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Kentucky Derby Profile: Hansen

April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This post is just a sneak peak! Want to learn about all of the Kentucky Derby contenders? Check out our Kentucky Derby Guide!

Hansen

Trainer: Michael J. Maker Starts: 231 Win: 54 (23.37%) Place: 45 Show: 33 Earnings: $2,185,087.00

Jockey: Ramon A. Dominguez Starts: 371 Win: 90 Place: 82 Show: 48 Earnings: $5,447,933.00

Owner:  Kendall Hansen M.D. & Sky Chai Racing

Key Races: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1st), Holy Bull Stakes (2nd), Gotham Stakes (1st), Blue Grass Stakes (2nd)

Best Speed Figures: Beyer (96 in Holy Bull & Blue Grass) BRISnet (105 in Gotham)

The speedy colt Hansen is conditioned by Mike Maker who helped develop 1999 Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic while working under four time Derby winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Maker has saddled Blue Grass Stakes winner Stately Victor (2010), Lanes End Stakes winner Dean’s Kitten (2010), Blue Grass Stakes runner up Twinspired (2011) and Lexington Stakes winner Derby Kitten (2011). His best finish was with Stately Victor who finished eighth.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez has ridden in the Kentucky Derby every year since 2004 when his first mount in the race was Hansen’s sire, Tapit. They finished ninth together after winning the Wood Memorial. Dominguez’s best finish in the Run for the Roses was second at odds of 30-1 on Bluegrass Cat in 2006.

Hansen likes to be in front. He boasts a tremendous amount of natural zip and has a very high cruising speed. He has raced without blinkers in his last two tries and his Gotham Stakes win suggests that he has calmed down enough to sit behind a horse or two.

His chances are likely to hinge on a few things. First, his demeanor is an important factor. The nearly white colt can get a little head strong and it’s imperative that he allows Dominguez to do his job. If not, he could waste himself before the top of the stretch.

Second, Hansen needs a good post position that will allow him to break into the top flight without losing too much ground.

Third, Hansen, like everyone else, will need to handle the Derby day crowd. He got worked up before the Blue Grass Stakes and will be in front of many more thousands of people this time.

A perfect situation for Hansen would see him break cleanly and set up shop right behind the sprinter Trinniberg. When that one gives up the ghost, Dominguez can put the pedal to the medal and play “catch me if you can”. The slower the fractions the better, of course.

Hansen has the advantage of a win over this track, taking last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over Union Rags. He also appears to be training exceptionally well and could be ready for a career best effort. That makes him deadly in the Kentucky Derby.

Pedigree

Tapit stands for $125k at Gainesway. That price makes him the third most expensive stallion in the state of Kentucky, behind Bernardini and Street Cry. His marquee win was the aforementioned Wood Memorial where he rallied from last to triumph by a half-length. His best progeny include:

  • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Stardom Bound
  • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly
  • West Virginia Derby winner Concord Point
  • Lady’s Secret Stakes winner Zazu
  • Alabama Stakes winner Careless Jewel
  • Hawthorne Gold Cup winner Headache
  • Haskell Invitational runner up Trappe Shot

From the above listed runners, Concord Point and Careless Jewel were the most adept at going long distances, winning against top company at 9 and 10 furlongs, respectively. Headache’s Gold Cup win was at the 10 furlongs distance. Most sons and daughters of Tapit have done their best running from 8 to 9 furlongs, but we can see that with enough talent they are able to stretch out to achieve success at the classic distances.

Hansen was produced out of the Mountaineer Park starter allowance mare Stormy Sunday. Her sire, Sir Cat, won half of his 14 starts while annexing two Grade 2 races against turf routers. His best progeny include Surf Cat and Cativa, runners that excelled in middle distance races. The sire of Sir Cat is the prolific Storm Cat. Largely regarded as one of the best stallions in the history of racing, he stood for as much as $500k per live foal. His best progeny could get route distances, but for as great as he was, Storm Cat never produced a Triple Crown race winner.

