2011 Eclipse Awards Finalists
 

2011 Eclipse Awards divisional finalists

2-year-old male
Creative Cause
Hansen
Union Rags

2-year-old female
Grace Hall
My Miss Aurelia
Stephanie’s Kitten

3-year-old male
Animal Kingdom
Caleb’s Posse
Shackleford

3-year-old female
It’s Tricky
Plum Pretty
Royal Delta

Older male
Acclamation
Game On Dude
Tizway

Older female
Awesome Maria
Blind Luck
Havre de Grace

Male sprinter
Amazombie
Caleb’s Posse
Regally Ready

Female sprinter
Hilda’s Passion
Musical Romance
Sassy Image

Male turf
Acclamation
Cape Blanco
St Nicholas Abbey

Female turf
Dubawi Heights
Perfect Shirl
Stacelita

Steeplechase
Black Jack Blues
Decoy Daddy
Tax Ruling

Owner
Midwest Thoroughbreds
Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Team Valor

Breeders
Adena Springs
Brereton Jones
Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Trainer
Bob Baffert
Bill Mott
Todd Pletcher

Jockey
Javier Castellano
Ramon Dominguez
John Velazquez

Apprentice jockey
Ryan Curatolo
Kyle Frey
Rosario Montanez

2011 Eclipse Awards who should win

2-year-old male: Hansen
2-year-old female: My Miss Aurelia
3-year-old male: Animal Kingdom
3-year-old female: Royal Delta

Older male: Acclamation
Older female: Havre de Grace
Male sprinter: Amazombie
Female sprinter: I have no idea

Male turf: Cape Blanco
Female turf: Perfect Shirl
Steeplechase: Black Jack Blues

I don't know what more this horse has to do to win this year...

No one else deserves it. Period.

What, no HOY finalists?

More than 3 horses got a vote.

Never Retreat isn't even a finalist in her division.

That's ridiculous.

Midwest Thoroughbreds, really?

Are you suggesting 5 Graded Stake wins over the course of a full year of campaigning is more meaningful than a 28-1 Breeders' Cup win?

Heretic!

They always wait til the night of to announce HOY finalists. I don't see what 3+ horses getting votes would have to do with anything. I'm sure other categories had more than 3 nominees. I guess they figure HOY finalists would also be finalists in some other category and show up to the dinner based on that.

Ridiculously, there is a re-vote coming for Apprentice because stats sent out for Montanez included his post-bug journeyman results.

(I'll reserve my comments for radio next week. Some voter/pundits really distinguished themselves in their discussion of this topic earlier today.)

Honestly Steve, that's probably the right thing to do. Let's face it, I'm guessing that some voters aren't too savy, so most of the basis for voting for this particular award is stats.
I'll admit that I have never heard of Montanez. I've heard of Frey but couldn't honestly tell you what circuit he's on. Since I'm from the area, I have heard of Curatolo. I don't have a vote so it doesn't matter. But what percentage of voters could honestly tell you they are familiar with all three and their individual bodies of work during this past season? To give Montanez extra wins, placings and showings post bug is really unfair, especially when the stats are probably the biggest basis on a person's vote.

Can they just scrap the award already?

I wish they'd do that with the handicapper of the year or rather "handicapper" of the year.

Tax Ruling said to please remind you that he was the only one to win 2 G1s this year.

Just sayin...

Why?

Isn't it kind of an insult to people who do this for a living to give an award to the winner of a contest?

I'm not saying it's an easy thing to win by any means but shouldn't it go to a professional?

I don't think so. I look at it as a small recognition to handicappers for what they do to keep the sport going. Honestly, there should be more awards for handicappers/bettors, not less.

I guess I see your point, but what makes you think the people who are participating in the contests aren't professionals?

My mistake. I assumed that they didn't. Not exactly the first time I've been wrong.

... and yes some small recognition? I absolutely agree and I know it's what keeps it going.

The Eclipse Awards should be special though. They should mean something.

It's the winner of the DRF contest... is that right?

If it is they should have their own awards. They'd be special and mean something in their own right, no?

Junior Alvarado was probably the best bug rider I've ever seen in my time following racing.

He was hands down the best jockey at Calder while he had the bug -- and rode excellently into Gulfstream despite having very few and weak mounts. The guy was having 5-win days at Calder and stealing races at prices. Didn't even come close against Talamo (I believe) in the voting. Talamo was a glorified sack of oats.

Julien Laparoux had a big priced winner at Saratoga on the turf with the bug (maybe even triple bug) -- but I didn't follow his circuit much when he had it. I think the vast majority of his bug was spent cleaning up at Turfway.

Bejarano absolutely ruled Turfway right before him -- not sure if he still had the bug or not though.

APPRENTICE JOCKEY ECLIPSE WINNERS

2010 : Omar Moreno
2009 : Christian Santiago Reyes
2008 : Pascacio Lopez
2007 : Joe Talamo
2006 : Julien Leparoux
2005 : Emma-Jayne Wilson
2004 : Brian Hernandez, Jr.
2003 : Eddie Castro
2002 : Ryan Fogelsonger
2001 : Jeremy Rose

2000 : Tyler Baze
1999 : Ariel Smith
1998 : Shaun Bridgmohan
1997 : Roberto Rosado & Philip Teator (tie)
1996 : Neil Poznansky
1995 : Ramon B. Perez
1994 : Dale Beckner
1993 : Juan Umana
1992 : Rosemary Homeister
1991 : Mickey Walls

1990 : Mark Johnston
1989 : Michael J. Luzzi
1988 : Steve Capanas
1987 : Kent Desormeaux
1986 : Allen Stacy
1985 : Art Madrid, Jr.
1984 : Wesley Ward
1983 : Declan Murphy
1982 : Alberto Delgado
1981 : Richard Migliore

1980 : Frank Lovato, Jr.
1979 : Cash Asmussen
1978 : Ron Franklin
1977 : Steve Cauthen
1976 : George Martens
1975 : Jimmy Edwards
1974 : Chris McCarron
1973 : Steve Valdez
1972 : Thomas Wallis
1971 : Gene St. Leon

I don't remember Rosario with the bug...but he was exceptional not long after losing it.

To be unquestionably the best jock in all of Southern Cal in your third year is remarkable.

Paco Lopez is very good. A lot of those guys going back to 1988 are brutally bad jockeys.