both have top notch racing and they share the same takeout rates. They even offer most of the same wagers. The place where they part the most is in their racing surfaces. Keeneland has Polytrack while Churchill Downs still has traditional dirt.

Many bettors often complain about the trickiness of handicapping Keeneland due to its Polytrack surface. While it can be difficult at times, it isn’t impossible to figure out. For those that are baffled by the Polytrack, Keeneland offers a complete database of information about the Polytrack. It is available for free on their website and is titled “PolyCapping”.  There is an abundance of valuable information available at www.keeneland.com, and it is all free.  Other resources available online are the Winners Book, and Clocker’s Comments. The Winners Book contains information about every horse that won in the previous meet. Some of the information included is the winning jockey, post time odds, morning line odds, and much more. Clockers Comments is one of the most valuable resources you will find anywhere. The clocker at Keeneland makes notes for every horse that works there. This information is invaluable, particularly when handicapping maiden races with first time starters. The final thing I like about Keeneland is their excellent contests. They have handicapping contests quite frequently both on site and online. I recommend any handicapper that wants a challenge to give these contests a try. Keeneland and Churchill are neck and neck for first and second. You can’t go wrong with either track. Keeneland is a credit to the entire racing industry.

#3 Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas)- While Keeneland and Churchill Downs clearly set the standard for doing right by the bettor, Oaklawn Park isn’t too far behind. The facilities at Oaklawn are top of the line and will put a smile on even the most well traveled track enthusiast. The feature race at Oaklawn is the Arkansas Derby. It is a great betting race and has presented us with many future great horses such as Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and Curlin just to name a few. Oaklawn is also home to the Apple Blossom, a Grade 1 race won by potential Horse of the Year Zenyatta in 2008. The takeout rates at Oaklawn are solid at 19% for Win-Place-Show and 21% for exotic wagers. The average field size is 9.04 according to data gathered by the Horseplayers Association of North America. This is a solid number and ranks Oaklawn in the top tier of all tracks for that statistic. The pool sizes are strong and average over $100k per race.

Oaklawn offers both the 50 cent trifecta and dime superfecta wagers. These wagers help bettors to obtain value, especially when making bets on races that have large fields. The track has benefited from increased purses thanks to an onsite casino. Increasing the purses subsequently lead to better horses racing at this track. Gamblers are able to join the Oaklawn Park Winner’s Circle Player’s Club. Members are rewarded for wagering at Oaklawn and can use the points they earn to buy things like a Daily Racing Form, food, or cash. Oaklawn has some of the finest race calling in the entire country thanks to track announcer Terry Wallace. He has delivered race calls for 36 years and hasn’t missed a single race at Oaklawn since 1975. His calls are some of the best around, and he has called 19,621 races at Oaklawn without missing a beat. While Oaklawn is a top notch track there are a few things I would like to see them improve upon. Their website is lacking and doesn’t even begin to come close to Keeneland. Other than that and a few other small details they are doing a wonderful job. There is a reason they call Oaklawn Park the Saratoga of the South; they treat the horseman and the bettor very well. Owner Charles Cella has always maintained that Oaklawn is about the horse, and he is making good on that promise.

#4 Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, California)- There is a reason that Santa Anita has hosted the last two Breeders Cup World Championships. This track is one of the finest in the entire world. Aptly named “The Great Race Place”, Santa Anita is home to the “Big Cap”, better known as the Santa Anita Handicap, and the Santa Anita Derby. Both are Grade 1 events that attract some of the finest horses in their divisions. This track has some of the best takeout ratings around. Their Win-Place-Show takeout is just 15.43%, ranking them in the top five of all tracks in North America for that category. The exotic takeout is a bit higher than some at 20.68%, but is still more than reasonable. The average field size is about average at 8.53 horses per race. Santa Anita offers the dime superfecta wager, but at this point in time does not offer 50 cent trifectas or 50 cent Pick 4’s. That is something I would like to see change in the near future.

One of my favorite reasons to bet Santa Anita is the $2 minimum Pick 6 wager. It isn’t uncommon for the wager to pay in excess of $100,000. If you are able to string together six winners in a row, you will be handsomely rewarded. The difficulty of the wager, combined with the massive amounts of money in the pool allows this to happen. The Super High 5 wager offered at Santa Anita represents another chance for a huge score. To a hit a Super High 5 the bettor must pick the first five finishers in a given race. It’s hard enough to hit a trifecta these days, so hitting the High 5 will almost always result in a huge pay day. Santa Anita’s website has Pick 6 carryover alerts for all tracks on the southern California circuit. Santa Anita is the perfect destination for the handicapper seeking the score of a lifetime.