On the whole, the pedigree of Hansen rates well. He has enough stamina influences to suggest that staying the Kentucky Derby distance is within reason.

Pedigree Grade: B

Overall Grade: B

Fair Odds: 8-1

This post is just a sneak peak! Want to learn about all of the Kentucky Derby contenders? Check out our Kentucky Derby Guide!

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The Daily Derby News Blitz – April 16, 2012

April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

  • Prolific international stallion Dynaformer has been pensioned at the age of 27 after a heart complication over the weekend. The fiery son of Roberto is known for producing stars like Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, Melbourne Cup winner Americain and Stephen Foster Handicap winner Perfect Drift. We salute Three Chimneys Farm for their excellent work with the stallion. His heir apparent is Big Brown, winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown in 2008.
  • Jockey Mike Smith has had a change of heart after winning the Arkansas Derby aboard Bodemeister. Previously committed to Sunland Derby winner Daddy Nose Best, the Hall of Fame jockey will now stick with Bob Baffert’s Bodemeister. Meanwhile, Garrett Gomez has picked up the ride on Daddy Nose Best.nExpect the musical chairs of jockeys movement to continue. The next decision should come from Ramon Dominguez, who has the option of riding Wood Memorial runner up Alpha or Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Hansen.
  • Shivananda Parbhoo showed great wisdom and restraint when he revealed that Trinniberg will not go to the Kentucky Derby despite having the earnings to do so. Winner of the Swale Stakes and Bay Shore Stakes, both at seven furlongs, the speedster would have had much to overcome at Churchill Downs. Instead, he will target the Derby Trial and then could consider the Preakness Stakes.
  • Considering the latest defections, trainer Todd Pletcher is likely to get his wish that El Padrino will make the Kentucky Derby field. The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes winner was last seen finishing a dull fourth in the Florida Derby. Despite that poor run, he could be sitting on a big race after showing so much talent in the early part of 2012.
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Kendall Hansen: I’m not sure there is a horse out there that could beat Hansen.

March 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Hansen runs away in the Gotham Stakes

Hansen runs away in the Gotham Stakes

Northern Kentucky doctor Kendall Hansen isn’t worried about his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion Hansen. He thinks it’s the opposition that should be worried.

“He’s ready to run right now. At this point in time I’m not sure there is a horse out there that could beat him,” Hansen said. “Mike Maker wishes the Kentucky Derby was tomorrow. He isn’t worried about anyone else and that’s a great sign.”

The connections of the nearly white colt received an interesting invitation earlier this week. Gulfstream Park offered to send a private plane to pick up Hansen if the connections would be willing to run in the Florida Derby; a spot where he would have met rival Union Rags.

“That was unexpected, but definitely a great idea on their part,” said Hansen, who turned down the offer anyway. “Fans won’t have to wait long, though. If all goes to plan, then these colts are going to do battle again on May 5 at Churchill Downs.”

Hansen was last seen working five furlongs in 1:01.20 B over the training track at Churchill Downs. His Louisville base is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Keeneland where his next start will come in the Blue Grass Stakes. The original plan was to race in the Florida Derby and then the Wood Memorial before winding up on Kentucky’s premier preparatory race.

“In the end, we thought it was best to stay close to home,” Hansen said. “Things can go wrong when you ship long distances and it could take something out of him that might cause him to run less than his best race. Plus, we would like to race in front our hometown crowd before chasing the Roses.”

While the Kentucky Derby is the crown jewel of racing, it isn’t the end for Hansen — neither the horse nor his namesake owner — regardless of the outcome.

“There are so many possibilities with a horse like Hansen. He has the breeding to compete at the top level on the grass and I’ve definitely thought about a race like the Breeders’ Cup Mile or Turf for this year or even next,” the owner noted.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez suffered a collarbone injury on March 18, but is expected to be ready to ride Hansen in his next start in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes on April 14. Dr. Hansen gave the highest of praise to his rider and noted that the horse is so sharp Dominguez couldn’t pull Hansen up after his last-out win in the Gotham Stakes.

