Eclipse award for Sprinter?
 

Okay, sick to death about the Rachel vs Zenyatta thing. Its not even been 48hours and its already beaten to death.

I wanted everybody's opinion on who should get sprinter of the year and as a related question, do you consider 1 mile a sprint?

The reason I ask is because the Cigar Mile looms just a couple of weeks away and to some who consider this distance "a sprint", it could go a long way to determine who gets this award.

I dont think Dancing in Silks gets it off of one major win and a couple other cheap wins, and you cant really give it to California Flag as he didnt win enough. Zensational won nothing but phony short field races out west and everybody knows it.

Wouldnt Kodiak Kowboy be an easy choice if he were to win the Cigar Mile?
Bribon could also be a candidate if he were to add this prestigious race to his Met Mile win.

Thoughts?

The Cigar mile isnt a sprint and shouldnt have any bearing on a sprint award.

I agree with you about Bribon. How about Fabulous Strike for older Turf horse ?

How about Quality Road if he were to win the Cigar Mile? In his case, a one-turn trifecta of the Fountain of Youth, Amsterdam and Cigar Mile would be pretty impressive.

You could probably make a similiar case for Vineyard Haven. Two grade I wins, plus an awesome performance in the King's Bishop.

I dont think anybody considers the Fountin of Youth a sprint. But yes, that would be an impressive trifecta. QR's win in the FOY was awesome.

Vineyard Haven too.

I wonder how the eclipse voters see the distance of one mile? Is there any strict rule/guideline governing what a sprint is in the eyes of the voters?

It would be close but I'd give the nod to Gio Ponti over Fabulous Strike.

A mile isnt a sprint. There are no rules or guidelines for the voting.

Let me put it this way, the difference between 6 furlongs and a mile is the same as the difference between a mile and 1 1/4. A mile simply isnt a sprint regardless of one turn or no turns.

Why wouldnt Informed Decision get votes?

I think shes going to win it. She deserves it.

she'd be my choice

if not her because she didn't face the boys then Fab Strike, who was nothing short of fantastic all year.

Completely forgot about Informed Decision. Shes got a very good shot at it.
Good one.

I love Fabulous Strike but he lost 2 Grade Ones to the same horse (Kodiak Kowboy). Factor in Kodiak Kowboy won a minor race in Philadelphia and had a very close 2nd in the Forego, and he'd be my choice very easily over Fabulous Strike.

Maybe the 2 could possibly meet in this year's Fall Highweight on Thanksgiving Day at Aqueduct. I'd imagine that would be the next logical start for the defending champion?

fyi one mile is not and has never been a sprint. that is the first thing they taught us at the RTIP..l

I have other reasons to be a fan of Kodiak and I'd push him up, I'd be happy with either of them winning it. Nobody really stood out besides Informed Decision, to be honest.

Without strict guidelines, races like the Cigar and Met Miles have been the basis for Eclipse Award votes for champion sprinter. In 2007, Discreet Cat finished second in the voting behind Thor's Echo. His only NA stakes wins were in the Jerome and Cigar Mile.

In 2004, after victories in the Carter, Met Mile and Vosburgh, Pico Central's chance to beat Speightown for the award was largely viewed as being dependent upon his ability to win the Cigar Mile to cap his campaign. After Pico lost to Lion Tamer, Speightstown was voted champion sprinter.

In 2003 Aldebberan won this award and his biggest win of the year was the Met Mile. Although that year, one can make an argument he would have still won the award even without the win. He did have significant wins in the Forego, Tom Fool and Churchill Downs Handicap.

Just food for thought.

Don't they have a FM Sprinter award for Informed Decision?

Anyways, Zensational and/or Vineyard Haven still have the Malibu on the calendar.

Good point. I always forget about the Malibu because it seems like next year. The really good racing shuts down after Cigar Mile day. By the time the Malibu gets here, it seems like the start of a whole new year.

If Zensational won that, I would assume he would get the award.... 4 Grade 1wins should be enough.

It was wrong then and still is.