#5 Gulfstream Park (Hallandale, Florida)- Home to the SunShine Millions, Florida Derby, and Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park is a top notch track that bettors love. Due in large part to the excellent weather, this track has plenty of great horses to bet on when it runs from January to April. Winners of the Donn Handicap can often be found in the Dubai World Cup later in the year, and the same can be said for the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Gulfstream has excellent field size, averaging 9.07 horses per race according to the Horseplayers Association of North America. The takeouts for Win-Place-Show are acceptable at 17%. The trifecta and superfecta takeouts are too high at 25%. The Pick 6 takeout is 15%, and all other wagers are 20%.

I really like the takeout numbers for Gulfstream, minus the trifecta and superfectas. Those large numbers can really take a bite out of your payoffs. Gulfstream currently accepts the Dime Superfecta and 50 cent Pick 4 wagers. These wagers offer good value, but the excessive superfecta takeout means I’d rather play that wager at another track. The Good Luck Players Club is a nice thing for onsite bettors. It allows customers to accrue points for every wager they make, and the points can be spent on various items. Overall I was disappointed with the usefulness of their website. Keeneland clearly sets the standard in this area, and most racks have a lot of catching up to do. On the whole, Gulfstream is a good track to wager on, but it has some work to do in order to catch up to the top four.

Honorable Mentions:

Del Mar- I love this track, and I could find little wrong with it. However, I felt it was just a bit lower than Santa Anita in terms of quality. Where the turf meets the surf, Del Mar is one of the best tracks in the country and bettors can’t go wrong with this one.

Saratoga- The Spa is a great track for win bettors, but the excessive trifecta, superfecta, Pick 3 and Pick 4 takeouts caused me to leave them out of the top five. The pools always have tons of money in them, and the quality of racing is almost unparalleled. If you’re going to bet in New York, then Saratoga is the place to do so.

Hoosier Park- This track has great field size and low takeouts. However the pools are small in comparison to the big boys, and I believe in betting into larger pools. This typically results in larger payouts. Hoosier should be the top pick for anyone seeking to bet on a smaller track.

Evangeline Downs- In my experience this track is a graveyard for favorites. Evangeline often has very large fields over 10 horses and it’s never a surprise to see a huge long shot find the winners circle. If you like making win bets on horses at big odds then look no further than Evangeline Downs.

Overall it is clear that Kentucky comes out in front when it comes to giving bettors the best bang for their buck. Churchill Downs and Keeneland are far ahead of all of their competition overall. Santa Anita is clearly the place to be if you are looking for a life-changing score. Oaklawn and Gulfstream are both excellent meets that cater to players that like traditional dirt racing and excellent fields. While takeout, field size and field quality are very important I advise you to not lose sight of the reason you are wagering. I think I can speak for the majority of horseplayers when I say we bet the horses because it is something that we love dearly. Stay within your comfort zone and remember the most important rule; have fun.

*I would like to give a special thanks to HANA (Horseplayers Association of North America) for the excellent work that they do and for gathering a large portion of information about the tracks and making it available on their website. If you would like to access their track information chart that includes takeout rates and much more visit: http://www.horseplayersassociation.org/hanatrackratingsbyoverallscore.html.

My 2009 Eclipse Award Ballot; Rachel Alexandra HOY

The Eclipse Award nominees are finally out. The Eclipse Awards are the highest honor in thoroughbred racing. Winners are voted on by the people at the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Assocation), Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers Assocation. I wish that I could have a say, but that is not meant to be this year. Perhaps in the future I will get a chance. Here’s a look at who I would pick in each category. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Horse of the Year: Rachel Alexandra- This one is a no brainer for me. The three-year-old filly won 8 races and 5 Grade 1 events this year. She beats the boys 3 times, including in the Preakness where she became the first horse to ever win from the 13 post position. She left Summer Bird in her wake when she took the Haskell Invitational. The two times that she faced her gender in Grade 1 events this year she won by a combined 39 1/2 lengths. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro even beat older males when she took down the Woodward Stakes. Her campaign this year not only makes her Horse of the Year, but the greatest three-year-old filly in the history of the sport.

Two-Year-Old Male: Lookin’ At Lucky- This is an easy choice. “Lucky” is one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby and rightfully so. He couldn’t have won any easier last out in the CashCall Futurity where he beat fellow nominee Noble’s Promise. Vale of York can’t get my nod because I don’t believe in giving an Eclipse Award on the basis of a single race.