“Ramon’s one of the best in the game. He has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in each of the last two years and also earned more money than any other jockey in that span. That sort of thing speaks for itself,” Hansen said.

“One of the reason’s why he is so good is his mental clock. Ramon can really sense when the pace is too slow or too fast and act accordingly. That could be a factor with our horse in the Kentucky Derby.”

Hansen indicated that if Dominguez suffers a setback, the most likely rider for Hansen would become John Velazquez.

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2011 Horse of the Year: Havre de Grace

January 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Havre de Grace

2011 Horse of the Year, Havre de Grace.

Fox Hill Farm’s filly Havre de Grace was named Horse of the Year for 2011 marking the third straight year a female has taken the award and ending one of the most mediocre years of racing in recent memory.

She took the award over Acclamation who finished a well beaten second with 26 votes compared to the 166 votes that the filly gathered. Game On Dude was third with 10 votes and Cape Blanco got nine.

Fox Hill Farm’s owner Rick Porter went off the deep end just a tad in his jubilation, comparing his filly to the great Zenyatta. I’m not a Zenyatta nut, but Havre de Grace is no Zenyatta. There is really no comparison between the two. It starts with both being female Horse of the Year winners and it ends there. Trainer Larry Jones, a decidedly wonderful person, also went a bit far, calling her the “perfect racehorse“. We can give them a pass for the most part considering the occasion. We would all be over the moon too.

Havre de Grace will continue to race in 2012. This is great news for fans of horse racing. The connections plan to allow her to tackles males yet again. I’m looking forward to watching and would love to see her in the Dubai World Cup where she could face Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

Speaking of Animal Kingdom, many were surprised to see him win the Eclipse Award for Three-Year-Old Male. He took the honor by just three votes over one-turn specialist Caleb’s Posse. I disagree with this decision. Caleb’s Posse won five times, including triumphs in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Animal Kingdom, while a Derby winner, did not race past June and was only a two time winner. Regardless, both have bright futures. Animal Kingdom is the early favorite to win the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup in March.

Two-year-old male: Hansen

Two-year-old female: My Miss Aurelia

Turf male: Cape Blanco

Turf female:  Stacelita

Trainer: Bill Mott

Steeplechase: Black Jack Blues

Female Sprinter: Musical Romance

Male Sprinter: Amazombie

Older Male: Acclamation

Older Female: Havre de Grace

Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Breeder: Adena Springs
Three-year-old male: Animal Kingdom

Three-year-old female: Royal Delta

Apprentice Jockey: Kyle Frey
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez

Horse of the Year: Havre de Grace

 

Check out our friends at Paulick Report (we borrowed the above chart from them!) to learn more about the Eclipse Awards.

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Will Hansen overcome his front running style?

January 11, 2012 By 2 Comments
Hansen

Hansen

Dr. Kendall Hansen has January 29 marked on his calender. You should too. That is when the Kentucky doctor’s champion namesake will compete in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Hansen (Tapit x Storm Sunday by Sir Cat) is undefeated in three starts and has never been in any place except for first at every point of those three races. He isn’t the first colt to be in this situation, nor will he be the last. Names like Uncle Mo, War Pass and Johannesburg come to mind. They failed to live up to their three-year-old hype for various reasons. Will Hansen be the same?

Only time will tell. For now, he’s got one big obstacle to overcome and that is his running style. So far in his career he has been all speed, but the ability to rate is a skill he needs to gain; and fast.

If there was ever a time to try and get him to sit behind speed it would be in the Holy Bull Stakes. There isn’t much to lose as it’s the first race of the campaign and he has the luxury of more than enough graded stakes earnings to gain entry to the Kentucky Derby.

The ability to sit behind horses is of paramount importance if Hansen is going to wear roses in May. The break in the Kentucky Derby is like nothing else in all of horse racing and he very well might not be able to make it to the front. Personally, I’d rather find out how he will respond sooner rather than later.

All in all, I expect Hansen to continue to be a top contender for the Kentucky Derby regardless of whether or not he will relax behind horses. Hansen may end up being one of those horses that just throws down the gauntlet and never looks back.  Speed horses can and do win numerous races, but in the Kentucky Derby it will be a liability. If he is able to provide his jockey with tactical speed he comes all the more deadly. Hansen has speed, but it will take more than just that to win on the first Saturday in May.

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2011 With Anticipation Stakes

August 31, 2011 By 1 Comment

$150,000 is on the line Thursday at Saratoga in the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes for two-year-olds going 8 ½ furlongs on the turf at Saratoga.

The race is likely to have Breeders Cup implications and you can expect to see the winner in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf later this year at Churchill Downs.

Captain Webb (English Channel x Miss Mary Pat by Service Strip) has been tabbed the 3-1 morning line favorite after a flashy maiden win going the same distance as today’s race over the same track. The second place finisher in that race, Daddy Nose Best, returned to win next out against a strong group. He is owned by James Scatuorchio (he also owned the English Channel) and trained by Todd Pletcher. Not surprisingly, John Velazquez is listed to ride.

He was bet to favoritism in the debut for obvious reasons like wonderful turf breeding, top notch connections and a blazing :59 B turf move going five furlongs. He didn’t disappoint that time, but this will be a much tougher group. My natural tendency is to try to beat the favorite, but that may be tough to do in this spot.

State of Play (War Front x Valeta by Procida) probably rates the best chance to upset at 5-1. He races for Team Valor International and is trained by Graham Motion. His debut resulted in a strong win over a good field at the Spa going 5 ½ furlongs on the grass. Ramon Dominguez will be in the irons and it is likely he will put the colt on the lead.

Another interesting option is Optimizer (English Channel x Indy Pick by AP Indy) who races for D Wayne Lukas and owner Bluegrass Hall. His maiden win came against a good field at first asking. I love the way he finished up in the lane and he should have plenty of room to move forward. Robby Albarado will keep the mount.

Like I said before, it’s going to be hard to get away from the chalk here. The other two I mentioned are worth a look though.

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The Smartest Man in the Jockeys’ Room

March 21, 2011 By 10 Comments

There is nothing quite like the feeling of watching a horse loose on the lead reeling out slow fractions before kicking off to a win. This feeling only comes when you bet that horse though. If you are any other horse panic rises up in your chest as you realize your charge is too far back and wont be able to catch the lone speed. The same panic comes when a horse goes too wide or catches trouble entering the stretch.

In many cases the chances of experiencing this feeling can be removed by playing horses that have razor sharp smart jockeys on their back. Capable journeyman riders are in short supply these days and even the most experienced rider makes a bonehead move from time to time. However, if you stick with these riders you will be in great hands.

#1 Patrick Valenzuela- The 49 year old Montrose, Colorado native rides with ice in his veins and is one of the most fearless people in the entire industry. Nicknamed P-Val, this jockey has a ferocious personality that matches his style on the track. Patrick has the smarts to do the little things that will win races. He won’t force speed to rate and he doesn’t wait too long to pounce.

His best ride, or at least my personal favorite, was the 1989 Preakness Stakes. P-Val rode Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence to perfection in the Preakness Stakes. He masterfully took the lead turning for home with champion Easy Goer to his inside. Easy Goer reclaimed the lead, but P-Val had saved enough to horse retake the lead all while pinning Easy Goer to the rail. This genius ride was one of many from a jockey that has won races seven Breeders Cup races and two Triple Crown races. Other wins include the Santa Anita Handicap (twice), Santa Anita Derby (twice), Met Mile, Kentucky Oaks and the Hollywood Gold Cup. Click here to watch his 1989 Preakness win.