Two-Year-Old Female: She Be Wild- The Wayne Catalano filly got a perfect ride to slip up the rail and win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. She also ran a strong race to finish second in the Alcaibidies this year. Blind Luck and Hot Dixie are also nominated. I could easily envision both of those fillies being better when its all said and done, but at this point in time it has to go to She Be Wild. I feel like Hot Dixie Chick is the one to watch out of these three. I look forward to watching all of these fillies leading up to next years Kentucky Oaks.

Three-Year-Old Male: Summer Bird- This is an easy pick. The son of Birdstone took the Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup this year. He also bested Mine That Bird and Quality Road in head to head matchups. I feel like at this point in time Quality Road has surpassed him, but based on their 2009 resumes Summer Bird was clearly the better horse.

Three-Year-Old Filly: Rachel Alexandra- Do I really need to say more? Check out the Horse of the Year section above for more information on this filly.

Older Male: Gio Ponti- This is a highly competitive division although 2009 was a down year for the older horses. I’ll go with Gio Ponti on the virtue of 4 Grade 1 victories and a runner up performance when switching surfaces in the Breeders Cup Classic. Einstein put together a good year, but lost twice to Gio Ponti. I feel like if Einstein had won the Donn and Clark he could’ve got my vote. I’m excited to watch Gio Ponti compete in 2010.

Older Female: Zenyatta- Anyone who doesn’t vote for Zenyatta to be Champion Older Female deserves to have their voting priveleges revoked. While she was lightly raced and beat soft fields most of the year, she answered the bell in the Breeders Cup Classic. The five-year-old mare would be a serious threat for Horse of the Year in my mind if she had taken on tougher competition other than in the Classic and won outside of California.

Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy- If you had asked me earlier in the year, I would’ve said Zensational was a shoo-in. However, he couldn’t get the job done in the Breeders Cup Sprint. Kodiak Kowboy skipped the race, but had wins in the Carter, Vosburgh, and Cigar Mile in 2009. He only finished off the board once in 2009. Retired now at the age of 5, this horse was extremely consistent throughout his career. It’s rare that you find a horse that can win at the top level at 2, 3, and 4.

Female Sprinter: Informed Decision- She had her doubters in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but she dismissed Ventura en route to an impressive win. In my eyes, that race sealed the title for her. She won 6 of 7 races in 2009, including 3 Grade 1 races. She is a polytrack specialist, and I would never bet against her on that surface. Informed Decision was also tough on “real” dirt where she won the Humana Distaff, but her only loss came on the surface in the Ballerina Stakes. Her 2009 campaign will be hard to equal in 2010.

Male Turf Horse: Gio Ponti- I’d like to give the nod to Presious Passion, but Gio Ponti had the better year. He has nearly unbeatable on the grass this year.

Female Turf Horse: Ventura- While she couldn’t get it done on Breeders Cup day, this mare was very consistent in 2009. She won two Grade 1 races on the turf this year. Her best performance came in the Woodbine Mile. I’d love to give the nod to Goldikova or Midday, but one race doesn’t make a year.

Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss- You have to give this couple the award after they stepped up to the plate and entered Zenyatta in the Breeders Cup Classic. Regardless of whether or not Zenyatta wins Horse of the Year, this took guts. I salute them for stepping up and helping the sport.

Breeder: I’m fairly ignorant to this category so I will refrain from commenting.

Trainer:  Bob Baffert- There is something to be said for a guy that finishes 3rd in earning behind a guy who has nearly 6 times as many starts as he does. Bob Baffert is the most prolific trainer in thoroughbred racing right now. Anything he touches turns to gold. He had a great 2009 thanks to Indian Blessing, Lookin at Lucky, Gabby’s Golden Goose, Pioneerof The Nile, and many more. I predict 2010 will be even better.

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez- This was one of the toughest picks I had to make. Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, and Julien Leparoux all had wonderful years. I had to go with Ramon Dominguez. He dominated with a massive 23.6% winning percentage and he finished in the money 56% of the time. He amassed earnings of 18,348,422 for 2009. He won the Spring/Fall riding title at Belmont Park, and also took the title at Saratoga. I congratulate him in an excellent 2009 campaign.

Apprentice Jockey: Christian Santiago-Reyes- I’m a big follower of California racing, and I love betting this guy. He has broke into the big time fast and he is here to stay. He is fearless in the irons and I expect to see him winning big time races very soon.

Who do you like to win an Eclipse Award? Leave a comment and lets discuss!

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