#2 Garrett Gomez- They say to be the best you have to beat the best and that is what Garrett Gomez and Blame did in the 2010 Breeders Cup Classic when they beat Zenyatta, arguably the greatest mare to ever step on any racetrack. Gomez timed his ride perfectly and made it to the front with just enough time to spare before the hulking super mare nearly ran Blame down. The jockey did this all while battling a shoulder injury.

Another great ride came in the 2007 Haskell Invitational when he rode the rail on Any Given Saturday before taking over in the stretch for a 4 1/2 length win. This was a special ride because in my mind the horse wasn’t as good as Hard Spun or Curlin, both whom he  beat in that race. Not just that, but the strategy employed was great as he timed the ride perfectly and saved ground. Nicknamed GoGo he has won 12 Breeders Cup races and events like the Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Travers Stakes. The smarts and tactics that Gomez employs have played a huge role in making him one of the best jockeys in America.

#3 Julien Leparoux- I remember watching him for the first time at Turfway Park. He absolutely dominated the place. The Frenchman won so many races it was almost like he was putting on a race riding clinic. Leparoux is effective on the lead, but is better when he lets his mounts lag behind and pounce late. He never panics and that is one of the best things about him. When panic happens so do bad things. Leparoux is arguably the best grass rider in the entire country and by default the world. Although he is just 27 years old he has already won five Breeders Cup races. My favorite Leparoux ride was in the 2009 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. He broke his mount, She Be Wild, third and waited for the right time to make a move. When the time came he had no room on the rail. Leparoux did what he is famous for though; he waited! It paid off as the rail opened up and She Be Wild burst through for a 3/4 length win. This victory is the epitome of a smart ride. Click here to watch it.

#4 Martin Garcia- Although he is young this guy can ride with anyone and his decision making skills are top flight. He proved his by guiding 39-1 shot Champagne d’Oro to victory in the 2010 Acorn Stakes. He broke her to the lead from the 12 hole and rationed her speed perfectly. Garcia never panicked when Buckleupbuttercup made a move for him and waited until exactly the right time to ask his mount for her best stuff when Amen Hallelujah launched her bid. Another great example of his riding ability came when he rode Lookin At Lucky to an enormous win in the Preakness Stakes. Garcia has been riding horses since he was a boy, but didn’t become a jockey until he came to the US. He cut his teeth as a jockey against Russell Baze at Golden Gate Fields. Martin Garcia doesn’t panic, he doesn’t get nervous and he always gives his best. His smarts combined with great decision making will allow him to one day be inducted to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame. Click here to watch his 2010 Acorn win.

#5 Ramon Dominguez- Has there ever been a more dominant rider in New York? Maybe so, but Ramon Dominguez is as at least as good as anyone else to ride there regularly. If you want examples of his smart moves just watch him on any given day. Dominguez really moves his mounts up. He can ride well on or off the pace and always has a shot. His best wins came in the 2004 Breeders Cup Turf (Better Talk Now) and the 2004 Wood Memorial (Tapit). Both were strong rides, but it should be noted that he was nearly disqualified after bumping  Kittens Joy in the Breeders Cup Turf. Dominguez won his first Eclipse Award in 2010 and has several strong prospects as he seeks his first Kentucky Derby win. He was second aboard Bluegrass Cat at 30-1 in 2006. Riding that long shot to a second place finish is a testament to his riding ability. Click here to watch his Wood Memorial win.

So there you have it! The above riders are my top 5 active jockeys in terms of smarts/race riding ability. Check back later for my top 5 retired jockeys. Who do you like? Do you disagree with any of my picks or feel I have left someone out? Leave a comment and speak your mind!

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Gradedstakes.com Eclipse Awards Ballot

December 28, 2010 By 6 Comments

The above photo is of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. This years Eclipse Awards are every bit as exciting as last year when she took the top spot. I didn’t get a vote, but if I did here are the horses I would’ve selected. Let’s take a look!

Two-Year-Old Male: Uncle Mo wins this in an open and shut case. The son of Indian Charlie only raced three times, but won emphatically in each start. His Breeders Cup Juvenile victory is one of the most incredible I’ve ever seen. It will be exciting to see how he fares in 2011.

Two-Year-Old Female: Awesome Feather did everything asked of her in 6 starts this year. She capped it with a Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies win. Other interesting horses include Position Limit and Turbulent Descent. All three will be strong contenders in 2011, but the Breeders Cup winner gets the nod for the Eclipse Award.

Three-Year-Old Male: Lookin At Lucky has to take this on virtue of his wins in the Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational. The son of Smart Strike has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen. The other horse here is Eskendereya. He only raced 3 times before retiring due to injury, but his win in the Wood Memorial was one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen by a sophomore runner.

Three-Year-Old Female: Blind Luck seems to know where the wire is. She won three races by a nose and another by a neck this year. Her best wins came in the Las Virgenes, Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes. She was purchased for a measly $11k in 2008. Her rival, Havre de Grace, gets an honorable mention.

Older Horse: This division is another open and shut case in favor of Blame. He is the only horse to ever beat the legendary Zenyatta and he did so in the Breeders Cup Classic. I love his style of galloping horses down. He is a truly a throwback.

Older Female: Zenyatta gets this one for the third consecutive year. Relax ladies, she won’t be around to win it next year. You will get your chance.

Male Sprinter: This division is the first one with some room for debate. Even though I picked Breeders Cup Sprint winner Big Drama to win that race, I do think others deserve consideration. My selection for this award is Majesticperfection. He won the head to head matchup with Big Drama and won twice as many races in total. He is one of the best sprinters I’ve seen in many years and its a damn shame he was injured and forced to retire. Smiling Tiger had a great year winning two Grade 1 races and missing a third by a nose.

Female Sprinter: This was a tough pick, but I went with Dubai Majesty over Franny Freud. The latter had her season ended by an injury after taking the Prioress. Dubai Majesty finished her year with a win in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. That put her over the top.

Male Turf Horse: It was a pretty sorry year for this division. I’ll give the nod to Champ Pegasus on virtue of his runner up performance in the Breeders Cup Turf. Rosario was bold to put him on the lead as this horse closed from 19 back to win a race earlier this year. His best win came in the Clement L. Hirsch. Most will probably go with Gio Ponti here and he deserves a look after running behind Goldikova in the Breeders Cup Mile.

Female Turf Horse: This is an easy pick. Although Goldikova only raced once in North America she deserves the award. The filly looked like she had a rocket in her rear end as she vaulted past them all in the Breeders Cup Mile. It was one of the best efforts all year and by FAR the best from this division. The ill fated Tuscan Evening gets an honorable mention for going a perfect 6 for 6.

Horse of the Year: Please refer to this post.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher wins this one in a rout. He took the Kentucky Derby and won much more money than any other trainer. He also took more Grade 1 races and more graded races overall. Bob Baffert, John Sadler, John Sheriffs and Steve Asmussen deserve mentions. Among the lower tier trainers Jamie Ness and Joe Woodard both had great years. Pletcher is the reigning king though.

Jockey: Although he didn’t win as many graded races as some, Ramon Dominguez is very deserving of this award. He rides circles around most of the New York colony and won more money than any other jockey this year. Dominguez is a great tactician and extremely underrated.

Apprentice: I don’t have a very strong opinion here, but I’ll go with top money earner and wins leader Omar Moreno. The young rider’s life is finally looking up after living through a civil war as a child. Click here to read more.

Owner: Jerry and Ann Moss deserve this one for keeping Zenyatta around. They did what was good for the game and we owe them a debt that can never be repaid. This award would be a good start though.

Stallion: I don’t have an opinion in this category, but Malibu Moon and Distorted Humor were 1-2 in wins earnings.

So there you have it, my picks for the 2010 Eclipse Awards. Official results will be released on January 17, 2011. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts. I’d love to discuss the topic  and hear what you think!

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My 2009 Eclipse Award Ballot; Rachel Alexandra HOY

January 7, 2010 By 6 Comments

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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